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I went down last night on Redwood rd

OP, glad you came out of that relatively unscathed, given the possibilities!

I'm glad you'll be looking into better gear for the future, I usually ride with shin/knee pads under my jeans as a minimum, but I'm pretty protective of my knees after 4 surgeries on one of them. Of course, when I started riding 34 years ago, there wasn't much in the way of protection for riders and even 10 years ago a decent leather suit was $1k new and $500 used. Now there are some great prices for gear that really help out. I am, by no means, an ATGATT kind of guy, but there is a minimum that I'll always having when I ride even when in jeans.

I'll bet that knee gives you more pain in the long run than the hand. I've had both different types of injuries and the bones in your hand will take awhile to heal (broke mine in football on a helmet in 8th grade) but will be stronger than before for years.

Good luck when you get back on the bike!
 
Thanks Brett. Hopefully they both heal fast with no long term effects... but you can bet ill still ride regardless.
 
louemc said:
Sorry if this question has already been answered (too much in a hurry to read all the posts now) But...is the pinky finger linked to the ring finger on your gloves...Or is the pinky out there on it's own?

(course not knowing the injury, if that would of mattered).
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996_Rider said:
not sure what you mean....
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A 3rd and 4th finger-bridge helps prevent “finger roll” and potential seam bursting during impacts

[youtube]ntGkzDDf-uU[/youtube]
Visible at 1:00 mark
 
Adam, glad that you still in one piece - haul up soon... Get the bike fix, get some new gear, and hit the road again :cool

For those who want to know the point of the mini-double-left-hander (decreasing radius turn) check this out....
 
Burning1 said:
GAJ,

Redwood is actually a pretty poor choice of roads for fast riding. The pavement is far from smooth, which compromises traction and robs confidence, and it's not a particularly well marked or predictable road. Bicyclists, cars stopped in the middle of the lane around blind corners, and the occasional spot of gravel don't help.

Crashes up there don't surprise me. The fact that people try to ride Redwood at a Spirited pace does.
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Having never ridden that road I will defer to your knowledge.

Went over and back Trinity Road and Oakville Grade again yesterday afternoon, (between Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley). Always challenging but, dayum, the pavement is getting progressively worse from an already sorry state; busted up with lots of heaves and potholes.

That road though (the one in the video) looks like the autobahn in comparison! :laughing

And, to the OP, many years ago I had a similar solo crash from riding an overly spirited pace (actually a track pace in my case like a dumbass) on a back road I knew "really well" and took regularly.

I was very lucky to not total the bike and take an ambulance ride...but it was certainly a defining moment in getting me to dial back my pace on back roads.

I'm guessing many of us old fart riders have a similar "learning experience" or three in our "experience libraries" unfortunately!

I've adopted Dan's "ride within 4 seconds of vision" idea the last few years and it has slowed me down further, for sure, especially on blind rights, but it has also allowed me to handle the 3 numbskulls pulling uturns on blind rights these past 14 months or so. :thumbup
 
GAJ said:
Went over and back Trinity Road and Oakville Grade again yesterday afternoon, (between Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley). Always challenging but, dayum, the pavement is getting progressively worse from an already sorry state; busted up with lots of heaves and potholes.

That road though (the one in the video) looks like the autobahn in comparison! :laughing
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Well... IMO, the problem with Redwood road is that it tends to give riders a false sense of confidence. You get into a rhythm with it, and then something unexpected comes out of left field.

It's not that it's a particularly bad road... It's just the kind of road that suckers people into making stupid mistakes.

I'm in your boat - I rode significantly worse roads this weekend (including one where a section had been torn up and replaced with a gravel pit. Fun, when you're riding a 600lb hyper-tourer with a passenger on the back.)

Actually, my favorite road this entire weekend was the section of CA-175 between 29 and 101 near Kelseyville. Twisty as hell, but clean, cambered, and predictable.
 
Burning1 said:
Actually, my favorite road this entire weekend was the section of CA-175 between 29 and 101 near Kelseyville. Twisty as hell, but clean, cambered, and predictable.
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Ah yes; thanks for the reminder...I'll add that to the list of roads to take my MSF graduate buddy to who I'm currently mentoring.

I think he could handle Trinity Rd./Oakville Grade going towards Napa and 29 to get to that road (Chalk Hill Road is an easier choice) but not coming back.

There is a very tricky 180 degree steep uphill right hander that you can only take in first gear, feathering the clutch, that I fear he would have major trouble with at this point and I don't want him dropping my DRZ400SM there because it might fall on him and slide downhill! :wtf

But yes, "innocent" looking roads can have a "bite" as you, and the OP, point out.
 
GAJ said:
That's a pretty wide open road...gotta work hard to crash there it would seem.

Another vidi showing the stupidity of a group ride where spaces between riders are minimal and riders try to maintain the minimal gap so as not to lose cred with their fellow riders. :rolleyes
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That video represents the old axiom "more lean angle= no bad story."
Watching that was painful. I wanted to pull it over more myself.
 
