Great writing Eric - I look forward to more of your posts!

It's true that road riding, or more specifically crashing, can be dangerous. However, so can sitting on the couch for 40 years with a beer in one hand and the TV remote control in the other. Last I heard, cancer and cardiovascular disease were the leading killers of Americans. I'll take my chances out on the road.

I've never ridden in California before, but you're writing has just given me one more reason to add it to my "to do" list!