[groundhog105]

Originally Posted by signit98

Bob, if the other rider was coming uphill and turned left, there are only a few options, NONE of them in any way, shape or form so blind that riding at a reasonable speed would guarantee an accident. PERIOD.

Actually, there really is ONLY one lookout where he needed to turn left, coming uphill. To the downhill side, that is a fairly BLIND corner, so, as I said... common sense demanding that you'd slow down to a reasonable speed.

It is no secret that there is a lookout and it is also no secret that people turn in there from the other side. Mort has been riding Palomar long and often enough to know that. But, again, it all involves common sense... something I have NEVER experienced while riding with him. Everything I stated here is related to his riding, not whether or not he is a nice guy otherwise or not. Of which, I know plenty of people who would emphatically dispute that as well.

Some of us have (drastically) different experiences with Mort and as such, it may seem odd, or bad, or ignorant to you, when we state our opinions. But much like one Mexican doesn't make it Summer, one good experience with Mort doesn't make him a good rider, which he isn't.

I have to agree though, whether or not he hired a hooker or not, doesn't belong here...

I have to agree with most of what you said Ralf, and that is why I rarely go ride Palomar Mountain. That Sat morning was the first time I have been up there in about a year, there are too many riders hanging it out too far and it just a dangerous place to ride especially in the afternoon when more people show up. I just think that some compassion should be shown for another human much less for some we know whether we like him or not. I was not with Mort when this happened but one of my very good friends was the third rider behind Mort and watched the whole thing unfold but managed to avoid the carnage by holding back (as you described) for that blind corner. I had split off from the group because I didnt want to go onto Palomar again. Maybe if Mort had been going a little slower into that corner there may have been something he could have done but from what my friend the third rider told me it would not have made any difference , there still would have been the collision. The fault clearly was with the rider traveling up the hill that made a sudden left turn in front of Mort. I know that several of you guys on tripple crown rides had unpleasant experiences with Mort but what you describe of his riding and personality just doesnt fit what I have seen so maybe he has changed. At any rate Mort does deserve some compassion.