[Ducati] 1098s for sale (USED)

[George Betzhold]

Yeah, it happened right in front of me. JC post his account of the incident
on the Monster forum -
http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/index.php?topic=65191.0

I really like following Scott. (Heavy emphasis on "following".) In my
experience, riding with Scott and the other "Usual Suspects" is always a
treat. He (and Tim if he is there) set a fast (but not reckless) pace. They
always wait at points during the ride to collect everyone. There is never
any pressure on the slower riders (read - me) to keep up. If too much time
ensues 'til someone always goes back to check on the back markers. This
happened twice that day.

I agree with his assessment of the riders on that morning. The ride up the
mountain was very challenging thru cold mist and rain. We all made it up to
the top without incident. As we were waiting for another rider to arrive,
the skies cleared and the roads dried up. We were on a quick pace down
toward The Dragon when the incident occurred. I will let JC's description
speak for itself.

As has been mentioned, the responsibility for safe riding lies solely with
the individual. Ya just gotta remember that we are probably all gonna crash
sometime. Just try and keep the preventable ones to a minimum.

George Betzhold
Scottish Woods Log Cabin Resort
Murphy, North Carolina
828-837-5678 Call for reservations
www.scottishwoods.com
Skype ID - bevelsport



-----Original Message-----
From: ducati-bounces at ducati.net [mailto:ducati-bounces at ducati.net]On
Behalf Of Scott Cloninger
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 9:56 AM
To: Ducati Owners Group
Subject: RE: [Ducati] 1098s for sale (USED)


I'll still lead....I don't like to putter around.

I instruct people who I ride with that "If you can't hold my pace, then ride
at yours and I'll wait for you before I turn off anywhere...please do the
same for me."  I usually don't feel too guilty when someone behind me
crashes, as I figure that each rider has a responsibility to himself to
insure his own safety (no offense to the female riders out there...I use the
masculine here to indicate all riders).  However, at this point the number
of folks who've crashed behind me is really starting to pile up (including
the fatal crash of a dear friend this Fall), and I'm beginning to consider a
more mundane pace when leading the ride.  Who knew that this kinda stuff
would have a cumulative effect, like body blows in a championship boxing
match?  I guess I'm a glutton, 'cause I have no intention of hanging up my
leathers anytime soon.

BTW, my experience was on Friday morning, and the victim and his unintended
chauffeur were from Florida.  Both appeared to me to be quite skilled (I
make it a habit to watch those behind me for a while before wicking up the
pace), and I'm still not sure what caused the accident because I was well
ahead of that part of the group when it happened.  I only returned to the
scene after two riders failed to appear at the Joyce Kilmer National Forest
turnoff where the rest of the group was waiting.  We were riding at what I
consider to be "The Pace", which consists of a speed at which there is no
employment (or at least minimal employment) of the brakes.  George Betzhold
was bringing up the rear on his '73 Sport, so maybe he can lend some
insight, as he probably saw the whole thing.

The Saturday crasher was from Canada, but I (luckily) had nothing to do with
that one.

Anyway, I hope you'll come to the DABR event, Ray.  I miss you guys
something awful this time of year. 8(

Cheers,

Cloner
Chattanooga, TN
Anybody wanna go for a ride? (after if warms up, of course)

-----Original Message-----
From: ray tubach [mailto:ra2bach at msn.com]
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 8:29 AM
To: ducati at ducati.net
Subject: RE: [Ducati] 1098s for sale (USED)


Scott, I thought that fella was from Michigan, or Minnesota, or maybe even
Canada - somewhere north of here, anyway.

and btw, now you know why I won't lead rides when asked...

Ra2bach