A good rider gone.

[IMARTIN]

Just read the news that Lawrence Grodsky died after his bike and a deer came together at the wrong time. If Mr. Saftey can bite it like that, then the rest of us better take a moment to realize just how precious and precarious what we choose to do really is.

[tourunigo]

Just read the news that Lawrence Grodsky died after his bike and a deer came together at the wrong time. If Mr. Saftey can bite it like that, then the rest of us better take a moment to realize just how precious and precarious what we choose to do really is.


...amen.....but the thought emerges: is this a question of "situational awareness", blind (un)luck or some bigger question? This could open a thread of massive proportion but I have found that this little critter consumes much of my riding (especially when riding two-up) time. I now 'cut my losses' by avoiding very early morning twisties with clover on the side, fog and night riding. Maybe an age thing where one's own sense of mortality is a tad more prominant :dunno . A few encounters of heart stopping proportion but they never go by without some sort of thanks to being Irish, having an ancestral Angel on board, not being "my time", situational awareness and just blind luck.

[tourunigo]

:type ...like HST said "it'll alway be better to be shot out of a cannon than to be squeezed out of a tube....that's why God made fast motorcycles Bubba" Dancin' with the Devil maybe? -Bob

[rkgsz3]

Hearing of this incident brings back memories of Lolo pass and the Bears Tooth. In the grand scheme, that Oregon trip rates as one of the best for various reasons. One being the realization that no matter how safe, prepared,situationally aware , etc. I am, the risk that I accept as my leg swings over the saddle is always there.
3:00pm-'93K1100rs- Riding west toward Lowell, ID-looking into a darkened tree line, something doesn't look quite right, but I can't make it out-I roll off and suddenly it's right on me! Swerve hard right and WHAM!, a glancing blow off the right side of the windshield-feathers everywhere! Pull off-check the damage-what did I just hit? Go back to find a 15-20 lb turkey suffering the losing end.
Fast forward 2 days later--Doing the good samaritan thing- assisting a now very close friend and riding partner--riding from Cook City to Roberts,MT over the Bears Tooth--8:00am or there abouts--come out of a shady twisty section--looking into the morning sun--actually looking for animals-- and WHAM!, another glancing blow off the right side, hitting the fairing, leg and saddle-bag. A deer stepped from dark shadow into my path and I never saw it until we were careening off each other. No serious damage or injuries to either. But for the grace of God go I. :bikes

[Polarbear]

I ride in deer country,etcetc.,too. I have at least thirty deer whistles mounted to my frontend! I sound like an orchestra coming down the road.....Quite a site, wouldn't it be? I'm sorry for the loss of a good rider, friend. If ole Bambi ever gets me, I hope I'm smil'in ,do'in what pleases me most. Riding through the flora and fauna, enjoying life. I'll never quit.

[tessler]

I ride in deer country,etcetc.,too. I have at least thirty deer whistles mounted to my frontend! I sound like an orchestra coming down the road.....Quite a site, wouldn't it be? I'm sorry for the loss of a good rider, friend. If ole Bambi ever gets me, I hope I'm smil'in ,do'in what pleases me most. Riding through the flora and fauna, enjoying life. I'll never quit.Hey Polarbar, How have the thirty whistles worked for you? Got any pics of your bike to share? very curious
:brow