While riding through the Santa Monica Mountains yesterday, the motorcyclists were absolutely horrible. Many are blasting at speeds above 90 mph using the entire width of the road. Some have taken on the new hobby of buzzing bicyclists. We saw a LA County Deputy Sheriff chase down one of the speeders (wow I have never seen a Sheriff car go that fast) and by the time we reached where he pulled over the motorcyclist, the Sheriff was in the car writing the ticket. I stopped and chatted with him asking why it had become so bad. He urged me to call the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Station when it gets this bad. He said, just pull over and use your cell phone and they will dispatch some Sheriffs to patrol the area. So, I will put the number in my speed dial and if it is anything like it was yesterday, I am calling. Here is the number should you decide this is the best method
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Station - (818) 878-1808
big john
01-22-07, 07:08 AM
Jim, I'm sorry you had to deal with this. Were you on Mulholland? I don't think I've ever had that problem out there.
thomson
01-22-07, 07:29 AM
Hi John
We did Norwegian Grade/Calle Contento/Erbes to Westlake to Mullholland, Encinal to the water, Latigo up, Rock Store down to Sierra Creek (since you recommended that place, whenever i am in the area, I swing over to get a Turkey Reuben!!!) Up Rock Store and down Westlake and back home
The bad parts (in terms of motorcyclists) were PCH between Zuma and Latigo, Latigo Canyon, and Mullholland up and down the Rock Store climb. Most of the time it is OK, there are tons of motorcyclists but they are there to enjoy the mountains as are we. Yesterday just struck me as a particularly bad day.
My friend thought maybe it was a Sunday thing as we are usually out on Saturdays. I have no idea, maybe everyone had spring fever after it being so cold for a few weeks.
big john
01-22-07, 07:33 AM
Hi John
We did Norwegian Grade/Calle Contento/Erbes to Westlake to Mullholland, Encinal to the water, Latigo up, Rock Store down to Sierra Creek (since you recommended that place, whenever i am in the area, I swing over to get a Turkey Reuben!!!) Up Rock Store and down Westlake and back home
The bad parts (in terms of motorcyclists) were PCH between Zuma and Latigo, Latigo Canyon, and Mullholland up and down the Rock Store climb. Most of the time it is OK, there are tons of motorcyclists but they are there to enjoy the mountains as are we. Yesterday just struck me as a particularly bad day.
My friend thought maybe it was a Sunday thing as we are usually out on Saturdays. I have no idea, maybe everyone had spring fever after it being so cold for a few weeks.
Great ride! You're friend is probably right about the Sunday thing. Be careful out there.
magicant
01-22-07, 07:40 AM
My friend thought maybe it was a Sunday thing as we are usually out on Saturdays.
We were out there all morning on Saturday and it wasn't bad - there weren't even that many motorcycles out there, much less the kind of atmosphere you faced. I think I'll stick to Saturday rides when I'm out there.
A couple years ago, I had a couple guys pass me on Stunt like that. One of them ended up sailing off the side of the road on a turn. By the time I caught up to them, the guy who flew off had just climbed up the hillside and they were calling for help (he wasn't badly hurt, just banged up - but his bike was probably 20 feet down the side).
I am The Edge
01-22-07, 08:18 AM
i would not ride a bicycle up there on sundays. i would ride my motorcycle up there on sundays and i thought it was really bad. on every uphill corner i expected a motorcycle to low-side coming the other way and take me out as they slid across the road.
i would always give the bicyclists a wide berth and be respectful, though. others would not.
stick to riding there on saturdays.
thomson
01-22-07, 08:26 AM
Ahhhh, I guess it is a Sunday thing. Very strange indeed. But I think I will heed y'all's advice and find somewhere else to ride on Sundays.
ronjon10
01-22-07, 08:27 AM
There's also these guys: http://www.mulhollandraceway.org/
Though to be honest, I really don't see much auto racing activity out there. I knew one of these hard core guys a few years ago. They make their runs at the crack of dawn, sweep the road before they make runs, and move out so they aren't anywhere in one place for too long. The guy I knew said he hit 100 going down tuna canyon. Wack!
urbanknight
01-22-07, 08:54 AM
Yeah, it'd worse on Sundays, but the Sheriff is right. They aren't quite as bogged down as Los Angeles Police, so they respond pretty quickly to things. The one time we had to make a call, they had someone to us in 5 minutes. In fairness, we live 2 miles from the station but still.
nesdog
01-22-07, 09:16 AM
There's also these guys: http://www.mulhollandraceway.org/
Though to be honest, I really don't see much auto racing activity out there. I knew one of these hard core guys a few I knew said he hit 100 going down tuna canyon. Wack!
