Absolutely wonderful ride today! Beautiful weather, along with the fact that nobody has to work on Monday, brought a huge pile of folks out to the Big Rock Deli this morning, and we had a great time on our way out to Occidental. Here's a group pic Ann was nice enough to take before we left:

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423015-L.jpg

From left to right: Patrick (friends with Sam Taylor), Mike Brubaker, Ruud Van Wijnen, Tony Arnold, Scott McClenahan, Steve Tourdo, Don Beaton, Bill Moore, Brian Walshe, Colin Hessel, Ben Swiggett, Steve Linden, myself, Tom Schubb, and George Lula.

Here's a link to the full picture gallery: Click right here... (http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/gallery/562399)

Steve Linden was taking his new K1200S on its inaugural SMR, and Mike Brubaker was doing the same for his brand new GSX-R1000. Here's Ann with Steve and his new bike:

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423180-L.jpg

Leaving Howard's after breakfast, Ben convinced us to go north for a loop that was just a "smidge" longer than usual. I had done this northern loop before, and had forgotten that it adds on about an hour to the round-trip. The good news is that the roads are completely worth it, and the pictures do a decent job of showing how nice it was up in the hills before heading back west to the coast:

Colin, George, Ann, Ben, and Scott:
http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423046-L.jpg

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423461-L.jpg

Colin:
http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423102-L.jpg

On the way back south on 1, Ann and I stopped at an overlook right across from Coleman Valley Road to take some pictures next to the ocean:

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423882-L.jpg

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23423906-L.jpg

http://aciurczak.smugmug.com/photos/23424211-L.jpg

Click here for GPS tracks of the route... (http://www.montgomerybikers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74)


Glad so many folks could make it, and too bad for the folks that slept in... :bounce

I wanted to write in and say that yesterday's SMR was the best one I have ever attended. The previous ones I did were always too cold or foggy, but yesterday's weather was just perfect. The ride before breakfast was great and Howard's was good as always. I got to enjoy my favorite blueberry pancakes with sausage and coffee.:) Although, my stack of pancakes had an unusual hole in it :confused: - not sure where that came from.:bunnycake

The ride after breakfast was beautiful - we even got to stop on 1 and enjoy the view of the ocean.

See everyone again next time!

Ann and Alex:

Great photos....

I agree it was one of the great SMR's. It's hard to improve upon the extra added loop that we did coming out of Cazadero. Should have brought my Tuono with its new tires!

--george

Sorry I missed such a great SMR - I was off rafting the South Fork of the American River with 7 eleven-year-old boys (!). I did head out for a short ride early this morning. On my way back to Sausalito via Shoreline, I was following a very pretty Porsche Speedster, resigned there would be no passing but comforted in that at least I wasn't stuck behind a tour bus. On a gentle right hander a little east of Panoramic Highway, a blue SV650 heading north apexed shall we say a bit too early, crossed the double yellow and clipped the left front of the Porsche. Bike and rider pirouetted quite gracefully over the car and landed between the Porsche and me. Fortunately for the rider, Speedsters have very low windshields! The rider was bruised and battered but luckily not seriously injured. The greatest concern he expressed was that he was not looking forward to hearing "I told you so" from his disapproving girlfriend. The Porsche passengers were unscathed, although the driver's wife was pretty agitated. The Suzuki appeared totalled; I suspect a broken side cover as there was a lot of oil mixed with the gasoline spilled on the road. Those who are less than fond of the spandex crowd (you know who you are) will be amused perhaps to hear that several of them, despite clear warnings about the slippery road surface and urgent suggestions to dismount, insisted on pedaling through the accident scene, with predictable results. Attitude is no antidote when skinny tires meet 15-40W.

Turns out the Porsche driver was Robert Devlin, who is a pretty well-known amateur automotive journalist (e.g. "Road & Track") and Pebble Beach Concours judge. Bob was a guest at my wedding in 1986, although I had not seen him in years, and is a good friend of Dick Gale, Bill McCall, and other MSMCer's. Small world.....

Let me put in a good word for Motorcycle Touring Services (800-999-7064), which is something like AAA for motorcyclists. I am a subscriber and called them to see about arranging a wrecker for the SV650. Even though the Suzuki rider is not with MTS, they still contacted a towing service and had a truck dispatched. I can also say that the CHP motorcycle officers who responded were entirely professional and non-judgemental. Their primary concern was the well-being of the downed rider.

All in all a quite eventful start to Memorial Day.

Damn! That must have been reasonably exciting to see happen directly in front of you! How close did you get to the bike before coming to a stop? Did the rider mention why he misjudged the turn so badly (on the inside, no less)? How badly was the speedster damaged? Was this one of the almost completely irreplaceable ones from the 50's, or was this one of the special carrera speedster models of the early 90's (rare, but not as rare as the earlier ones, I think). Did you get any pics of the stubborn and dim-witted bicyclists falling on their keisters?

As luck would have it I avoided the Suzuki by juking right but stopped close enough to the Porsche's rear bumper that I had to dismount to back my bike uphill and get it turned. The SV650 rider is a relative newbie (< 12 mos riding) who didn't really have an answer other than "How could I be so stupid?" He was a nice guy and chagrined by the whole episode.

The white 964 Speedster is a 1993 model (i.e. non-turbo body style) of which fewer than 500 made it to the States. Although driveable once I pried the LF fender away from the tire with a crowbar borrowed from the fire engine, it nevertheless will require a couple of $1000 in repairs to the aluminum bodywork.

Hate to disappoint but no photos of fallen cyclists (but suspect you would have relished my editorial comments after they went down).

Gentlemen and Annie:

WE got lucky on Sunday. I stopped by Marin BMW this afternoon to pickup some "stuff" and was informed by Cary that the CHP has arrested 31 Sunday morning riders in West Marin. They were out in force and were coordinating with the Marin Sheriff.

Good thing we weren't speeding!

--george :rolleyes: