Ten of us rode to the Dragon last week. Being 600 miles and not so young anymore my g/f and I took our Baggers instead of the Buells. Mostly HD in our group and 1 each Firebolt, Gold Wing and Diavel.
We had just left Robbinsville and were on the way to a rental house on the skyway. The speed limit was 35 and the road was twisty enough to keep us from speeding.
I was in the eighth position with the black Firebolt behind me. I heard the growl of what I thought was his exhaust over my shoulder and figured he was playing with me.
Well all of a sudden a red Firebolt passed me on my right, in the same lane of course and in a curve. The squid had passed 'our' Firebolt, me and my g/f all on the right, completely unnerving her.
The soon to be roadkill, then crossed the double yellow and passed the rest of our group on the left just before a blind left curve and 30 seconds before a red Ford pickup came the other way.
Needless to say, I was a little pissed. We looked for that red 'bolt (with white plates, PA maybe?) but never saw him again. That was probably a good thing, cuz I may have done something foolish if we had seen him.
So if you were on a red Firebolt near Robbinsville on the 16th...WTF is wrong with you? Try a track day and see how slow you really are! ATGATT wont save you from becoming a stain in the road, if you aren't by now.
Sorry to hear about the f((cktard encounter- you might check on Killboy/Zeephoto/US129 pics for the day your group passed thru, it's likely dude would have one or several pics, maybe with a tag #...
I know the Dragon isn't the place to be riding like that. He should have just pulled over and waited for traffic to clear before going on.
What annoys me is when you come up on a group (usually HDs) strung out and quite often riding 5 below the limit. The only way to get around them is to start working your way through the group.
It would be nice if they realized I was back there and move over to let me go by. On our recent trip out West I was suprised by the number of cars that would move over and let us go by. And I would do that for any cars that caught up to me. Even if it was a no passing zone I moved over and waved them by. There were always waves from both of us.
I coach my co-riders to be a courteous rider and would like to see drivers do the same.
You didn't mention your group's speed, but I would bet alot of money it was a ridiculously slow pace. I am NOT saying what the squid (not sure we can call this one a squid as seems to have skills) was right, but I can understand the guys frustration (esp. if you ride like most HDs do in a pack.)
Fresnobuell - (not sure we can call this one a squid as seems to have skills)
I know "squid" is slang and open to interpretation. "Skills" are also relative and subject to interpretation.
Assuming Kuuud's friend was the one with the beanie helmet and no other gear then it would appear Mr. Squid (plate# 19RCC couldn't make out the state) made several trips across the Dragon that day.
I can only guess as to this person's "skills" but I would guess they rank lower than his ego. I hope he does not take anyone else out with his jack-ass attempts to stroke it.
I remember being on a big group ride/poker run during Americade a few years back. We were making our way around Sacandaga Lake, and the roads there are just fantastic, but me and my friend were stuck in the middle of an endless line of Harleys, Goldwings and the like just crawling along - it was frustrating and I wondered why all of these guys didn't just buy a Miata instead if they weren't going to lean the bikes over.
Anyways, we stayed where we were, but there were a couple sport bikes riders making there way up through the group - not passing on the yellow, just moving up through everyone.
There were a couple guys on the big bikes that were just livid at the next stop, I didn't get it. I usually keep to myself at times like this especially considering how annoyed I was at the pace (this was one of, if not the last Americade we really participated in because it was no fun to ride amongst the droves of people), but my buddy doesn't and blurted out, "They're going to get around you once way or another, you may as well just let them through." Harley Rider tough guy Magee didn't have much to say.
I passed a rolling roadblock in northern Maine some years back on my X1. Route 201, they were going well under the 45 speed limit and slowing down further for the gentle curves. I put up with it for several miles, figuring they would be my front bumper for moose. When we came across a section that they were paving, I couldn't stand it anymore. 25?! because of rough pavement? I passed all of them. I think there were 30 bikes.
I have no idea of where they were coming from or going to but they were in no hurry, that's for sure.
There's nothing like coming up on a string of cars in the mountains that are being held up by a pack of cruisers. Happens a lot around here. Maddening.
Not a reflection on Kuud's circumstance, that seems pretty clearly an idiot squid being an idiot squid.
In general though, it does seem to be a no win scenario.
Stupid passes are stupid because they are risky... though what seems risky to the passee may be pretty dull for the passer... as a really skilled rider on a highly capable bike can safely do a lot of things that would terrify a less skilled rider on a less capable bike.
And I can't count the number of miles ruined by somebody (generally, but not always, on a cruiser) that knows they have been holding up a group behind them for the last 15 minutes, yet refuses to give them an easy way to get around them.
It is especially annoying on roads like the Cherohola, where it couldn't be easier to pull over near a scenic overlook and let a clearly polite and clearly faster group get by safely for everyone. Or even just stop hammering the throttle for every straight part and wave people by.
At the end of the day I have to be more annoyed with the squids though... the rolling roadblocks are just rude and self centered &**&^&*%... while the squids are actually risking other peoples lives.
not sure we can call this one a squid as seems to have skills
OK, does the fact he had full gear take him out of the squid category?
Squid to me is an under-geared rider with little ability except to twist the throttle on the straights.
If you would have said, he blew past us at 120 and all he was wearing was t-shirt, shorts and sneakers, and then he parked it in the next corner--then maybe he fits the squid bill.
This guy was fully geared (with leathers?) and seems to have diced up a pack HDs fairly easily and competently.
Call him and a$$hole, but I don't think squid fits this dudes description.
Maybe 'douche canoe' is the more appropriate term here... I wave people by all the time... what annoys me is when people won't pass me, but prefer to tailgate... I can't wait for fall when all the fairweather bikers stay home...
what seems risky to the passee may be pretty dull for the passer... as a really skilled rider on a highly capable bike can safely do a lot of things that would terrify a less skilled rider on a less capable bike.
You nailed it there.
Personally if someone tries to 'undertake' me I'll block them. Or look like I'm going to if it's too dangerous