The calm and the chaos

NM Valles Caldera DS Ride - Part Deux

I think we had about 40 riders, Wow! Picture taken by Grizzly.

This was the group ride labeled the "NM Valles Caldera DS Ride - Part Deux."

Wow!

What a turn up, I counted about 40 riders at the gas station at Cochiti. This is by far a ride that has exceeded everyone expectation. It felt so good to be around the nicest people anyone can hope to meet. It was so nice to see old familiar faces and meet new ones. First off I want to thank Geo for putting together this ride and all the work preparing, doing the scouting pre-rides etc. . . , I truly enjoy things when Geo puts together a show. First class!

I also want to thank the other riders who helped, like Ryan, Slojoe, Grizzly, Dion, Sy, the Capt and the many others who helped and checked on everyone. It was nice riding with the old AARP group and the many others who joined in today.

The last group ride I participated while riding on the snow and ice, I pulled a ligament on my knee (it was almost torn) and my girlfriend told me I was done riding DS bikes. But my bikes need air, cooped up collecting dust it’s a crime. So I tried to reassure her that I would be extra careful and everything would be OK. She relented some and warned me that I better take it slow.

So here I was following Slojoe to meet the guys at Cochiti. It can’t be that bad when you follow Slojoe, right? We broke up in groups and I joined Geo’s group. Man I had never felt so good, I was able to push myself a little, just a little you know. The scenery was great, the company was great and I was in heaven.

So here I was somewhere in the middle of the large group, but we eventually just remained in one large group with everyone just moving along and taking care of each other. It worked out OK. My bike a DR650 was in top shape after I did some upgrades and my confidence was way high. We entered the high elevation and the scenery was breath taking. Sorry I was too busy enjoying the ride to bother with pictures, but I did post some pictures taken by Grizzly.

Here I am behind Grizzly. Picture taken by grizzly.

I was on a fairly easy dirt road with a turn here and there. I was standing and pushing myself a bit. I would look at my speedometer and make it a point to slow down after seen myself going over 55mph. But a little “get go” was really helping my skills on the turns. I was in my own world just riding in some of the best country in New Mexico. It was so surreal, like being in heaven, I was focused but at the same time my mind was just thinking about how things were so good and great and peachy.

Some riders kicking some dust. Picture taken by Grizzly

As I finished making a turn I saw some debris in the middle of the road from what appeared to be a cut tree. There were many small rounded pieces of wood. I thought about slowing down and going around, but they seem so incapable of causing harm. They seem so small, that I could just go over them. So I accelerated and plunged over them causing some sort of chaos. Pieces of wood flew all over the place. The handle bar of the bike started to quiver and shake uncontrollably. I tried to ride it through and held tight in attempts to gain control of the bike. At one point it seemed to settle down but it then suddenly turned completely to the right flinging me over the bike. It was like in slow motion and violent. It never occurred to me how it could get so violent in such calm peaceful place in a split second. One moment you are enjoying the scenery, listening to the birds chirp and the next thing it’s an instance of a thrashing against the ground and metal. I hit the ground on my left side and then I bounced landing on top of the bike.

The video mounted on my bike captured everything, I will try to post it later on NMRider, but I think I will edit out the whaling sounds, they are not very becoming.

Suddenly everything stopped and I was glad it finally did because it seemed to last an eternity. I tried to stand up but my left knee was in serious pain. Chris (Grizzly) was the first to reach me. He helped me up and I knew at minimum I had sustained some road rash. I sat down and my knee was numb and shaky. I shook it off and decided to ride it out. My clutch lever was broken (nothing duck tape couldn’t fix). The bike would not start. Do you know why they call Chris “Grizzly”? He is the size equivalent to a grizzly. I told him I had a problem starting my bike and he said, “just bump it.”

WTF?

He jumps on the foot peg, slams down on the bike and the bike came to life. It’s just an amazing feat!

The parking lot outside the restaurant. Picture taken by Grizzly.

It rained a little, got a little slippery coming down the mountain and got cold (didn’t have to put ice on my knee). Had a nice dinner at Espanola and I was wondering who was the one who asked the hostess, “table for 30!”

My knee was hurting a bit, so I rode the freeway back with Slojoe.

I walked in the house and my girlfriend was glaring at me. “Why are you limping?”
Till the next ride, well maybe!