Toecutter
What would DoG do?
Yup - One of two possible answers to the following question:
Dropped yours yet?
Sunday, September 11th 2005 dawned cold and beautiful in Mammoth Lakes. Brenda and I decided to sleep in a bit and get breakfast at our hotel, so we said our goodbyes to the other Yosemite riders at dinner the night before. Well, we awoke about 7:00 and there was no sign of life or coffee in the restaurant or lobby of our place, so we decided to catch up with the Holiday Inn crowd for some chow and maybe get in on a group going home.
Our hotel was a beautiful little lodge within walking distance to the lift at the ski resort. However, the parking lot was designed by Bush himself (so it must be his fault). It reminds one of a paved version of the Widowmaker Hillclimb, with the stalls painted on the off camber perpendicular to the hill.
There was a flat spot near the bottom when we checked in but not after dinner. The flat area at the top was choked with Harleys and only one stall remained, on the dreaded sidehill. I got the bike in there sideways, pointing uphill, and onto the centerstand for the night, but I digress.
Sunday morning, the stall next to me (uphill) was vacated, so after Brenda helped me get the bike off the stand, I figured (fatal mistake) that I would just fire it up and do a nice tight little off-camber u-turn back down the hill. What could go wrong, especially first thing in the cold-ass morning? Lots of cold muscles and clutch feathering the high RPM motor.
Anyway, about halfway throught the turn I fixated on some small potholes and loose gravel and slowed a little too much. The bike started to tip downhill, and by the time my foot reached pavement, it was too far over. I gave it the old college try and managed to lay 'er down gently, pulling muscles in my back and right quadricep in the process.
'Luckily', a couple of the Harley riders were there to watch and help me pick it off the asphalt. I'm sure it was some Karmic payback for bashing Harley riders after one crashed into MCML on Tioga Pass. They were cool, though. Probably because they are from Germany and the Harley's may be rented. It was a rather large group and the ones not on Harley's were in Mustangs.
In retrospect, I should have done a three-point turn instead of the high risk maneuver I chose. Also, the guys at breakfast were nothing but sympathetic and supportive after my announcement. For that I give thanks, but I know the grieving period is over so bust away, boys & girls.
Yeah, I'm a Yup. I made a mistake and paid the price. Airing my dirty laundry may help one of you from scratching your baby, so think before you act. These bikes are heavy and top-heavy to boot. I'm actually somewhat surprised I got over 9000 drop-free miles before it happened.
Other than this, the Yosemite ride was a great time with great people. My ride home was somewhat subdued, and my confidence was steamrolled flat. I can only imagine how Joseph must have felt coming down into Lee Vining after his incident. Probably numb and like someone else was driving the bike. Ill get some pics up in the Ride Report section later...
Dropped yours yet?
Sunday, September 11th 2005 dawned cold and beautiful in Mammoth Lakes. Brenda and I decided to sleep in a bit and get breakfast at our hotel, so we said our goodbyes to the other Yosemite riders at dinner the night before. Well, we awoke about 7:00 and there was no sign of life or coffee in the restaurant or lobby of our place, so we decided to catch up with the Holiday Inn crowd for some chow and maybe get in on a group going home.
Our hotel was a beautiful little lodge within walking distance to the lift at the ski resort. However, the parking lot was designed by Bush himself (so it must be his fault). It reminds one of a paved version of the Widowmaker Hillclimb, with the stalls painted on the off camber perpendicular to the hill.
There was a flat spot near the bottom when we checked in but not after dinner. The flat area at the top was choked with Harleys and only one stall remained, on the dreaded sidehill. I got the bike in there sideways, pointing uphill, and onto the centerstand for the night, but I digress.
Sunday morning, the stall next to me (uphill) was vacated, so after Brenda helped me get the bike off the stand, I figured (fatal mistake) that I would just fire it up and do a nice tight little off-camber u-turn back down the hill. What could go wrong, especially first thing in the cold-ass morning? Lots of cold muscles and clutch feathering the high RPM motor.
Anyway, about halfway throught the turn I fixated on some small potholes and loose gravel and slowed a little too much. The bike started to tip downhill, and by the time my foot reached pavement, it was too far over. I gave it the old college try and managed to lay 'er down gently, pulling muscles in my back and right quadricep in the process.
'Luckily', a couple of the Harley riders were there to watch and help me pick it off the asphalt. I'm sure it was some Karmic payback for bashing Harley riders after one crashed into MCML on Tioga Pass. They were cool, though. Probably because they are from Germany and the Harley's may be rented. It was a rather large group and the ones not on Harley's were in Mustangs.
In retrospect, I should have done a three-point turn instead of the high risk maneuver I chose. Also, the guys at breakfast were nothing but sympathetic and supportive after my announcement. For that I give thanks, but I know the grieving period is over so bust away, boys & girls.
Yeah, I'm a Yup. I made a mistake and paid the price. Airing my dirty laundry may help one of you from scratching your baby, so think before you act. These bikes are heavy and top-heavy to boot. I'm actually somewhat surprised I got over 9000 drop-free miles before it happened.
Other than this, the Yosemite ride was a great time with great people. My ride home was somewhat subdued, and my confidence was steamrolled flat. I can only imagine how Joseph must have felt coming down into Lee Vining after his incident. Probably numb and like someone else was driving the bike. Ill get some pics up in the Ride Report section later...
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