Gap Safety

Martyn posted this and we all need to read it before going to the Gap and Convention. Even if you have been the 100 times..READ IT. We want next year's convention and all future Conventions to be safe and lots of fun. I post this general message to all who ride or are thinking about riding at the gap. Firstly I am saddened to hear of the loss of any rider who loses his or her life riding a motorcycle, weather it be at the gap or anywhere else. I was 2 bikes behind Kflex when he passed so know first hand how dangerous the gap can be however, if you treat your bike and riding ability with respect and KNOW YOUR LIMITS then you can have a fantastic time there. I have had 3 Gap trips now and have seen accidents every time, some sport bike and others cruisers, there is no hard and fast reason as to why a rider crashes, some cross the yellow lines and collide, some just miss judge a corner, others just try to keep up with friends and end up riding beyond their ability, we have all heard that before, it's nothing new. The local riders there are seriously fast, they know the road better than a visitor ever can so my advice is the following. Take a few slow passes, so what if others pass you,, get an idea of the road in YOUR mind's prospective, speed up gradually and if your beginning to feel uncomfortable, SLOW BACK DOWN, its not a race, there are no prizes and if you hold people up, so what , others can usually pass safely, what ever you do, keep your side of the road and above all, expect the unexpected, don’t go out there thinking of the argument you had with your wife or girlfriend the night before, stay focused and concentrate on what you are doing. I feel like I am going on a bit here but if only one person reads this and remember my words and learns, and has a good time at the gap, then I am happy. When I go up the gap, I feel I am fast but know there is always some one much faster, its good fun trying to keep up but I know my limits well and let the faster rider pull away rather than fight my bike and ego with the chance I make a mistake. If you do come off at the gap, you will find it very unforgiving, look what happens every year, there are fewer fatalities this year than of others, that to me is a good thing to hear but when you stop for gas, take a while to look at the tree of shame, the very fact it exists should tell you something, if your brave enough read some of the notes posted, then let it sink in, the gap can take your life. So please guy's and gals, sportbike or cruiser riders, PLEASE be careful and think about how you’re going to ride the gap. Conquer the gap at your own pace and in your own comfort zone and you will find it will reward you with a ride like no other. I hope to see you all be safe. Martyn

Copied from http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_howtoride.html The Dragon is not a difficult road to ride. I was taming it only a few weeks after my first motorcycle ride and dragging pegs a week later. FIRST READ THIS: CLICK HERE to read about trucks on the Dragon AND CLICK HERE to read about Guardrail Cliff Then read these pointers: · Ride the Dragon at your skill level - don't try to push it or keep up with faster riders. . Avoid the painted lines when the pavement is wet. They are extremely slippery. · STAY IN YOUR LANE, FOR THAT MATTER STAY IN THE RIGHT HALF OF YOUR LANE There are videos available for sale that show riders cutting the corners and taking chances that might appear "fun" while sitting in your easy chair. BEWARE!. this style of riding on the Dragon can cost you dearly. The challenge of the Dragon is to take the many curves in the best line possible and both lanes IS NOT "the line". Ride Florida if you like to straighten out the curves. · Do NOT sightsee. The Dragon is to ride, not to watch the sights. On many runs I don't even see what is on the side of the road. I'm watching the roadway ahead. · Look far ahead at the road, curves, bushes, other vehicles, etc. If you haven't seen the hazards right in front of you, you are going to hit them anyway, so you might as well pay attention to what you can avoid. . We have seen deer, bear, turkeys, and wild boar on the roadway. Be ready to brake and slow. · Maintain a "safe zone". Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Watch your rear view mirrors for faster vehicles. If you see a faster rider/driver coming up behind you, pull over to the right half of your lane, slow down, and wave them around. It is much safer to give a faster rider half of your lane than to try to outrun him. NEVER stay left trying to keep him from passing. NEVER pull off the road onto a gravel/low shoulder. It may be illegal to pass on the Dragon, but I'll let a faster rider get around me to protect my safe zone. · There will always be faster riders than you. Don't try to be the King of the Dragon. · Ride the Dragon many times before trying to challenge it. Then you still need to respect it. · DO NOT LAY ON THE BRAKES if you see danger ahead. You are much better off to trust your tires and lay into the corner than to hit your brakes hard. Some 90% of the accidents on the Dragon are due to speed and then over-braking. · If you see another vehicle coming at you in your lane, hug the white line in your lane. In all likelihood you can avoid trucks and trailers if you take the inside 2 feet in the corners. BUT DO NOT CUT THE CORNERS too tight and run off the road on the inside. YOU WILL GO DOWN IF YOU DO. · Stay between the double yellow and the white line. Do not dive over the double yellow or cut inside the white line in corners. · Wear protective gear, especially armored gloves, boots, leathers, and full-face helmets. · DO NOT be spooked by other riders. DO NOT make sudden avoidance moves. You might have to adjust your line to avoid a car, truck, or bike, but DO NOT lay on the brakes or turn off the roadway unless that is the only out you have. · Avoid riding hard on the Dragon in heavy traffic times. Weekends from 11 am to 5 pm are the busiest. These are the times to lay back and enjoy watching the "show". · The early mornings (before 11 am) and the late afternoons (after 5 pm) have the least traffic. · ALWAYS stay 100% alert. You do not have the advantage of relaxing on the Dragon. · Try your tricks elsewhere. Wheelies, stoppies, etc. will get you in trouble and trash your bike and maybe you. · Make sure your bike is mechanically sound and that your tires are good. · Plan to make several runs, the first is always a nervous one .... then you can have fun on the second and third. · Remember that it takes a while to heat your tires up. We have seen too many bikers go down right after they start. · DO NOT over-use your brakes. Use your gears and DOWNSHIFT. A good Dragon rider WILL NOT use a lot of brakes. · Focus - do not daydream. Watch the road, your mirrors, and pay attention to other bikes/cars/trucks. 99% of the accidents on the Dragon come from the following: · Too much speed · Too much brakes · Tricks · People who should not be riding in the first place · Inattentiveness

Da Gap!!!!

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Just cleaning some dust off. :)

Just cleaning some dust off. :) How incredibly eerie. Those are almost the exact same words K_Flexxx (Kelly) said to me before he took that last fateful ride. "Don't worry, I'm just dustin' the cobwebs off." Man, that brought back some memories. :( Do be safe everyone. Crashing at the Gap hurts in so many ways.

Do be safe everyone. Crashing at the Gap hurts in so many ways. :fact No losses or injuries this year people!! :fact

:confused: I was wondering how this got bumped... :ncont:. Good trip this year everyone... :secret: