First lowside at Palomar

[didgeman]

Well they always say that if you ridw long enough that it is going to happen and happen it did. I was up there this past Sat. at around 2:30 pm. I had gone there by myself and was just runnin with anyone who was out there. I have to say that this was potentially one of the best days I have ever had at Pali. If anyone out there knows that woman with the long blonde pony tail that rides the yellow 929, well I was actually keeping pace with her which is saying something for me because she has blown past me so many times I have lost count. So moving rigth along I decided to take a run with thes efour guys that I have seen before up there but have never riden with. On the way down I kept pace with the front two bikes and was feeling like I was riding on rails. On the way back up the mountain I was behind the leader who was on a yellow F4i with a Gianelli pipe. I was riding pretty close to him the whole time and I had started to notice that he was dragging his pegs through just about every turn and was leaned way the hell over compared to how I was riding. This should have been the first warning sign. As we came up to a left hander with a slightly decreasing radius I watched his rear tire start to lose grip. Now I am positioned to his right and have about 6 feet between us. I swear it was just like on tv in the races when they lowside. First he lost traction then it caught and I though he was going to highside and then it shimmied and the rear went horizontal. Now through all this I was not worried about myself until his bike which is now sliding twards the guard rail is cutting off my was out of this fiasco. Not only am I trying to avoid hitting his bike but also the rider who is sliding with his bike now almost right in my path. I tried to brake hard and turn as best I could but I justy ran out of room. All I could see was the other rider sliding in front of me and all I could think wa dont run over this guy. So once I hit th dirt on the shoulder my front wheel dove sidways and droped the bike on the left side wedging the bike under the guard rail. Thank god for guard rails as the bike would have been BASE jumping without a parachute. When everything stoped I was laying on the ground right next to the guy who went down in fornt of me. I think that I may have run over his left arm but I am not sure as he was ok but shaking form the adrenaline rush. Luckily both of our bikes were able to be stood up with no leaking fluids and nothing bent. Only cosmetic damage to my bike on the left side, I wsa able to rider her home no problem. I am going to remove the fairings today to get the dirt and gravel out. And what is the lesson of the day kiddies, dont ride so close as to not give yourself time for the unexpected. I have to admit that as mush as I cringed at all the scratches on my once pristine VFR I am glad that I got to feel what happens when the bike does go down for the future, if it happens again I will be better prepared for what will happen. And in hindsight if I had gone twards the inside of the turn as apposed to the outside to try and go around the bike I would have avoided the entire situation. But I know for next time. All I walked away with is a bruised left big toe and feeling pretty stiff the next day all over. I take that anyday. And so this concludes Tom's first crash at Palomar.

[Cyanide41]

I am a little confused. What actually made you crash? Did you run wide in to some gravel and have the front wash out?? If so it was probably cause you were on the front brake. I have done that twice! (you think I would have learned) Luckily both times were so minor that you can hardly notice the scratches.

[didgeman]

Yes that is it exactley when I hit the dirt the front tire washed out, quickly I might add.

[Irk]

Glad to hear your ok man. That is one thing about crashing, your not so afraid to do it the next time. I used to be deathly afraid of it. But after my incident a few weeks ago, I'm not afraid anymore. Well, you know what I mean. :thumbsup:

I tried to brake hard and turn as best I could but I justy ran out of room.

It sounds like you got scared (not that you didn't have the merit to be) and got on the brakes, that caused the bike to stand up leading you only more into the path of danger and off the road.

Sounds like your bike got really lucky, should be able to fix it urself.

:guitar:

[deathblow]

Glad to hear you are okay.

[LiCk My CbR]

im wondering if you were the one i saw at the bottom of palli. i was there at that time. didnt see the crash but saw a couple of bikes at the very bottom of palli coming up. dont know who crashed. but it was the only bikes i saw beside my group and another. if it was you...i was the one on the red and black cbr. i stopped to see if everyone was ok. but it did look liked (if it was you) you guys went in to hot. that first left going up is fun but tricky if going in to hot.well glad to see that your ok. this past sat was good. i was on palli from about 1 til about 4 after riding from banner to julian and up to palli. barely any bikes . good ride.

[didgeman]

im wondering if you were the one i saw at the bottom of palli. i was there at that time. didnt see the crash but saw a couple of bikes at the very bottom of palli coming up. dont know who crashed. but it was the only bikes i saw beside my group and another. if it was you...i was the one on the red and black cbr. i stopped to see if everyone was ok. but it did look liked (if it was you) you guys went in to hot. that first left going up is fun but tricky if going in to hot.well glad to see that your ok. this past sat was good. i was on palli from about 1 til about 4 after riding from banner to julian and up to palli. barely any bikes . good ride.
No that was not me I was 75% of the way up when we went down. But that is the nature of the beast. That road is fun as hell but can bite you in the ass if you are not careful. But we all walked and rode away and that is what is important.

[GixxerDemon55]

glad you're ok bro

[didgeman]

Thanks man. I tell ya though my back has been really stiff this week. I expected it. I am a massage therapist so I am in good hands (no pun intended) here at work. Peace

[CYL_68]

I laid mine down the day after I read your post. Glad to know your OK and now I can say for the same reason now that I know what you're talking about. I'm still not sure what it was that caused my back tire to slide out and me to lose it.

[sersalaz]

dont be upset about the bike damage; any bike accident you can walk away from means god is on your side. Glad you ok and that you learned something

my quote:
ride fast, ride safe and ride often!!