GAJ said:
There is a very tricky 180 degree steep uphill right hander that you can only take in first gear, feathering the clutch, that I fear he would have major trouble with at this point and I don't want him dropping my DRZ400SM there because it might fall on him and slide downhill! :wtf
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In my experience, that kind of turn becomes significantly easier to handle once the rider has mastered u-turns.
 
saqwarrior said:
Reading that sentence makes me cringe.

OP, sorry about your crash - hope you heal up quick.
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Which is why I spend so much time encouraging people to wear full gear... and if they make the (IMHO) "wrong" decision to ride in jeans, then, for god's sake, be sure to spend $20 and buy knee/shin guards. Knees that work and knee caps in one piece FTW...

996_Rider said:
Connie, that post made me laugh because I could see me doing the same thing.

I know accident was my fault, not the bikes. The bike HAD way more capabilities than I have experience (or balls). Im sorry my bike had to pay for my mistake, but at least I took something away from this right?

That being said, not sure if I want to spend the money on fixing and replacing parts (probably at least $3000 at first glance) or just find a cheap 996 or SV and part this out. Anyone know of either of those bikes around? Obviously Im not in a hurry since the Doctor told me I need surgery to fix my hand and I gotta save up a bit first (so I can get gear too)

And, dont worry TRICARE is sending me to a civilian specialist.
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Always remember to look through your turns... get in the habit... because your bike WILL go where you're looking. I had someone crash on a Mines run... he was on a straight, was looking at a little copse of trees off to the right, where there was a drainage tunnel and some rebar, and thinking, "Wow, it would really suck to crash right there!"... naturally, he then proceeded to target fixate and 'crash right there'.

As far as SV's, there's a lot of them on Craigslist right now. Great bike, everyone I know who has one loves it.

Burning1 said:
GAJ,

Redwood is actually a pretty poor choice of roads for fast riding. The pavement is far from smooth, which compromises traction and robs confidence, and it's not a particularly well marked or predictable road. Bicyclists, cars stopped in the middle of the lane around blind corners, and the occasional spot of gravel don't help.

Crashes up there don't surprise me. The fact that people try to ride Redwood at a Spirited pace does.
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I have to disagree. I love riding Redwood, and I tow a LOT of Newbies down it. It's like any road- you need to pay attention to it. Even a road like Skaggs will bite you in the ass if you're not paying attention. Yes, it has dips and bumps, and is a long way from perfect... but it's a hell of a lot smoother than Mines, and cleaner, too.
Of course, "spirited" is NOT "track pace"! :)
 
Burning1 said:
Redwood is actually a pretty poor choice of roads for fast riding. The pavement is far from smooth, which compromises traction and robs confidence, and it's not a particularly well marked or predictable road. Bicyclists, cars stopped in the middle of the lane around blind corners, and the occasional spot of gravel don't help. Crashes up there don't surprise me.

>>> The fact that people try to ride Redwood at a Spirited pace does.
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Fast or "spirited pace" Redwood Rd. riding went out with the asphalt in the mid/late-80's. When they "tarred & chipped" over the asphalt, bingo it was done. The old surface was so much smoother....(sigh)....:cry
 
EastBayDave said:
Fast or "spirited pace" Redwood Rd. riding went out with the asphalt in the mid/late-80's. When they "tarred & chipped" over the asphalt, bingo it was done. The old surface was so much smoother....(sigh)....:cry
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The surface of Redwood now gives it character IMO.

But I wish I knew Redwood back then. I hear they might do another re-pave of Redwood Road. At least it seems like there will be some kind of road construction starting down in Casto Valley.
 
I here by declare that turn on Redwood road the new, more sophisticated "The Wall".
 
Burning1 said:
GAJ,

Redwood is actually a pretty poor choice of roads for fast riding. The pavement is far from smooth, which compromises traction and robs confidence, and it's not a particularly well marked or predictable road. Bicyclists, cars stopped in the middle of the lane around blind corners, and the occasional spot of gravel don't help.

Crashes up there don't surprise me. The fact that people try to ride Redwood at a Spirited pace does.
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"Fast" has to be defined (and of course it won't be defined anywhere but on the road).

Thing is...the conditions of Redwood Rd (and Pinehearst or anyplace interesting) are fabulous roads to ride as fast as your abilities and judgement allow.
All the compaints are...just riders that haven't developed their abilities and their judgement to do it right.
 
Burning1 said:
In my experience, that kind of turn becomes significantly easier to handle once the rider has mastered u-turns.
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Sorry, it's actually a steep uphill right hand hairpin, not just a tight right hander.

I think we'll work up slowly to that one, perhaps taking it downhill again and stopping to discuss it.

He's not bad at U Turns.

Good news, I guess, is that unlike the poor OP, if he screws up that bend it will be at low speed (first gear) but I just have this fear of the bike landing on top of him; I'll get over it. :laughing
 
i dont mind being passed by people riding faster on redwood road... i know my own limits :)
 
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