Close call on the Southern Scenic Route

[Daffyd]

I was driving to Invers yesterday on the Chaslands Highway, and as I was just about to leave the bush, I was met by a trio of bikers on a fairly tight bend. The first was wearing a hi-vis vest and was on, I think, a light green ST1300. Fine so far. He was closely followed by a rider on a dark red bike, (didn't have time to see what it was), this guy was at least two feet over the centre line and had to take evasive action, even though I was hugging the apex. The third rider was virtually following in the second's tracks.
Now, I don't know if these guys were KB'rs, but if you are reading this, you may remember having to avoid a law abiding Polo. You will also be aware that it is one of the best pieces of biking road in the country.
I know as I live on it and ride it regularly, in fact, did so on Saturday. (see 'Dunedin rides).
I should point out that in the last year, on the same stretch of road, I have hit and killed one deer and hit another within 3 days, and in the last three weeks of commuting have seen deer every day. (All these sightings fortunately were in a car). The car I killed the deer in was written off so I shudder to think what would have happened had I been on my bike. I also met a large tractor with dualls on the rear on the same series of bends a few weeks ago and he was also well over the centre line.

Please don't fuck it up by becoming a statistic on it!

[scumdog]

Good call Daffyd, I too have seen bikers on that road that seem to think it is a glorified scenic race track.

How d'you enjoy the scenery when you're focussed on correct line through unknown corners at warp-factor 3??

And those hidden killer pot-holes near Tautuku - at speed they would pop your fillings eh?


PS I've seen the result of one biker over-cooking a bend into a van - kinda took the edge off the camper-van occupants holiday I bet - and the dead guys missus was a bit upset too..

[Kinje]

Good warning Daffyd, hope its heeded. And it applies to other quiet country roads too- other livestock, harvesting time time so plenty of tractors and harvesters around...

That Southern Scenic Route is a stunner. Been down there for a few Uni field trips when studying. Rode through there when down there for Brass Monkey too, including a night tenting in the lovely camping ground at Papatowai, and a moment at the William King Reserve (great grandad)

[Daffyd]

Well, it's happened! I rode to Invers and back today and on the same bend mentioned earlier, there was a bike standing all alone. Thinking it was a weird place to stop, I went and investigated. The bike had been locked up and there was no sign of the rider.
Judging from the skidmark on the shoulder of the road and the damage to the right side of the bike I would have to assume that the rider went wide and had to lie the bike down to avoid going over the 15-20 metre bank. That would have hurt! I hope he/she is not hurt badly... there was no sign of blood, so heres hoping.

I have not identified the bike as friends/relatives may not know about it yet.