Mike, are you Mikey?

[Crasherfromwayback]

, shit the Super Duke had problems with this shit and an HD is meant to handle it!

I'd rather ride an HD on loose surfaces than a Superduke.

[oneofsix]

I'd rather ride an HD on loose surfaces than a Superduke.

OK I'll take your word for that having never tried either. But on either hitting that loose shit without warning is liable to throw you (pun intended)

[Crasherfromwayback]

OK I'll take your word for that having never tried either. But on either hitting that loose shit without warning is liable to throw you (pun intended)

Agree. I've hit unmarked sand used for trenching on a corner and gone down in a heap. Impossible to see.

[jellywrestler]

See StoneY you can't win with those without imagination who weren't there. So lets see the lead HD is over 2 secs behind StoneY, how does that help him? Number 2 HD is over secs on the road he has been on behind HD 1 when HD 1 goes down but now HD2 is in the shit himself and what was a 2 sec gap is 0 so how did the 2 sec gap help? plus he never hits HD1 as he was riding staggered and it is the loose shit that takes him out. HD3 same again. Why, cause the HDs are crusiers suited to good tar roads, not adventure bikes, shit the Super Duke had problems with this shit and an HD is meant to handle it!

I'm always looking for any clues on road conditions from the vehicle in front, whether I know then or not in this case I'm sure there would've been some sort of noticeable reaction that was unexpected as they found the shit, crashed etc.
Simple fact is they were riding too close together.
Doubtless that the roadworkers had a contributing factor by not marking it suitably (or vandals took down markers) but that's the road, you've got to be aware

[StoneY]

I'm always looking for any clues on road conditions from the vehicle in front, whether I know then or not in this case I'm sure there would've been some sort of noticeable reaction that was unexpected as they found the shit, crashed etc.
Simple fact is they were riding too close together.
Doubtless that the roadworkers had a contributing factor by not marking it suitably (or vandals took down markers) but that's the road, you've got to be aware

Well dude 300+ witnesses, all long term experienced riders disagree with you
I would bet if you were in those first 5 bikes your undies woulkd need changing and ya bike need a paint job too....
I was there man and there was NO way you or anyone could blame the riders for this incident

Interesting you say what you did Pete, the lighter bikes skipped and slid a bit but the poor bastards on the HD's were off the road before they even knew they had hit the gravel.........guess it was just too sudden a surface change to accommodate for right on the crest of the hill
As HD no1 shot sideways off the road 300+ bikes following started braking in ernest
The fact NO ONE collided with another bike in that MASS emergency stop, says 99% of that ride pack were on the ball IMO

[Crasherfromwayback]

Interesting you say what you did Pete, the lighter bikes skipped and slid a bit but the poor bastards on the HD's were off the road before they even knew they had hit the gravel

Well HD's are nice and lazy in the steering dept...like a dirtbike. They also (most of em anyway) have nice narrow tyres that are also better on loose surfaces than fat sports bike tyres. I've ridden big HD's on gravel sideways at much higer speeds that I could ever acheive on a sports bike.

[jellywrestler]

Well dude 300+ witnesses, all long term experienced riders disagree with you
I would bet if you were in those first 5 bikes your undies woulkd need changing and ya bike need a paint job too....
I was there man and there was NO way you or anyone could blame the riders for this incident

Interesting you say what you did Pete, the lighter bikes skipped and slid a bit but the poor bastards on the HD's were off the road before they even knew they had hit the gravel.........guess it was just too sudden a surface change to accommodate for right on the crest of the hill
As HD no1 shot sideways off the road 300+ bikes following started braking in ernest
The fact NO ONE collided with another bike in that MASS emergency stop, says 99% of that ride pack were on the ball IMO

This was a weekend ride so either the road workers were there on site and there would have been trucks etc parked somewhere close which is a warning to alert motorists, or said gravel would have been there at least overnight and no matter how thick it had been laid would have had a few vehicles over it over the friday night to at least clear some sort of path that should be manageable if someone was riding within their own and thier bikes capabilities. Furthermore vehicles coming from the other way would've dragged some of the gravel with them in their tyres which would have been scattered across the whole road to some extent. The slightest tinkle of a stone my bike picked up off the road is a message that there could be more; lots more so I'm on extra alert immediately. I'm sorry but a huge factor in this i'm sure were the distractions of a pack ride.

