Re: [St] I raced a Harley today

["Zoltan Pavlakovich" <zpavlakovich@xxxxxxxxx>]

Huh? I typical Harley has 30 less horses and weighs 100 lbs more and
doesn't have the ground clearance to corner. Unless it was a big
Buell, you need to reconfirm your skills!

;-)

Z

On 8/21/07, Mike Bostock <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed to PASS
> the bloke. I was riding on one of those really, really twisting Devon
> sections of road with no straight sections to speak of and where most of
> thecurves have warning signs that say "Max Speed 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
> handlingand rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.
>
> I saw the H-D 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 mudguard. 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 hill. I
> think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly got by him before
> hecould recover. Next corner, same thing. I'd manage to pull up next to
> him aswe started to enter the corners but when we came out he'd get on
> thethrottle 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 tokeep 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 valley, he was
> morethan 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
> forthat kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the tightest section of
> road,where bravery and skill count for more than horsepower and deep
> pockets, I had passed him. though it was not easy, I had won the race to
> thebottom of the valley and I had preserved the proud tradition of no
> holdsbarred riding.
>
> I will always remember that moment. I don't think I've ever pedalled so
> hardin my life. And some of the credit must go to Raleigh, as well.
>
> They really make a great bicycle...
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Mike Bostock
> http://www.toothfairy.co.uk/
> Wales & SW ST Riders
> http://www.sprint-st.org/
>
> '99 Red ST
>
>
>
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