Yesterday was gorgeous. I took the bike up the street to Mulhulland then headed east to Topanga Canyon, hung a right and did my normal, boring Sunday ride to Malibu. Ever notice the odd people along that road? I've also got this strange feeling that they're really rich. I keep winding through until I hit PCH, then take a right and head north to Malibu Pier.
I race surfski's and that's one of my favorite training places. I launch from the pier and paddle way out behind the surfers and run the swells that eventually get to them but light years after I've already played with them. Sometimes I'll go up to Point Dume, turn around, and ride the swells back to the pier.
The thing I paddle.... how can I put this....? Let's just say that the difficulty level (balance), is considerably greater than riding a motorcycle. If a motorcycle is like walking on a curb without stepping off, then a surfski is like walking on a tightrope without falling off. Yeah, actually it is that spooky.
What's this got to do with Ducati's? Nothing. With bikes?.... well, nothing... except for the balancing stuff.
So back to my ride up PCH.
I'm enjoying the ride and being my normal alert, cautious, relaxed self on the bike. The traffic wasn't really heavy but I had cars around me. At this one particular moment... about a mile before the pier I'm cruising behind this cute little Mini Cooper convertible. No I wasn't showing off for the chick driving
Actually I was more interested in the asshole next to me in the junker that came flying by me, all over the lane. Now the moron is next to me and definitely getting alot of my attention.
In the next split second I notice all the cars in front of me with brake lights on, front ends down, and tires screaming.
Now it's my turn.
Ok.... it's go time. Grab both fuckin levers, stomp the foot brake, push back on the bars and see what happens. Right thing to do? Shit, don't ask me. All I know is if I have to be traction free, I'd rather do it on four wheels rather than two.
Yikes!!! HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF CHRIST!!!!! OHHH SHHHHHHIIIIIIITT!!!!!!
Here...we... GOOOOOOOOO! My BIKE!!!!!! Funny, huh? Hmmmm...
So, at this point it's like being on ice, and 'm going dead straight :-\. Then the front wheel starts deciding to drift left. All you hotdogs... Cool, huh?... NOT!
THIS IS NOT FUN.... MOMMMMYYYY!!!!!
Now the front and back wheels are in perfect alignment... except the front one is about a foot laterally displaced from rear. But they are perfectly in line.... parallel wise. Believe it or not, I was at this moment that I noticed what caused the cars to slam on their brakes...
Fucking jaywalker, drunk as shit, with this stupid malavolent smirk... he'd just walked across the two southbound lanes, two sets of double-yellows, and now the two northbounds.... without a care in the world... nodding to each car in mock "apology". I could of and should of killed that mother.
My slide came to a halt around two feet from the Mini. Interesting. Feet didn't even come off the pegs. REAL LUCKY.
In the future, I'll be giving lots more breathing room to the car ahead, 'cause no matter how hot you think you are you can't out stop grandma in her SUV if your kissin her cars ass and she stomps the brakes.
Your probably still asking about the surfski/kayaking shit.... Balance. It's the only reason I stayed upright
I highly recommend it
My balancing act on PCH
Linear Mode
