Hi Everyone...
I feel like I've been completely divorced from our club and flying community, having hung up flying for the winter! But I'm still a pilot, and plan to spend some time at Blue Sky in the spring getting my wings back, then hitting the mountains again. (It's that 2 steps forward, 1 step back thing.)
Aside from this forum, I monitor (and, of course, post to) three other forums, each of which has a few hundred more active members than this one! One for paddling, one for motorcycling, and one for snowboarding. You all know how time-consuming this forum can be...multiply that times three, and it's out of control!
Snowboarding has been lousy this winter for obvious reasons. I'm halfway to breaking even on my season pass, and will have to go at least 7 more times to get there. I haven't lost all hope, since there are still 6 weeks left of potential cold weather (last day of boarding last year was March 15th).
It's been a great winter for motorcycling though. I've done some fantastic rides with other folks from the area who I met through http://www.sport-touring.net --- a good riding community. My Honda VFR800 is turning out to be a fantastic bike, and I'm psyched to do my first overnighters with it now that I have some hardbags for hauling gear!
Holly has been ridiculously busy with work at her new job. As you might know, she took a job with Ernst & Young in NYC in the fall and got an apartment in Summit, New Jersey. She hated it all! Hated New Jersey, hated NYC, and hated the commuting! Just when I thought she'd lose it, she got a reprieve in the form of a 3-month client engagement here in DC. So until April, she's living with me and commuting to Herndon by car. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for what happens after that...)
I've promised Daniel to crank out the winter Skyline, which I'll force myself to begin this week...so stay tuned! (My editor's column will be very short, though---I feel totally unqualified to comment on anything, I've been so out-of-it!)
Scott
Just saying hi.
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Just saying hi.
Hi, Scott. Rode my BMW out to Front Royal airport yesterday to see
about a trike. On the way back, within a few blocks of my house in
Hyattsville, a car turned in front of me and I hit it's right front
bumper. Went over the handlebars, through my windshield, over his
hood, bounced obliquely off his windshield, smashing it, and landed
in the street on the other side. Walked away with two sprained hands/
hyper-extended thumbs from getting the grips ripped out of my hands.
Full-face helmet apparently untouched. Front fork pushed in so the
tire rubs. I sure enjoy riding, but if insurance totals this old
bike, I don't think I'll replace it. Lucky I only hit at ~10-15
mph... Think I'll stick to something safer like hang- and
paragliding... The guy is still emotionally attached to the trike, so
he's not in a hurry to sell. We'll see... - Hugh
about a trike. On the way back, within a few blocks of my house in
Hyattsville, a car turned in front of me and I hit it's right front
bumper. Went over the handlebars, through my windshield, over his
hood, bounced obliquely off his windshield, smashing it, and landed
in the street on the other side. Walked away with two sprained hands/
hyper-extended thumbs from getting the grips ripped out of my hands.
Full-face helmet apparently untouched. Front fork pushed in so the
tire rubs. I sure enjoy riding, but if insurance totals this old
bike, I don't think I'll replace it. Lucky I only hit at ~10-15
mph... Think I'll stick to something safer like hang- and
paragliding... The guy is still emotionally attached to the trike, so
he's not in a hurry to sell. We'll see... - Hugh
Was that a joke Hugh??? 
If not, I'm sorry?that's a drag! Glad you weren't hurt more! You fit the statistics too, I'm afraid?that the majority of accidents happen within 10 miles of home.
You have a point about the dangers of motorcycling. On the other hand, the way I ride, I literally condition myself to believe that every car on the road isn't just a hazard?that they're actually out to kill me! So far that strategy is working well?I give people a WIDE berth and always assume (and therefore am prepared for) the worst. But...I know cluelessness happens with "cagers."
Scott
If not, I'm sorry?that's a drag! Glad you weren't hurt more! You fit the statistics too, I'm afraid?that the majority of accidents happen within 10 miles of home.You have a point about the dangers of motorcycling. On the other hand, the way I ride, I literally condition myself to believe that every car on the road isn't just a hazard?that they're actually out to kill me! So far that strategy is working well?I give people a WIDE berth and always assume (and therefore am prepared for) the worst. But...I know cluelessness happens with "cagers."
Scott
Just saying hi.
