Had a nice three day weekend down in Mobile, Alabama, with two other couples. We road down and back avoiding interstates where at all possible and had a wonderful ride. As we neared the Memphis metro area yesterday afternoon about 3 pm we had to get on the interstate otherwise we'd be forever getting through the city and home. Just as we were merging from I-55 into the I-240 permiter expressway we encountered a large group of metric riders who passed directly in front of us. All dressed alike with their t-shirts flowing in the wind behind them, athletic shoes, some in shorts, no gloves but all had full face helmets. I noticed some of the t-shirts said 'Memphis Wheelie Men' and sure enough several of the clowns were pulling wheelies there in heavy traffic doing 60-70 mph as they and the entire group weaved in and out of the various four lanes. This kind of chit give us all a bad name and it sure jacked me up. Losing control of a bike while doing a wheelie at that speed in heavy traffic is a recipe for disaster and folks getting hurt if not killed.
Last year after the Western CVO GTG we had a near crash on an interstate due to an idiot doing something on her phone and not paying attention. I guess she looked up and realized she was about to rear end the car in front and must have overbraked. All I know is that suddenly her car was fish tailing madly right in front of us in the lane to our left. My friend behind me complimented me on avoiding a collision after it was all over. I took no credit as all I remember was trying desperately to move somewhere where she was not going. Thankfully the lane to my right was open as I had to move without having any chance to look. I was locked on the fish tailing car and moving in reaction to her.
Gotta say that riding on the interstates these days is beginning to scare the daylights outa me. I try to avoid them but in large metro areas you just about have no choice.