Bikers down

[STIBungy]

Two of my friends went down on their bikes yesterday near Idaho Springs. We were coming down I-70 from Silverthorne where we'd had lunch earlier. There were 3 of us. Being more experienced, I was the lead rider. We all had the typical gear, helmet, gloves and jacket.

What happened, from what I got from witnesses at the scene and from both of them afterwards in the hospital, the 2nd rider lost control on a turn and hit the guardrail. The bike slid to the other side of the highway and the 3rd guy, who wasnt able to react in time, t-boned the 2nd bike at about 70mph.

The 2nd rider suffered some road rash and was released last night but the 3rd guy broke his left arm just above the elbow joint and had surgery on his arm last night. I'm going to head over to the hospital this morning to see how he's doing.

One problem I have right now is I'm feeling guilty everytime I think about what happened. I was the more experienced rider in the group. Both the other 2 riders had just gotten their bikes this summer, whereas I've been riding since summer of last year. Being the lead rider, I was the one who dictacted the speed at which they followed. I was speeding. Other cars going down the mountain were speeding as well.

-Stricken with guilt

[john]

Bummer, but realize that accidents happen. Simply because you are the more experienced rider doesn't have anything to do with what happened. Honestly.

[djet820]

Damn dude, I'm sorry to hear that. And don't try to blame everything on yourself because they could've slowed down. But I totally understand where you're coming from.

Question though...was the 2nd rider still on the bike when it got T-Boned?

[STIBungy]

Luckily, he was off the bike then. The 3rd rider hit the gastank of the 2nd bike.

Originally posted by djet820
Question though...was the 2nd rider still on the bike when it got T-Boned?

[djet820]

Dang....hopefully the 3rd rider is all ok now.

[ryanman]

Well if they weren't experienced enough to be haulin ass they should've slowed down. I can see how you feel the way you feel though. I'd be the same way.

[djet820]

Originally posted by ryanman
Well if they weren't experienced enough to be haulin ass they should've slowed down. I can see how you feel the way you feel though. I'd be the same way.

lets just copy everything I say...postwhore.

and update us when you get back

[ryanman]

Originally posted by djet820
lets just copy everything I say...postwhore.

ok

[2000SiVTEC]

hope they are okay, but you should always let the slowest and least experienced riders lead in a situation like that.

[95GSRB18C]

damn, sorry to hear that. Hopefully they recover quickly.

[HONDA GHANDI]

Originally posted by 2000SiVTEC
hope they are okay, but you should always let the slowest and least experienced riders lead in a situation like that.

I dont agree, I think if you are not experienced enough to hang with the big dogs then you need to have enough common sense and self control to stay back and ride at your own pace. I have been on rides and drives with other more experienced and less experienced and have found that it is much easier to stay at my own pace and have fun if Im not being pushed from behind by a better driver/rider. And on the same token if you are the more experienced one you shouldnt have to be held up by a lesser rider. Also you dont want to push that rider into a mistake that can easily colloct you also. Like in the case of Bungy's friends. In anycase, Im glad to hear they will recover to ride another day. Stay safe out there.

[Brian]

I always stay at whatever pace I feel I can safely ride no matter who is leading.

[STIBungy]

Just an update.

I went to the hospital this morning to check on the 3rd rider, Uzzal. He's recovering from surgery right now. He's in a little pain but the pain killers are doing wonders for that. They're keeping him there for the next 2 days since they left the wound open so that they can clean it up some more.

[djet820]

dang 2 days? At least he has pain killers