Raced a Harley today.....

[5axis]

Raced a Harley today.....

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I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed to PASS the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really twisting sections of canyon road with no straight sections to speak of and where most of the curves have warning signs that say "15 MPH".

I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those big-cubic-inch motors, it would have to be a place like this where handling and rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.

I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could catch him, but it wouldn't be easy. I concentrated on my braking and cornering. three corners later, I was on his fender. Catching him was one thing; passing him would prove to be another.

Two corners later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down the mountain. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly got by him before he could recover. Next corner, same thing. I'd manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the corners but when we came out he'd get on the throttle and outpower me. His horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me
more determined than ever.

My only hope was to outbrake him. I held off squeezing the lever until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an instant I was by him. Corner after corner, I could hear the roar of his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before the road straightens out and he would pass me for good.

But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the canyon, he was more than a full corner behind. I could no longer see him in my rear-view mirror.

Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I was no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more than horspower and deep pockets, I had passed him. though it was not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the canyon and I had preserved the proud tradition of another of America's best bikes.

I will always remember that moment. I don't think I've ever pedaled so hard in my life. And some of the credit must go to Schwinn, as well. They really make a great bicycle...


Had to share, this has been making it's way around today.

[jclark]

:D

[Steve Carlton]

[gigantic]

that is a spectacular troll!

[on2wheels52]

I was thinking he would be on something like my XL185 but Schwinn was good.

Jim

[Luca]

[SCOTTinNJ]

don't kid yourself, downhill a good bicyclist can give ANY motorcycle a run for its money

[racegun]

Originally posted by SCOTTinNJ
don't kid yourself, downhill a good bicyclist can give ANY motorcycle a run for its money

huh....pluuuheeeese!

"don't think so tim'

[dee jones]

Depends on who's riding. I think this is a question for Brad to answer?

[BMW Atlanta]

Well a couple of comments from this peanut gallery,.......

First, the most a big cubic inch HD is going to put out reliably is like 115 horse at best and they weigh over 700lbs for sure. That means power to wieght ratio is in your favor on an R1100S. You will always have the advantage in braking, ABS or not and that is your strong suit against almost any other bike let alone anything HD puts out(their new street rod does good,...but not "GREAT" in the braking dept). Sounds like with a couple of track days and some coaching, you would be passing any HD's alot more comfortably.

As for the comment about a good bicyclist,............I had the hardest time of my life passing a bicycle going down an Alp in Switzerland last year while on an R1150GS Adv and I am an above average street rider for sure.

[Rapid Dog]

...damned bicyclistas!

[RBMann]

Bicycling on Mt Rainier in Sept. can be beautiful and fun but you have to watch out for the nuts.

I had climbed up to Sunrise and then headed back down(the fun part). Pretty easy to be in the 40's MPH w/o even peddling. As I was rapidly catching a Buick and Toyota pu with thoughts of passing, the Toyota really jams the brakes and I almost splatter myself on the bumper.

I don't really get it. I had not been following, tailgating or anything else that I could think of that would cause that reaction, just closing in from behind.

The Buick finally pulled off and the Toyota decided to ditch me but it did not work out that way. The harder he tried the more fun it was for me. Then sweet revenge. Going uphill you see a lot more at the slower speed of the bicycle. I remembered two good football sized rocks in the downhill lane of a sharp turn. As we got close to that turn I eased back and let Mr. pickup barrel through the turn and nail both rocks with his right side tires.

Once the road started leveling out he left me for dead but it was a fun day overall.

RB

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally posted by racegun
huh....pluuuheeeese!

"don't think so tim'

think of it this way, a 250cc bike with skinny tires can out corner a motoGP bike with it's fat tires, right? (if you say no, then we'll end this conversation there and just agree to disagree).

well, the point is that its the lack of mass on the 250cc racer that allows it to corner so well (among other things), even despite the little tires.

transfer that down to almost no mass on a bicycle and you start to see my point.

trust me, i've been on motorcycles on race tracks and have been on motorcycles followed by the best bicyclists (including Lance Armstrong and the Discovery team), the bicycles are quicker.

[Rapid Dog]

Just this weekend me and PVR where cuttin' down Bouquet Canton when we came up on a group of 3 road cyclistas...they was haulin', we figure appx 50mph...that was cool, but they didn't seem to care that our Vanderlinde's where barking at their heels, they used the whole road.
I used the jammin' technique I've seen BradZ use to nudge up into the pack.
The leader finally lead his sheep bros to one side, and as I gassed and passed he turned to me and gave me the thumbs up...
What a guy!

[racegun]

Originally posted by SCOTTinNJ
think of it this way, a 250cc bike with skinny tires can out corner a motoGP bike with it's fat tires, right? (if you say no, then we'll end this conversation there and just agree to disagree).

well, the point is that its the lack of mass on the 250cc racer that allows it to corner so well (among other things), even despite the little tires.

transfer that down to almost no mass on a bicycle and you start to see my point.

trust me, i've been on motorcycles on race tracks and have been on motorcycles followed by the best bicyclists (including Lance Armstrong and the Discovery team), the bicycles are quicker.

hmmm... well I too have raced both. I had the best tires money could buy on my $4,800 trek. It did well, but I road the same road the next day on my GS. The GS felt way more planted. But heck what do I know. BTW true that about the 250cc! Cheers

[SCOTTinNJ]

Originally posted by racegun
hmmm... well I too have raced both. I had the best tires money could buy on my $4,800 trek. It did well, but I road the same road the next day on my GS. The GS felt way more planted. But heck what do I know. BTW true that about the 250cc! Cheers

Hey, I never said the bike would FEEL faster or more planted!

[PFFOG]

Originally posted by racegun
huh....pluuuheeeese!

"don't think so tim'

Happened to me in the Alps, these guys pedal 5 hours at a time UP hill, they can MOTOR down.

Unless you are very good and ride HARD, they will beat you down is they want to.

[John Lyon]

Originally posted by SCOTTinNJ
don't kid yourself, downhill a good bicyclist can give ANY motorcycle a run for its money

Out of respect, I usually just "stay with" motorcycles.

[turnerm]

And even harder is keeping up with a 3 year old on a tricycle with 1 inch tires. Even a McLaren F1 would have a hard time.

[roger albert]

A 3 year old eh?
Hasn't it been about that long since you last posted?