I understand about being proactive, I've been riding since I was 14. When I was stationed at Yuma Proving Grounds, from the front door of the barracks to the front door of my brother's house in Laguna Niguel, Ca is exactly 265 miles. I'd leave on a Friday after work, ride for 4 hours to get to his house. Sunday, I'd leave his house around 10am headed back to the Proving Grounds. Did that for 2 years, every single weekend, no matter the weather. In the winter time it was usually raining through the mountains, and crossing the desert getting buffeted by crosswinds. This was back in the early '80's, I was in my 20's, my reactions were spot on.
As I got older, my reaction times slowed down, couple back injuries, knee surgeries, foot surgeries, I was still riding.
I've had 4 friends die at the hands of teenagers that blew stop signs or just flat out weren't paying attention because they were on their phones. Make your comment to their families, see how that goes over with them. All of those guys were skilled riders.
5 years ago a rider was sitting stopped at a stop light, feet on the ground, wife sitting behind him on his dresser, and a middle aged woman slammed into them from behind, because she was putting on makeup, killed them both. Preach your advice to someone else, I don't want to hear it.[/QUOTE
I understand about being proactive, I've been riding since I was 14. When I was stationed at Yuma Proving Grounds, from the front door of the barracks to the front door of my brother's house in Laguna Niguel, Ca is exactly 265 miles. I'd leave on a Friday after work, ride for 4 hours to get to his house. Sunday, I'd leave his house around 10am headed back to the Proving Grounds. Did that for 2 years, every single weekend, no matter the weather. In the winter time it was usually raining through the mountains, and crossing the desert getting buffeted by crosswinds. This was back in the early '80's, I was in my 20's, my reactions were spot on.
As I got older, my reaction times slowed down, couple back injuries, knee surgeries, foot surgeries, I was still riding.
I've had 4 friends die at the hands of teenagers that blew stop signs or just flat out weren't paying attention because they were on their phones. Make your comment to their families, see how that goes over with them. All of those guys were skilled riders.
5 years ago a rider was sitting stopped at a stop light, feet on the ground, wife sitting behind him on his dresser, and a middle aged woman slammed into them from behind, because she was putting on makeup, killed them both. Preach your advice to someone else, I don't want to hear it.
Sorry to hear that. Could be why you had so many close calls that you decided to stop riding. I'll keep riding, and learning, and adapting.
And if you are to cite examples that go against the grain of what I wrote...how about keeping it to close calls, not tragic accidents and fatalities. I in no way suggested that those killed got what they deserved or were at fault in some way. I resent you implying that. It's not fair to the folks who were killed.
