WetLeather Motorcycle Rider Information

The accounts already given of the crash square with what I remember. Steve, who was following me, has the most accurate awareness of what actually happened, so he can answer questions better than I can. From my own perspective, I think several factors contributed to the crash, of which inexperience is probably the key. Add to that: several miles of freshly oiled road immediately preceeding the crash site (increasing my tension, if nothing else), fatigue, and confusing light conditions. I went into the curve too fast. While my head was reciting "look into the curve," "roll on," my body was hitting the brakes--both of them, thank heaven--and my eyes were grimly focused on the volcanic boulders I soon got to meet close up and personal. I remember my glasses _not_ breaking against the face shield of my helmet. Judging from nasty bruises where I straddled the bike, I must have impacted, initially, while still firmly attached to the bike, and then been thrown over the handlebars into the boulders. Steve couldn't tell, because after I went over the embankment, he couldn't see me until he arrived at the edge of it. I believe I landed face down, and turned myself over (probably with help). Checked out the digits on all four extremities--yes, they worked. Pain in the left arm. Augghhh, yes! Head seemed clear. Lucky. Very lucky.

What I would do differently in the future: take the curve more slowly. The rest is a matter of experience and reflexes. I've ridden for nearly 7 years on a daily basis in a variey of conditions, but on a Honda Elite 250 scooter, which handles differently from the Virago. I would probably break the trip into two parts, from Seattle to Portland, and then Portland to Crescent Lake, to reduce the fatigue factor. And I would remind myself to ride within my own limits. Not much could have been done about the oil, and I'm not sure whether that contributed; and nothing could have been done about the light and shadow that made the curve hard to gauge, for me. The curve wasn't that bad, as you can see from the photos.

I'm grateful that I didn't succumb to the temptation, while we were riding through Bend at rush hour in the heat, to strip out of some of my gear. I'm grateful that I stayed on the brakes, slowing myself from what was probably 55-60 mph to something closer to 20 mph before launching off the road. I'm grateful for an excellent full-face helmet. And I'm grateful for my riding companions, Steve and Seth, and everyone who cared for my bike, and Wetleather/GPNDG in general. Thanks, folks!

Linda Roise, M.A., Seattle -- DoD# 0592 ICQ# 4259928 94 Virago 750 [RIP] -- 97 Shadow 600 VLX

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