The car turned left from the opposite direction literally a car
length in front of me - I was invisible even with the light on. I
had just turned onto the the street from a dead stop at a light a
hundred feet away and was accelerating, but did get some braking done
- just not enough to stop. Glad I didn't attempt to swerve - might
have taken the blow on my leg and been more seriously injured. I'm
thinking what would have happened if this occurred on a nice country
road at 60 mph... - Hugh
+++++++++
length in front of me - I was invisible even with the light on. I
had just turned onto the the street from a dead stop at a light a
hundred feet away and was accelerating, but did get some braking done
- just not enough to stop. Glad I didn't attempt to swerve - might
have taken the blow on my leg and been more seriously injured. I'm
thinking what would have happened if this occurred on a nice country
road at 60 mph... - Hugh
+++++++++
Re: Just saying hi.
I'm sure relieved that your were not more seriously injured.mcelrah wrote:The car turned left from the opposite direction literally a car
length in front of me - I was invisible even with the light on. I
had just turned onto the the street from a dead stop at a light a
hundred feet away and was accelerating, but did get some braking done
- just not enough to stop. Glad I didn't attempt to swerve - might
have taken the blow on my leg and been more seriously injured. I'm
thinking what would have happened if this occurred on a nice country
road at 60 mph... - Hugh
+++++++++
'Spark
Just saying hi.
What color is your bike and jacket. I saw Scott ride by on his and he looked like a hugh yellow jacket. Couldn't miss him.
Christy
Hugh McElrath <mcelrah@verizon.net> wrote:
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Christy
Hugh McElrath <mcelrah@verizon.net> wrote:
Hi, Scott. Rode my BMW out to Front Royal airport yesterday to see
about a trike. On the way back, within a few blocks of my house in
Hyattsville, a car turned in front of me and I hit it's right front
bumper. Went over the handlebars, through my windshield, over his
hood, bounced obliquely off his windshield, smashing it, and landed
in the street on the other side. Walked away with two sprained hands/
hyper-extended thumbs from getting the grips ripped out of my hands.
Full-face helmet apparently untouched. Front fork pushed in so the
tire rubs. I sure enjoy riding, but if insurance totals this old
bike, I don't think I'll replace it. Lucky I only hit at ~10-15
mph... Think I'll stick to something safer like hang- and
paragliding... The guy is still emotionally attached to the trike, so
he's not in a hurry to sell. We'll see... - Hugh
Bring words and photos together (easily) with
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-
drice21037
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Annapolis, MD
Just saying hi.
A huge yellow jacket??? I once heard Scott mumbling "I'm the King Bee...I buzz
all night long".
Hugh, I'm glad you're OK. You're right, we should all stick to the safe stuff
like flying.
Dave
Quoting Christy Huddle <huddlec@yahoo.com>:
>
> What color is your bike and jacket. I saw Scott ride by on his and he looked
> like a hugh yellow jacket. Couldn't miss him.
>
> Christy
all night long".
Hugh, I'm glad you're OK. You're right, we should all stick to the safe stuff
like flying.
Dave
Quoting Christy Huddle <huddlec@yahoo.com>:
>
> What color is your bike and jacket. I saw Scott ride by on his and he looked
> like a hugh yellow jacket. Couldn't miss him.
>
> Christy
Just saying hi.
Black and black. The jacket does have reflective material. The
street is well lighted. - Hugh
street is well lighted. - Hugh
That's definitely scary Hugh---you couldn't have done anything. Being more visible might have helped, but then again...
I often ride with my high-beam on during the day (and sometimes at night)?I honestly don't give a rat's a** if it bothers people in cars. If I bother 'em, then the high-beam has done it's job! (And it's no worse than people whose vehicles have umpteen blinding foglights running constantly in addition to their headlights...)
There are all sorts of theories about why people in cars don't see motorcycles. Aside from bright/dark color issues, the theory I buy into the most is that drivers always see motorcyclists...but they underestimate the bike's closing speed. (Sure they say they didn't see the motorcyclist, but what driver is gonna say "Yep, I saw him!")
Ever cautious, ever vigilant!
Scott
I often ride with my high-beam on during the day (and sometimes at night)?I honestly don't give a rat's a** if it bothers people in cars. If I bother 'em, then the high-beam has done it's job! (And it's no worse than people whose vehicles have umpteen blinding foglights running constantly in addition to their headlights...)
There are all sorts of theories about why people in cars don't see motorcycles. Aside from bright/dark color issues, the theory I buy into the most is that drivers always see motorcyclists...but they underestimate the bike's closing speed. (Sure they say they didn't see the motorcyclist, but what driver is gonna say "Yep, I saw him!")