If it was as bad as you said how come anybody got through there at all????

Another question, 300 witnesses all so skilled at what they do no doubt many with cameras cell phones how come there wasn't a huge public outcry etc if it was that clean cut anD innocent people were hurt?


I SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE 35% OF ACCIDENTS CAN BE APPORTIONED TO THE ENVIRONMENT ALONE.

[StoneY]

Dude you can believe what you want, but as you were not on the ride discussed above I really dont give a shit what YOU believe happened that day.
I WAS there, and a barely escaped being a statistic myself.

3 bikes went down and NO one form the construction team was there, no signs, no cones, NO fucking warning whatsoever.

I am providing an instance that the environment was UNQUESTIONABLY the cause of the incident.

No matter who came across it had NO warning, until the bikes ahead of them hit it.
End of story...as for your theory of other vehicles clearing the road or the road workers would have been present because it was a weekend, what a load of tripe.

[avgas]

[jellywrestler]

Dude
No matter who came across it had NO warning, until the bikes ahead of them hit it.
End of story...as for your theory of other vehicles clearing the road or the road workers would have been present because it was a weekend, what a load of tripe.

DUDE, how 1970's of you.
You misread my post, I said the run was on a Saturday, EITHER the work was being done that day AND the road workers would have been there OR the work had at least been there overnight meaning a number of motorists and motorcyclists would've been over it already and [A] cleared the fresh gravel to some extent it doesn't take long before a path is worn through the gravel [B] the vehicles coming the other way would have bought at least some evidence of stones with them meaning at least a few stones on the road giving your bunch at least a remote warning that something was amiss or were the riders wearing ipods or similar?.


How many other vehicles had it claimed overnight then? If the Gravel was sooo bad then the ditch must have been full of wrecked vehicles


I also asked if it was so dangerous and there were 300+ bikes there how come no-one bothered to record the evidence ring the cops, Campbell live, the king of Norway etc and get whoever left this man-trap to be held accountable, were all the camera phones flat?????

Last time I found a dangerous road hazard that was a result of incompetence by a roading crew i got evidence and did something about it, they couldn't argue with hard evidence from a camera etc and were scurrying for a while i tell you.

[StoneY]

Cops who attended and Ambo's were full of 'going to follow this one up' I never heard where it got to, cops were adamant it was non rider fault for all 3 victims.
Masterton Council were informed etc.....

Once ALL riders knew there was a huge gravel pit ahead, the rest of the ride passed through safely at a very low speed but the first group were either lucky like me of victims like those right behind my bike

It was about 75-100meters of freshly laid seal. Could still smell the tar. I repeat, no signs, no warning, no gravel spread on our side as it was at the crest and any 'sweepings' went downhill and away from our viewpoint

Sometimes, the environment is the issue....and this was one of them.

Just so ya realize I aint being JUST a stubborn bitch on this, I do agree too many times riders blame the environment when they should have ridden better and thats something I doubt we can ever measure to an accurate degree.

[Deano]

Change in the environment is a serious concern.

One time (the one and only time), I got past Cycosis on a trip to Castlepoint, the sudden change of environment (being in front instead of following) *caused* me to run off the effing road. Now was it speed, brain fade, limited visibility (crest of a hill before a decreasing radius down hill corner) or the change in my env ?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Last time I found a dangerous road hazard that was a result of incompetence by a roading crew i got evidence and did something about it, they couldn't argue with hard evidence from a camera etc and were scurrying for a while i tell you.

And I got paid out in full from Morepork Contracting for my biff.

[Deano]

And I got paid out in full from Morepork Contracting for my biff.

I don't think it's uncommon. Just got to push your point to the Council or contractor. Don't back down.

[Katman]

Sometimes, the environment is the issue....and this was one of them.

It's truly pathetic watching someone latch onto a single incident in an attempt to excuse a multitude of accidents.