Sunday roles around and I say to myself…..this is a really nice area up here, I’ve never been here and want to go for a nice long scenic ride, who can help me ??? (enter stage left Rob). So called up the always dependable ’01. we decided to meet up at 9:30 in Conway NH.
From here it was all a great time. The temps were great, mid 50’s not a single cloud in the sky….a bit windy though, possible 30 mph gusts. Perfect riding conditions. The back roads were a bit frost heave ridden but still doable. From here we planned out a nice loop down rt 112 (kankamangus highway) and around the central portion of the white mountain national forrest. Plans sounded great.
Plans sounded great for only 15 mins before disaster struck. We rode the kank for 10 miles until we found this small little road off of it named Bear Trap Road. It was known to be a nice lightly driven smooth paved 18 foot wide road following the sacco river (?) up back to Conway. Awesome sounds great!!! Lets do it!!!!
It didn’t take long till I realized why bikes were not ever meant to be on ice. we were coming over a small rise in the road, 10 foot rise w/ the same on the other side. The only prob was that on the other side there was a 15x30 patch of icey mush. Holly shit!!!!! Rob was infront and hit it first but because he was infront of me by about 30 ft, I did not even see him react to the patch, he coasted right over it, didn’t hit the breaks, gass or anything……I was not so luckey. I believe I entered the top of the crest at an angle. This meant that when I hit the ice disaster struck. I tried not to turn, flintch, or move an inch. No luck, the front cranked to the left and the rear pushed out about 2 feet. We were doing about 40. the bike was perfectly sliding across the ice until the ice ran out and pavement caught the back tire. From here it gets a little groogy, but here’s what I remember.
The back tire caught and I highsided making me an instant super man and landing on my side/stomach facing forward while sliding. From here my body’s momentum somehow turned me around in the slide counter clockwise so now I was sliding backwards on my stomach watching the bike follow me about 2 feet away. From here I began to slow down in the slide and the bike pushed against my hands. I actually pushed off of the seat pad to stop it from hitting me. About 75-90 (?) feet later we both came to a stop in a small patch of pine needles.
My track days have taught me that if you slide you should count to 5 when you stop sliding to be extra sure you are done sliding. So in my 5 count all I can hear in the background is rob yelling “corey!!! Holly shit man, dude, hey, man are you ok??!!! Shit bro, hey man hey corey!!!!” he was about 50 ft down the way so I gave him the thumbs up and proceded to check my body for injuries.
The outcome/repair list:
Myself:
-gearne boots did well, small scratches
-joe rocket gloves had scrapes on the palms and one of the thumbs rubbed through
-tecknik jacket did awesome! Elbows rubbed in a bit, but sliding on my stomach for 70 feet it did very well.
-Hyne Gerreck textile riding pants, ripped a bit where I landed on my left leg, did not rip through to the charhartts I had on under.
All in all, the only damage to myself was to my left leg (upper quad) whitch kills and is going to bruise up like a bitch tomorr.
The bike:
-right frame slider bent down at a 45 degree angle upon inpact of the highside, then was worn about an inch from the end. It did its job very well
-fairings: front right fairing cracked a piece off of the upper body where it contacted w/ the frame, cracked under where the slider crunched against the motor., front fairing rashed a bit in left side next to the light.
-right mirror very rashed, and pushed off the pegstand. Mirror itself did not smash.
-fairing stay bent inward from the inpact near the mirror
-front master cylinder was actually hit by the faring stay and cracked sending fluid all over the dash. Cracked where the outlet hose connects to the resivior.
-pipe all rashed to hell, lengthwise. Knocked the baffeling loose inside too.
-right rear passenger handle the rubber rubbed down to the metal
-front right peg off!!!! We had to go to a local gararge and use rob’s fancey connections to borrow some tools to remove the rear peg and put it in the front peg.
Forks, frame, subframe, radiator, clip on’s, seat, tank all were un harmed and not damaged!!!
The rest of the day went well, we actually logged nearly 50 miles after the event. Had a great lunch and got some good pics of the mt Washington.
Rob thanks again for a great time, sorry I cut the fun short. It’s always an adventure!!!!!
Add your pics too man!!!!!
The pics:
:laughing
