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So I am riding with a friend on a beautiful Easter Sunday ride and we pass a fellow rider going the other way. My buddy, leading, gives a wave and the other guy does the same but before I can wave also, I see his line in the curve looking bad and while I watch in the mirror, he does a face plant into the ditch!

Shades of a certain ride at the first Bash! I blow my horn (a futile gesture) do a U and go back. He is standing, trying to right the bike, a good sign. I park and trot up, noticing immediately the 30-day tag and shiny new bike. Or at least the left side was shiny. The right side - not so much!

We get the bike stable and I talk to the guy to see if he is coherent. He seems to be and takes inventory of body parts to check for damage. He appears to be OK, just shook up. Further observation reveals what appears to be brand new riding gear - jacket, leather pants, good boots and gloves and a new helmet. All pristine, again, except for the parts that did their job in the fall. He bought the bike yesterday and it was his first bike!

My buddy comes back, no doubt expecting to find me in trouble and we look for parts. Eventually, we start the bike and he rides home, only around the corner.

Shame he learned some lessons so soon but fortunately he managed to survive. Lessons learned - 1. focus on your riding, even when waving. 2. Good gear can pay off

He will learn the next lesson when he starts pricing all the fiberglass and other parts to put the bike back to shiny again! It gets expensive!

Van

I don't care what anyone else says....you are a good egg and I'm sure the newbie was most welcome to see you come to his rescue. Your post does bring back some old memories........

On another note, I was just thinking of the after dark dash to the BBQ place and the return to Tapoco the very first night of the Bash, cold and dark......I don't think I would have done it today......

Al - I remember that ride too! That was a long ride back! I remember our intrepid ride leaders losing the group too!

Vann, you're a good guy. I'm glad you were there.

This brings up a point worth mentioning. A friend asked me why so many motorcyclists wave to one another. I tried to explain why, being friendly, brotherhood and so on. I know I try to wave when I can but there are times when I simply do not because I can't afford to safely take my left hand from the grip. If you're in a curve or approaching one or in busy traffic you need to keep both hands where they belong. Safely riding a bike takes two good feet and two good hands and one good head with a working and alert brain.

I think about this more and more since my accident. I am not as quick to take my hand off the grip now. I know I will become more at ease and relaxed but I want to guard against becoming too relaxed.

If you're a new and inexperienced rider, don't worry about waving back when another rider waves at you. Wait till you have experience and miles under your belt.

And if you wave at another rider and he doesn't wave back don't immediately think that he is unfriendly or stuck up. He may just know his safety limitations.

Wayne

And a good accented nod works well, also.

I guard my hands, being my 3rd or 4th favorite organ.

John

I remember our intrepid ride leaders losing the group too

We didn't lose you. You all lost US! We even backtracked looking for you, but you guys wanted take a tour of the dam.

Oh, nice assist to the newbie that crashed.

I can't help smiling as I think of the movie WildHogs...

DJ

DJ - I had the same thoughts, especially since I saw that actor in not one but two movies on TV this weekend!

People - I don't think it is being a good guy to stop to help. Most of us would have done the same, if it had been a car or bike. I just seem to have been the 1st on the scene to more than my share of accidents!

On the other hand, I believe the converse is true. If you knowingly leave the scene of an accident when you could provide assistance, then you are indeed an a$$hole!

Boxer - that was sort of the way it happened. I saw the wrong turn happening in front of me (kind of like an accident) and could do nothing to prevent it!