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Berryessa Round 2!! 6-8-08

DJNick said:
Toe do you think if you were to slow it down a bit you wouldn't enjoy the ride as much? I'm just curious because for me I sometimes find when I'm riding in a group it's hard not to be a little competitive.

Anyway I would like to come up with some suggestions as far as ride locations if that's cool. I will do some research and post up here or in future Berryessa ride threads.
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oh yah dude...it seems the slower i go the more bored I am...I guess ive just be come use to going at a high rate of speed all the time.
Id love to hit skaggs or do a southbay ride...its just the ride home that kills me...last time i rode skaggs I was on 101 south for 2 HOURS!! :thumbdown
 
Yeah, time to check ourselves. Me too :ride It should remain the Berryessa GP in Name only... :thumbup

Smooth is fast. :cool
 
FemmeLeMoto said:
I think this is something that is important to bring up. Many of the Berryessa riders, including myself at times, treat it like it's our own backyard. We all should know better, some of us do and ride it within out limits, but don't be like that dick on the black and orange GSXR1000 riding hella fast and like a tool and then saying "I was riding way below my limit." In case you guys forgot, you don't get a second chance at life. Take it from someone who knows!!!

I vote for adventures in the south bay!! :thumbup
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Kind've one of the reasons i decided to quit the streets for awhile. It was just getting a little too intense. And Like Toe said you just get used to going that fast. And it seems you needed to go that fast too really enjoy it.

I was up there with Black and Orange gixxer along with Kyle and Darrell.
And we were hitting 140 :wtf on some of those straights, draggin knee here and there. Not doubting anyones skill but it really is a numbers game when we're pushing it that much.

Lucky for me my 1st and only crash Ever - came at the Track. So with that in mind, I'm just quiting while I'm ahead. :teeth
 
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Yeah, after my crash in Berryessa, I'll still have fun, but I limit myself because I remembered how much it sucked.
 
pussies! Berryessa GP all the way! :twofinger

in all seriousness, riding like a bat flying out of hell ala Toe has no place on the streets :laughing sadly though, we only check ourselves when it's too late. last Sunday, as we came up to Dead Man's Curve, the accident scene sent shivers up my balls. it was scary.

Despite all the carnage around us, I will continue to swing a leg over, street or track. I've embraced the sport and learned to accept the risks that come with it.

as for Toe, you may be the current King of 121, 128, 680 or Starbucks, but on June 30th, be prepared to be humbled, bigtime :rofl
 
I once used to be wild and crazy like Toe. 2 things changed that outlook: doing trackdays, and seeing too much BAD stuff happen, primarily up in the Santa Cruz Mtns. (a la Alice's). I once rode up on a fatality on Hwy 35 just minutes after it happened; bike parts were scattered all down the road right by one of the vista parking lots. One of the riders died at the scene, right in my buddy's arms, and another eventually wound up in a wheelchair, where he remains to this day.

Ask yourself this: is it really worth hitting the ton+ just for a few adrenalin-filled seconds? Is it REALLY? In the end it comes down to selfishness. It's all about you as the rider and to hell with what your family and friends will do if you wind up as another statistic. Sorry about being so blunt, but that's reality.
 
Toe said:
the thing about the Berryessa ride for me, its that I never feel im riding over my own skills. Not once during the last 10 or so rides have I had an "oh shit" moment other than flying past a CHP.
But over the limits of the bike (traction or ability to stop in time) and the road, oh yes, without a doubt.
anything could be waiting for me around one of those blind turns, car, person, cyclist, gravel, deer, anyone of those things at triple digit speeds could be the end.

I suppose its my immaturity and lack of common sense that continue to bring me out there every sunday...
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Way to be honest with yourself :thumbup

I feel ya too, you just feel so comfortable and that right there IS the problem. Which is exactly why I mentioned making some new destinations. Take yourself out of that comfort zone, of course its boring going slow, its because you know the road so freakin well that anything less than a blazing speed just doesn't keep your attention or focus. Try visiting some roads you don't know so well and believe me, going fast is going to be lower on the list of things you're paying attention too. Same thing goes for trackdays, so many people turn into Thunderhill or Buttonwillow addicts because its where they feel comfortable at. To truly be an excellent and seasoned rider, you must do a bit of everything and get some diversified miles under you belt :)

BTW I'm only addressing this to you, as you seem to be somewhat of the unamed organizer of these rides. Nothing personal, shit I fall into the same trap all the time
 
Yody said:
Way to be honest with yourself :thumbup

I feel ya too, you just feel so comfortable and that right there IS the problem. Which is exactly why I mentioned making some new destinations. Take yourself out of that comfort zone, of course its boring going slow, its because you know the road so freakin well that anything less than a blazing speed just doesn't keep your attention or focus. Try visiting some roads you don't know so well and believe me, going fast is going to be lower on the list of things you're paying attention too. Same thing goes for trackdays, so many people turn into Thunderhill or Buttonwillow addicts because its where they feel comfortable at. To truly be an excellent and seasoned rider, you must do a bit of everything and get some diversified miles under you belt :)

BTW I'm only addressing this to you, as you seem to be somewhat of the unamed organizer of these rides. Nothing personal, shit I fall into the same trap all the time
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Yeah, I totally understand where your coming from. I want to hit up some other roads and try new things, and my track season is just starting, Ill be at ButtonWillow for 4 days this weekend, ThunderHill on the 24th, and Infineon on the 30th.
Track beats the shit out of street any day....

and the whole unamed organizer thing...its kinda gotten to that point, I mean I have people come up to me in random places and there like hey arent you TOE on barf?.... :laughing
 
Hooli said:
I once used to be wild and crazy like Toe. 2 things changed that outlook: doing trackdays, and seeing too much BAD stuff happen, primarily up in the Santa Cruz Mtns. (a la Alice's). I once rode up on a fatality on Hwy 35 just minutes after it happened; bike parts were scattered all down the road right by one of the vista parking lots. One of the riders died at the scene, right in my buddy's arms, and another eventually wound up in a wheelchair, where he remains to this day.

