A very good friend of mine and a long time member of this board, AK (Andy) was out on a ride up to San Francisco Sat. and he went down. He's not hurt bad......just a little sore and the bike is just cosmetic stuff.....he rode it home.
As I understand it, him and some four or five others were riding up 280 when all of a sudden the freeway was stopped. The first couple started to lane split and made it O.K. the third guy locked up, high sided and slammed into the back of a car.......died immediatly. 24 years old and the son of the first guy, Andy's long time friend and riding buddy. Everybody locked up and bikes were going everywhich way. Andy was the last bike and was doing fine until one of the other bikes cut right in front of him...........down he went.
Like I said, he's doing fine, just a little sore and the bike can be repaired. It is tough when anybody in your group goes down but it's really tough when one dies.....especially if you knew him! I'm saying my prayers for this kid, who I don't know and that doesn't matter.
An interesting side note. After my accident in 04 I went from a beanie helmet to a full face helmet (due to the shattered jaw). A week or two ago, Andy was riding back from San Diego and stopped at a truck stop, where his beannie helmet got ran over. Several times, since my accident, I tried suggesting to Andy the benefits of a full face (flip face, Nolan N-100) helmet. Sat. was the first time he'd ever wore one. Yes, he hit his head on the ground and said he can remember it and the helmet took the beating and saved his noggin. Just an interesting side note.
I'd been down three times previously to my 04 accident and all three times my beanie flew off, from the impact however, I never hit my head. Had I taken those clues as a warning, and bought the full face earlier, I may have never had a shattered jaw in my 04 accident. JMHO and thoughts.
Andy, I'm so glad that you're O.K. and that we'll ride again! [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]