Idiot on Gorge Parkway

[wantahertzdonut]

I had a pretty nasty encounter with an idiot trying to pass me and two of my friends yesterday on Gorge Parkway in Bedford.

We're riding in a staggered line toward Tinker's Creek Rd down the hill, and out of nowhere I hear some loud V-twin exhaust. I thought it was my friend on his Diavel getting a little close as we came up on a car that was going quite slow in order to pull off into the parking lot bit the river.

Turns out it's some maniac on a HD Bagger that forced his way past my friends while riding on the yellow line, then cut back into the lane in front of me, nearly clipping my front tire. I hit the brakes pretty hard to get away from the guy, had a hard time getting much distance as the car was also slowing down. Bagger almost dumped it since he was trying carry speed to get around the car in a blind turn, and didn't see another oncoming car.

The car in front of us pulled off, and I gave chase to have a few words with this asshole. By now we're on Tinker's Creek Rd, and I'm in his mirrors pointing toward the side of the road. He saw me and squeezed past another car he was caught behind, and split the lane as there was yet another oncoming car. By now my sensibility kicked back in and I pulled off to the side of the road figuring this guy is going to dump the bike somewhere, and probably take someone else with him.

I was pretty shook up and had to stop at another Metropark picnic area as I almost ran off the road on Meadows Parkway.

I don't know if the guy was drunk or just overly aggressive; I'm still trying to make sense of it all. It's odd that of all the near-collisions I've had on a bike, all but one involved another rider and not a car.

If there's a news story down the road about a guy with an orange Bagger binning himself in the ditch in NEO, I'll have a pretty good idea what he was doing beforehand.

I guess all I'm trying to say is, if you're going to pass, do it smart, and don't do it in blind turns!

[namtugeoj]

what a douche....

[Gixxus Christ!]

Sounds like one of those jackoffs who bitch about ”jap crap” and are just out to prove that their Harley is the fastest, most technologically advanced machine on the planet. I'm guessing you were riding with a group of sport bikes? Some Harley guys just hate sport bikes out of pure ignorance. You did the right thing, he will take himself out of the equation soon enough, must likely leaving a bar drunk wearing a bandanna.

[Cheech]

That's just...wow.

[cobrat]

Glad you got through it ok. Guy sounds like a real di*K, and if he would have pulled over, the confrontation may not have gone well....easy to let him just go his own way.

[Scruit]

Not worth following or trying to get him to pull over. I know a guy who was stabbed in the stomach when the moron driver responded to his "pull over" hand signal. My buddy pulled over, they both got out but it turns out the moron was concealing a knife. As soon as he was close enough my buddy said he thought he got "punched" in the stomach, until he looked down and saw his shirt turning red. Moron drove away and left him for dead. Nobody stopped to help. He was able to call 911 for help before falling unconscious - the only reason he is still alive.

[Bad324]

this story has to be made up, nobody who owns a Harley rides over the speed limit

[Bad324]

but seriously thats the first story I've heard of an asshole in that area. Thats a fun stretch but too many rangers and moron drivers. Is there a Meadows over in Bedford too? I know the one over by me so I figured that can't be it based on the Tinkers Creek Rd

[Scruit]

this story has to be made up, nobody who owns a Harley rides over the speed limit

Can a Harley even reach the speed limit before all its oil leaks out?

[Ziggy]

Can a Harley even reach the speed limit before all its oil leaks out?

Mine will...

[John]

I raced a Harley recently 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.

[John]

Not worth following or trying to get him to pull over. I know a guy who was stabbed in the stomach when the moron driver responded to his "pull over" hand signal. My buddy pulled over, they both got out but it turns out the moron was concealing a knife. As soon as he was close enough my buddy said he thought he got "punched" in the stomach, until he looked down and saw his shirt turning red. Moron drove away and left him for dead. Nobody stopped to help. He was able to call 911 for help before falling unconscious - the only reason he is still alive.

exactly. there is no reason to road rage and chase someone down for something like this to prove your machismo or bravado... its just not worth getting stabbed or shot or worse over.

[TheBrown57]

I raced a Harley recently 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.

[wantahertzdonut]

this story has to be made up, nobody who owns a Harley rides over the speed limit

I think that was the biggest surprise!

but seriously thats the first story I've heard of an asshole in that area. Thats a fun stretch but too many rangers and moron drivers. Is there a Meadows over in Bedford too? I know the one over by me so I figured that can't be it based on the Tinkers Creek Rd

I never felt like I had to exceed the speed limit by very much to have a lot of fun over there, and it's the first time I've had an encounter like this over there.

Meadows is in Brecksville, we carried on for a while after turning off Tinker's Creek. I was just still pissed off by then and it caught up to me in those turns. Not good, I'd never forgive myself if I dumped my Tuono because I wasn't focused!

Looking back I'm glad there wasn't an altercation. I started thinking about all the ways this could have gone wrong and after seeing him risk life and limb to get away I decided it was time to sit out. I'm not very easy to anger, the guy just did everything wrong to set me off.

[Bad324]

What time were you over on meadows? I was in that area around 2 then Again around 5

[Kritz]

[jschaf]

Glad he didn't take you out. The guy sounds like a real tool. No need to escalate though.

[wantahertzdonut]

What time were you over on meadows? I was in that area around 2 then Again around 5

We passed through about 3:30-4 I think. We were going "westbound" starting at Broadway and working our way back towards Fairview Park.

[bandit12]

I raced a Harley recently 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.

Hey John, is this you, lol, take it easy on them Harley-Davidsons.

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