Ask yourself this: is it really worth hitting the ton+ just for a few adrenalin-filled seconds? Is it REALLY? In the end it comes down to selfishness. It's all about you as the rider and to hell with what your family and friends will do if you wind up as another statistic. Sorry about being so blunt, but that's reality.
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very true Hooli! I think its just a thing with the younger crowd....its fun to be competitive and have people tell you that your fast and all that crap... I really enjoy going fast and being in that zone. is it worth the risk?

Fuck no... but... :rolleyes

:ride
 
Oh, don't get me wrong. I occasionally wind the throttle on from time to time, and cross that DY...but only where I can do it relatively safely. For now, I'm totally content to come in mid-pack. :p
 
Hey... I like leading the front as much as the next guy. Knowing when to "pick it up" is just as important as knowing when to "back off". I will pick up the pace when my surroundings can support the decision (i.e. familiar riders/road, traffic, health, gut feeling, etc). I will back off when I find myself NOT in full control of the ride (i.e. feeling ill - where I probably should have stayed home, mechanical suspicions - bike just feels less than 100% - like my slipping clutch, gut feeling, etc). I crossed the DY the last couple of rides because the bike "just didn't feel right"... front end felt sketchy, etc. I backed off and dropped my pace back down to where I felt "in control" again. Sometimes the only way to do that is to slow your ass down – reality check time.

Triple digits – I could care less about. I don’t need to be doing 140 mph in a straight line to have fun - not that my Monster can do that anyway. :laughing But I’m very content in reserving the fun for the corners. I REALLY enjoy being leaned over. I hold my own on most any ride, with anyone, on any road by keeping things “real” (within my limits and the limits of my surroundings). I mean, how much trouble can one get on an 80hp Ducati anyway? Well, plenty – if the rider is “not in control”. Whether on a 170 hp GSXR 1K or an 80hp M900… it’s all about control.

I say, keep it cool on the straights (that’s where “The Man” gets you anyway) and have at it in the corners… but always stay in control.

I’m chillin’ on Father’s Day… :)
 
Rick T. said:
I crossed the DY the last couple of rides because the bike "just didn't feel right"... front end felt sketchy, etc. I backed off and dropped my pace back down to where I felt "in control" again. Sometimes the only way to do that is to slow your ass down – reality check time.
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Thats cool and all, but IMO you get in a lot more trouble with the mentality of "going fast in the turns" and "slow on the straights" Turns are usually what make people crash, whether it be a blind turn, gravel in the turn, or lack of skill. The turns are what usually cause the problems. If you cross the double yellow ANY time during ANY ride, something is not right, that is never an option and if you have been going over the double yellow the last few rides you might want to take your own advise and start chilling out
 
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Yody said:
Thats cool and all, but IMO you get in a lot more trouble with the mentality of "going fast in the turns" and "slow on the straights" Turns are usually what make people crash, whether it be a blind turn, gravel in the turn, or lack of skill. The turns are what usually cause the problems. If you cross the double yellow ANY time during ANY ride, something is not right, that is never an option and if you have been going over the double yellow the last few rides you might want to take your own advise and start chilling out
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Cody,
What I left out was that the crossing of the DY on my part was due a progressively failing (slipping) clutch. Each time I felt "out of control", I slowed myself and relegated my position to the rear. After the last ride, I parked the bike, changed the clutch out and took it for a test run - haven't ridden it since. So I am "chilling out"... :)

If you think that errors are made only by new riders, you are mistaken. It can and will happen to anyone as long as they continue to choose to ride. Fortunately, I have been lucky (or smart enough to learn) over the more than 21 years of riding (yeah, I'm old :laughing) in that my only crashes have been on the track - and I've walked away from each and every one of them, unscathed. But I'm only human - and it only takes that one time.

My point is that excessive speeds should not be the only way to guage the "fun" on these rides. "Cornering" under control is my preference - that doesn't mean there isn't risk (road hazards etc) - but risk is inevitable as long as you ride, drive, walk... live. Minimizing the risk without totally eliminating the activity is the key here.

Ask anyone who's ridden with me... I'm pretty mellow. Maybe we'll do a NorthBay ride sometime - something other than Berryessa...
 
Cool :thumbup, it was just the way you worded it, sounded iffy. Thanks for the clarification :)

Also I've come to the realization(which is a fairly simple one) that once you realize the potential of sportbikes, once you know how good it feels to use them as intended; they become much more unpleasant to use other than what they were intended for. If I had the money I'd love (as weak as it sounds) to get more of a cruiser bike. I've heard others say the same but just wasn't in the right mindstate to understand why in the past. Sportbikes don't really have much to offer other than riding fast, and the only way to do that safely is to go the track as cheesy as it sounds.
 
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