Ever cautious, ever vigilant!
Scott
Just saying hi.
I can't prove it, but I think the heavy Nitro motorcycle suit with CE
armor inserts may have helped me avoid more serious injury: I
honestly don't know what part of me hit the car's windshield (left
shoulder is my best guess), but I sure put a big dent in it. Nothing
hurts, though. Agree that bright colors might help, but all they had
when I bought it was basic black. I have found that pedestrians/
bicyclists can be hidden by the rear view mirror during a turn... -
Hugh
armor inserts may have helped me avoid more serious injury: I
honestly don't know what part of me hit the car's windshield (left
shoulder is my best guess), but I sure put a big dent in it. Nothing
hurts, though. Agree that bright colors might help, but all they had
when I bought it was basic black. I have found that pedestrians/
bicyclists can be hidden by the rear view mirror during a turn... -
Hugh
Just saying hi.
I have always ridden with my headlight on, even back when it wasn't automatically on with the bike running. I've always worn a helmt.? I used to be really bad at what I wore (one time I was pulled over by a highway patrol in CA when I was zooming down the freeway on a borrowed 750 wearing shorts, halter top, sandals and helmet - at the time I had long blond hair and was 21 years old), but now I always am covered and have a jacket with the armor plates in it (it's red with lots of reflective stuff).? I always am looking for idiot drivers about to turn left into my path. I never take off quickly from a stop where there might be driveways or roadways with turning traffic. I use ESP (really!) to tell drivers to wait for me to pass by (it works). I've zigged zagged the bike to make it more visible in certain situations. I just hope my karma is good, because that also can help you out.
While on the subject, I always avoid painted lines and metal covers when the roadway is wet or if it has just rained and might be wet. I always signal my intentions when turning. I choose places that let me be more visible for making turns. I don't go over the speed limit, especially at night, because doing that makes it much harder for others to tell how much time they have to do their turns, etc. (It's speeding that also does a good job at killing off pedestrians who think they have more time to cross than they do.)
Before retiring from MoCo, I was doing the pedestrian and bicycle safety thing (with all my training as a planner....) and found that visibility at night is the biggest factor on whether you live or die and the best thing is lots of reflective material that is moving with you making it obvious you're walking or cycling, and flashing red is the best. During the day, it's harder to make yourself visible, unless you can carry one of those orange flags they have in Utah and other states (and which both MD and MoCo have said they won't allow).
I got about an hour and 45 minutes at Quest yesterday and a good landing on my new glider, despite having my vario battery (Tangent) go dead 15 minutes into the flight. Dang, I like that Tangent.? It's now fully charged again and the weather isn't looking good for flying for a couple of days.
Christy
Hugh McElrath <mcelrah@verizon.net> wrote:
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While on the subject, I always avoid painted lines and metal covers when the roadway is wet or if it has just rained and might be wet. I always signal my intentions when turning. I choose places that let me be more visible for making turns. I don't go over the speed limit, especially at night, because doing that makes it much harder for others to tell how much time they have to do their turns, etc. (It's speeding that also does a good job at killing off pedestrians who think they have more time to cross than they do.)
Before retiring from MoCo, I was doing the pedestrian and bicycle safety thing (with all my training as a planner....) and found that visibility at night is the biggest factor on whether you live or die and the best thing is lots of reflective material that is moving with you making it obvious you're walking or cycling, and flashing red is the best. During the day, it's harder to make yourself visible, unless you can carry one of those orange flags they have in Utah and other states (and which both MD and MoCo have said they won't allow).
I got about an hour and 45 minutes at Quest yesterday and a good landing on my new glider, despite having my vario battery (Tangent) go dead 15 minutes into the flight. Dang, I like that Tangent.? It's now fully charged again and the weather isn't looking good for flying for a couple of days.
Christy
Hugh McElrath <mcelrah@verizon.net> wrote:
I can't prove it, but I think the heavy Nitro motorcycle suit with CE
armor inserts may have helped me avoid more serious injury: I
honestly don't know what part of me hit the car's windshield (left
shoulder is my best guess), but I sure put a big dent in it. Nothing
hurts, though. Agree that bright colors might help, but all they had
when I bought it was basic black. I have found that pedestrians/
bicyclists can be hidden by the rear view mirror during a turn... -
Hugh
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