No wonder cars hate us - Sunday on the Crest

[Balance]

I am a lucky guy. I live 7 miles from the Angeles Crest Highway. Since I travel for a living, when I am home, my time is my own. Getting to ride the Crest on weekdays is magic. No traffic, No LEO's after the high desert turn off, just a long, beautiful road. It re-opened last month after several months of repair due to the Station Fire (if you are local you already know). After several recent solo rides on weekdays, I took my wife up today and I was reminded why I never ride there on weekends. There was plenty of 4 wheel traffic, but most will pull over for you given half a chance. Today I witnessed 9 different riders make passes on blind corners (in my direction and opposing). Two of them did so just a half mile before Newcombs and then pulled into the parking lot (so what was the f******g rush?).
The bikes were assorted makes and models ridden by folks in hoodies & sneakers and one piece race leathers - no profiling to be done here.
Look, I believe that we are free to ride our own ride, but several of these moves were way dangerous and had nothing to do with rider skill (just brainpower). In each instance, they potentially endangered other riders coming the other way and insured that at least one more motorist now has proof positive that we are morons.
As an endurance bicyclist and long distance touring motorcyclist, I have watched motorists skate away from responsibility at accident sites over the course of 45+ years on two wheels. I firmly believe that this is due to the community at large looking at us with ignorance and distrust.
No solutions here, just venting. Stay safe out there people.

[Warp Racer]

Originally Posted by Balance

I am a lucky guy. I live 7 miles from the Angeles Crest Highway. Since I travel for a living, when I am home, my time is my own. Getting to ride the Crest on weekdays is magic. No traffic, No LEO's after the high desert turn off, just a long, beautiful road. It re-opened last month after several months of repair due to the Station Fire (if you are local you already know). After several recent solo rides on weekdays, I took my wife up today and I was reminded why I never ride there on weekends. There was plenty of 4 wheel traffic, but most will pull over for you given half a chance. Today I witnessed 9 different riders make passes on blind corners (in my direction and opposing). Two of them did so just a half mile before Newcombs and then pulled into the parking lot (so what was the f******g rush?).
The bikes were assorted makes and models ridden by folks in hoodies & sneakers and one piece race leathers - no profiling to be done here.
Look, I believe that we are free to ride our own ride, but several of these moves were way dangerous and had nothing to do with rider skill (just brainpower). In each instance, they potentially endangered other riders coming the other way and insured that at least one more motorist now has proof positive that we are morons.
As an endurance bicyclist and long distance touring motorcyclist, I have watched motorists skate away from responsibility at accident sites over the course of 45+ years on two wheels. I firmly believe that this is due to the community at large looking at us with ignorance and distrust.
No solutions here, just venting. Stay safe out there people.

Nice post Balance,
I see the same thing happening in my part of the world as well.

[cornerhungry]

funny, I was having a similar thought , as I did the same. I usually don't ride during the weekends but the day looked to great to pass up a chance to check out the crest since the fire. On my way down I saw a couple of the same instances , including a line of cars behind a motorcycle and another car, instead of finding a safe place to pass, the guy on the bike was just waving his fist and tailgating the car the whole time. I actually laughed out loud. Granted I've done plenty of stupid things like this. Nothing is more frustrating than wanting to take a spirited ride, and being surrounded by a** holes

[SoCalDuc]

Agreed. I live at the base of Glendora Mountain Road, with HWY 39 not too far away.

I NEVER go up there on weekends.

[Martyn]

Not only do I avoid riding on the weekends, long experience on bikes and a view of my own mortality means I won't ride on friday afternoons, and I don't ride at night. Sometimes in funky light conditions I'll stop and have a cup of coffee and wait. I drive quickly at times, but the atricle "riding the pace" which has been discussed here before, is just a smart way of thinking. I live in Washinghton State now, but I have spent many enjoyable hours on Palomar mountain in San Diego, and most times when I'm there, some fool crashes on that hill. That goes way back to the seventies, when I rode a Norton Commando. Ride safe, and chew out your friends if you see them make sketchy passes or stupid moves. Martyn

[John]

I'd sure like to ride the Angeles Crest one of these days. I think I'll just hook up my enclosed trailer and haul the bike down there and be done with it. I used to have the mindset cars were the culprits for crossing the line on you, but you have to watch for other motorcylists too. I've seen quite a few cutting across at very high speed and maybe they thought they were cool, but I didn't. FFen squids. This reminds me of that U Tube video of the on board bike camera where the rider was shaky to begin with and he positioned himself wrong on one turn and that caused him to cross over the line on the next. The resulting collision with another hapless rider going the oppisite direction must have been horrendous. Their closing speed was fast and according to the clip, both were killed. Can't even trust your fellow motorcyclists.

Be on the lookout when you see riders coming at you at high speed in the twisties. It might mean they were riding in a group and the slower riders are bringing up the rear and some of them might be playing "catch up", the dangerous game of riding over your head so not to look bad in the eyes of the group. Very common for them to make mistakes and that usually means going too hot into a corner or going wide. Watch out for those fools.

[KPK]

Hi, Balance
Just curious is the Crest open from Wrightwood over to Newcombs or is the top closed ? I was planning on coming out w a few friends from Vegas and we normally trailer to Victorville then ride from the top down .
Thanks , Kerry

[Balance]

As a matter of fact, I just spoke with a friend who had ridden through from our side to Wrightwood on Monday. He said there is still snowmelt hiding in the shadows and a lot of crap on the roadway as it has been closed for several months. Newcombs is currently only open on the weekends though.
For those coming from the south:
The standard "front" entrance to the Crest in La Cañada is still closed and according to the workers I have spoken to will be closed until late June or into July.
However, you can access the Crest from Big Tujunga (take the Sunland exit off the 210 and then Foothill east - turn left on Oro Vista Ave which runs into Big Tujunga.
The lack of vegetation means that there is more rockfall and blown dust than in past years, so watch your corners - AND HAVE FUN.

[KPK]

Thanks for the info I can't wait to hit the canyons n some great riding. X-)

[mp916f4]

No highway patrol on the weekends? Usually thats what happens if the calls start coming in from other motorists.