Vstar-Guy
USA
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Joined: 01/15/2005
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I imagine collectively, we probably have well over a couple of hundred years ridin' experience on bikes. Anyone care to share a funny story? I'll bet there are tons of funny ones.
Hey Ride_slow2004 and McJack, being a motorpolice officers, You guys must have a lot of them. This should be very entertaining!
Thanks and
Ride Safely
In order to Ride Safely you must Expect the Unexpected!
The RIDE is the Destination!
Always Remember: Stupid Hurts!
VStarGuy
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4-Bike Dave
Michigan
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Joined: 07/03/2007
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After I graduated from college, my friend Ken and I decided we'd ride from our home town in mid-Michigan to Rocky Mountain National Park. For no good reason other than to experience the ride.
The second day out I realized at a rest area that I'd left my gloves in a restaurant where we ate breakfast. My BRAND NEW deer-skin gauntlet gloves which I'd paid a lot of money for. I had to go back and get them. I dumped my gear by Ken's Honda, and Ken agreed to chill out and wait for me. We figured we'd come about 50 miles since breakfast, so he wouldn't have to wait too long.
I jumped on the Yamaha, and somehow got headed back towards the East. I was making pretty good time, as I was anxious about someone walking off with my gloves, and I was in a hurry to get back to West-bound. I had the bike WOT for quite a while (in Iowa) when I had to slow down for a semi which was making a pass on a slow-moving 4-wheeler. As I came around him, I gave him a big "wagon-ho" wave to say, "follow me and we'll make some good time!". He held up his hand and showed me two fingers - kind of like a peace sign, but with his fingers touching. I shook my head to indicate that I didn't understand, and he just did it again. I gave up trying to understand his signal, and opened the throttle and sped off.
Shortly thereafter, I was in the right lane an a long uphill with a bread truck about a mile ahead of me. With the difference in our speeds (I think I leveled out at about 130), I closed the gap fairly quickly. As I swung out around him, I saw the Police cruiser that was setting the pace at about 65 in the right lane. I panicked.
I grabbed all the brakes I could without skidding the tires, and down shifted one gear, but still couldn't scrub enough speed to keep from coasting past the officer's cruiser. As I passed him at an off-the-throttle speed of 75 or so, I had the courage to glance over at him to see just how busted I was going to be. To my surprise, he was doubled over the steering wheel laughing, and looking back at me! Apparently he'd seen the antics I had gone through to scrub speed. Thankfully, he assumed I'd learned my lesson, and let me go without so much as a toot of the horn.
I realized the trucker was trying to tell me there was a cop 2 miles ahead.
I collected my gloves, and made a quick trip (OK - so I hadn't learned my lesson yet) back to the rest stop to collect Ken, who was surprised to see me so soon. Turns out that I'd made the 100 mile round trip and collected my gloves all in just under 55 minutes. The ET was a personal record that stood for years until a pending divorce and a borrowed Corvette conspired against me.
That was when I was younger.
I'm smarter now, and I ride slower.
Almost always.
Dave
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mcjack
DeLand, FL
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Joined: 01/02/2008
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3 years ago, my wife and I were on a bike trip to Newfoundland. We're riding on Hwy 430 on the northernmost peninsula headed toward St. Anthony. The Gulf of St. Lawrence is on our left. Its early June and the temp is in the high 30's with a stiff wind blowing off the cold water. We stopped for gas and my wife goes in to use the restroom. After I pumped the gas, I'm waiting for 10 or 15 min., till my wife finally comes out with a real bad attitude and she's carrying something in a plastic bag. Seems that while she's in the bathroom, she leans over to flush the toilet and the knit scarf that she's wearing wrapped around her neck, falls into the toilet. Now she's complaining that she's going to be even colder than she's been already, bla, bla, bla. I chuckled (to myself) and told her "just put it back on and let the wind dry it out". There wasn't much conversation the rest of the way to St. Anthony.
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Vstar-Guy
USA
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I'll bet you she dosen't have a clue you shared that story with us!
Don't worry I won't say anything. Smart man, to chuckle to yourself.
I know if it were my wife and I chuckled out loud ... I would be singing soprano!  Ok, I won't tell if you don't tell I said that.
Ride Safely
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mcjack
DeLand, FL
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MY FIRST LONG RIDE (AND MOST FOOLISH): In 1977 I was living in Frederick, OK having just gotten out of the Army at Ft. Sill. Owned a 1977 Honda 550 Supersport. Being from FL, I had never seen the Rocky mountains and decided I would ride to Pikes Peak. (570 miles one way) I had two days off work and my next door neighbor and buddy, who rode a 500cc thumper dirt bike was going with me. We had planned this ride for two weeks and with the bike all loaded up with a duffel bag tied to the seat, I banged on my buddys door. With his wife standing behind him sneering at me, he lets me know that he no longer wants to go. See ya! Leaving at 5AM, I arrived in Colorado Springs at about 6PM, got a motel and figured I'd stop off for a cold one. Partied till late, hooked up with the band that was playing the saloon, they followed me back to the motel so I could drop off the bike and I went with them to I really don't remember where and they brought me back, I really don't remember when. Next morning, with a super hangover, I ride the 550 to the top of Pikes Peak ( I think the thin air made the hangover worse). Left Colorado Springs at about 2PM, headed back home. Riding in the night, rain, hungry (somehow ran out of food money), I stopped at a rest area with a covered picnic table near the TX/OK state line. I laid down on the table and went to sleep at about midnight. I slept for maybe an hour, woke up, and to my horror, my bike was gone. I sat there for a minute in disbelief, staring at the ground where my bike had been. My hearts pounding, causing my headache to pound, I turn around to scan the area and my bikes behind me on the other side of the table. Now my heads really pounding, I'm cursing out loud, jump on the bike and ride off in the rain. I no longer had a rainsuit, as my rain suit was one of those plastic suits you exersize in to make you sweat (saved a few bucks there), and it ripped to shreads wearing it in a drizzle on the way west. Got home at about 4AM. Still have the pictures.
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Vstar-Guy
USA
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Mcjack, that sounded like a nightmare! Amazing the things you do when you’re young.
Would you make that Pikes Peak trek again, under the same conditions?
Ride Safely!
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oldman52
Kentucky
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Joined: 01/31/2008
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Way back when I had a lot more hair and a lot less gut, I bought my first bike, a Kaw 400. I owned it for two weeks before desiding to ride it home on leave from Cannon Air Force Base in NM to my home in Nothern Kentucky, 1400 miles. I figured the half way point was Little Rock, AR and was determined to reach that point no matter what. Burning down I 40 I remember seeing a sign that said Little Rock 50 miles, I blinked (or so I thought) and then there was a sign that said Little Rock 10 Miles. Needless to say it scared the heck out of me and I made the return trip in three days rather than the original two.
I still ride whereever and whenever possible but I don't push the limits of time, distance, or speed anymore.
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Vstar-Guy
USA
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Yep, that was youthful exuberance, "gotta get there as fast as I can".
Now that we are just a "little older", we take are time.
Maybe cause we are too (*&^%$# Old.
I like that saying "The ride IS the destination".
Makes sense to me! Thats what I do these days,weather permitting,
Just point and go!
Ride Safely
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