A TIME TO QUIT? By Jon DelVecchio #208163 Just before it happened, I remember thinking things couldn’t get much better. It was my first springtime ride into the Pennsylvania mountains with a bunch of friends. I was in sync with my wicked fast KTM touring bike, and my internal voice kept shouting, “Wow, this feels so good!” I was in the lead as we reached what is known to us as “ludicrous speed.” That term was first quoted by a joker in our club to describe what comes after riding “a bit fast” in the twisties. The phrase has a sarcastic way of suggesting that we may not be using the best judgment, but we’re having too good of a time to care. After a stop for ice cream at Waltz’s in Salladasburg, we were
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rapidly moving west down Route 973. Endless curves unfolded before us. As I came around the last right hander and headed downhill towards a T intersection, I quickly did the math in my head, and it wasn’t adding up. I was going too fast to stop. At least that’s what I thought at the time. Many riders have probably felt panic after making an error. The best outcomes after messing up may include brilliant or ugly recoveries, but saves, nonetheless. I didn’t save it. Traveling at over 100 ft/sec, a stop sign peeked at me through some trees and was approaching fast. Even though my tires were in good shape, this unforgiving beast of a motorcycle didn’t have ABS. I was on my own and failed miserably.