In high school, (waaay long ago) I knew guys who raced there. Also guys who went off the side, destroyed cars, etc. They race at night, not because there is less traffic, but because there are blind corners and the only way to see what was coming was to scan for headlights.
At that time, there was one of those radar gun displays ("Your speed is....") on Laurel. A friend of mine with an early model VW, re-done with Porche engine and high tech tranny, pinned the display at it's max.
Back to the motorcycles on Mulholland...thankfully you can hear them coming most of the time, especially on Rock Store. I try to pull over into the dirt if I have to, 'cause it can get scary.
Sheldon
dangerman
01-22-07, 11:24 PM
we skate out there on sundays. we usually start on latigo at 2 during the winter and 3 during the summer. we stay off mullholland (above the rock store) until after 4 (winter) and 6 (summer) because of the idiots on sportbikes. gotta watch out for the WRX nutcases too.
ovoleg
01-22-07, 11:56 PM
Ok and cyclist dont do anything illegal?
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 12:10 AM
Ok and cyclist dont do anything illegal?
some people might consider running a stop sign here and there to be a nuisance, but not many. getting buzzed by a sportbike is a bit more dangerous. especially when you consider that a very high percentage of the folks riding around out there aren't even good enough to pass their driving test.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 12:15 AM
some people might consider running a stop sign here and there to be a nuisance, but not many. getting buzzed by a sportbike is a bit more dangerous. especially when you consider that a very high percentage of the folks riding around out there aren't even good enough to pass their driving test.
dog hair, you would be surprised to know that when a cyclist pops out from the side of your car it has a VERY VERY VERY similar startling effect that a motorcyclist with a horn has.
Actually if you arent a ipod junkee you can usually hear the motorcyclist so as to limit your "jumpyness".
I'm trying to show you guys that there are always two sides to everything, maybe even more than two sides.
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 12:23 AM
it's legal to lane share on a motorcycle at reasonable speeds. it is not legal to ride on any public road in the US at above a reasonable speed. those are the only sides you need to know of that issue.
i used to be one of the guys on the sportbikes who use mountain roads as racetracks. i am now the guy on the bicycle. i think i know something about both sides of this.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 12:32 AM
it's legal to lane share on a motorcycle at reasonable speeds. it is not legal to ride on any public road in the US at above a reasonable speed. those are the only sides you need to know of that issue.
i used to be one of the guys on the sportbikes who use mountain roads as racetracks. i am now the guy on the bicycle. i think i know something about both sides of this.
Sure it might be legal but you don't think its equally startling?
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 12:37 AM
i pay attention when i drive, so no. it's not. there's no comparison.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 12:40 AM
i pay attention when i drive, so no. it's not. there's no comparison.
if you pay attention as a cyclist then there shouldn't be any startling right?
What you are saying is a very biased view.
I get startled by cyclist that pull up randomly on the left of me, sorry but I don't notice them sneak up on me.
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 12:45 AM
those shiny things on your doors... those are mirrors. if you adjust them properly you can see stuff behind you. it's really cool.
Some have taken on the new hobby of buzzing bicyclists.
paying attention on your bike won't prevent someone from buzzing you.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 12:58 AM
those shiny things on your doors... those are mirrors. if you adjust them properly you can see stuff behind you. it's really cool.
have you heard of blind spots? Yes I can't check blind spots 24/7 while driving, its dangerous and alot of cyclist ride in that area
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 01:08 AM
what are we talking about??
ovoleg
01-23-07, 01:16 AM
what are we talking about??
to not give other vehicles a hard time
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 01:37 AM
so you're saying you feel sorry for motorcyclists who break the law and endanger cyclists in the process? this isn't about cyclists not paying attention. this is about being able to go for a ride without being harassed by someone blowing by you at 80mph. who's giving who a hard time in this case? you see, when you break the law in that manner, you forfeit your right to complain.
you do not have the right to use any road as a racetrack whether you're a motorcyclist, a driver, or cyclist. that's what track days are for. and if you can't afford to race you should sell your bike before you end up hurting yourself and/or someone else and end-up in a hospital then jail.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 01:38 AM
So what you're saying is that cyclist never break the law?
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 01:40 AM
either you have a very, VERY short memory or you just aren't reading any of this.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 02:19 AM
either you have a very, VERY short memory or you just aren't reading any of this.
What are you talking about, I'm confused...Can you repeat yourself?
VanceMac
01-23-07, 01:16 PM
So what you're saying is that cyclist never break the law?
You are absolutely correct, ovo... a cyclist rolling through a stop sign in the middle of a corn field is precisely the same thing as a sport bike doing 80mph through a twisty canyon road with cyclists and sight-seeing motorists. Exactly the same thing. Damn you people who don't see everything as purely black and white! :rolleyes:
Cassave
01-23-07, 02:02 PM
You are absolutely correct, ovo... a cyclist rolling through a stop sign in the middle of a corn field is precisely the same thing as a sport bike doing 80mph through a twisty canyon road with cyclists and sight-seeing motorists. Exactly the same thing. You are a genius. Damn you people who don't see everything as purely black and white! :rolleyes:
Well said Vance.
As someone who's had an elbow zapped by a passing Kawasaki(or whatever) I have no love or respect for MotoGP wannbees riding about 200% past their ability.
Seamus
01-23-07, 02:31 PM
i would not ride a bicycle up there on sundays. i would ride my motorcycle up there on sundays and i thought it was really bad. on every uphill corner i expected a motorcycle to low-side coming the other way and take me out as they slid across the road.
This happened to a good (moto-) riding buddy of mine. The squid didn't lowside, however. He came blasting around a blind corner on Latigo, crossed the double-yellow, and took out my buddy and his GF before sailing over the side to his death. Fortunately my bud was fully geared up, so *only* had to deal with a fractured wrist, pelvis and cheekbone/orbit (inside his full-face helmet), multiple surgeries, and about three months bed rest. The number of inexperienced, poorly-trained, fools on sportbikes seems to increase every year. It's high time we adopted tougher licensing standards for all motorized vehicles in this country, but the car/oil lobbies would never let it happen.
Jim <--- loves mountain roads on a moto or a velo.
awiner
01-23-07, 02:47 PM
Hey Seamus, was this about 4 months ago ? If so, I rolled up right afterwards.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 04:23 PM
You are absolutely correct, ovo... a cyclist rolling through a stop sign in the middle of a corn field is precisely the same thing as a sport bike doing 80mph through a twisty canyon road with cyclists and sight-seeing motorists. Exactly the same thing. Damn you people who don't see everything as purely black and white! :rolleyes:
Have you ever ridden in urban areas? I see cyclist do some of the wildest things possible.
Look I havent been riding 3 days, I've done plenty of group rides and its HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RARE that the groups stop for any stop signs( and this isn't in the cornfields ok). Don't try to play off some of the illegal things you participate in kthnx
VanceMac
01-23-07, 04:25 PM
Have you ever ridden in urban areas? I see cyclist do some of the wildest things possible.
Look I havent been riding 3 days, I've done plenty of group rides and its HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RARE that the groups stop for any stop signs( and this isn't in the cornfields ok). Don't try to play off some of the illegal things you participate in kthnx
Entirely missing the point... and illustrating it... at the same time. Congrats.
ovoleg
01-23-07, 04:34 PM
Entirely missing the point... and illustrating it... at the same time. Congrats.
Thanks, wheres my cookie?
Chucklehead
01-23-07, 05:28 PM
Don't try to play off some of the illegal things you participate in kthnx
ok, you got me on that one at least. but i swear it's been a while since i last smoked crack while doing a nose wheelie across the hood of a police car. i'm trying to keep a lower profile these days which means i also haven't been slinging my M4 on rides inside city limits.
vertical bob
01-23-07, 05:57 PM
Yeah, it'd worse on Sundays, but the Sheriff is right. They aren't quite as bogged down as Los Angeles Police, so they respond pretty quickly to things. The one time we had to make a call, they had someone to us in 5 minutes. In fairness, we live 2 miles from the station but still.
Yeah I think its worse on Sundays. Every week I look up to see a motorcycle coming straight at me in my lane. I think it's safer in the San Gabriels but face it, its a dangerous sport we do.
Socalcycling
01-23-07, 07:49 PM
keep digging that hole...
ovoleg
01-23-07, 09:38 PM
ok, you got me on that one at least. but i swear it's been a while since i last smoked crack while doing a nose wheelie across the hood of a police car. i'm trying to keep a lower profile these days which means i also haven't been slinging my M4 on rides inside city limits.
:rolleyes: I was actually serious in most posts but ok
Seamus
01-24-07, 05:58 PM
Hey Seamus, was this about 4 months ago ? If so, I rolled up right afterwards.
Sounds about right, yeah. Happily, my bud recently threw away his cane, and is back to working full time and looks just about normal (well, for him). One of the nicest guys I know, too. Has no idea if he'll ever throw a leg over a MC again, and after that, I can't blame him a bit.
Jim
awiner
01-24-07, 07:57 PM
Sounds about right, yeah. Happily, my bud recently threw away his cane, and is back to working full time and looks just about normal (well, for him). One of the nicest guys I know, too. Has no idea if he'll ever throw a leg over a MC again, and after that, I can't blame him a bit.
Jim
If it is the accident I am thinking of, the guy that died was the brother of a CHP officer. Thus the heightened CHP presence on Latigo for the few months after.
Glad to hear your friend is recovering well. I think of that incident everytime I am on my motorcycle and on Latigo.