I (motor) marshalled an MS charity (bi)cycle ride this weekend. 150 mile ride, with another 80 on each end for me to get to the start/finish. About 10 motorcycles the first day, and anywhere from 8-15 at points during the second day. (Started with lots, but the old fogies from some local group ditched halfway through) The marshalls leapfrogged and directed traffic. An average of three intersections per marshal, for 2-4 hours at a time. Raised over $300,000.
500 bicyclists registered, 495 showed up. Route was 75 miles each way from Hollidaysburg to State College, PA. Average temp well into the 80s and lower 90s. Some good size hills, and lots of nice curvy back roads. Would have been a blast to ride minus the bicycles, cows, and deer. Took nearly 9 hours for everyone to finish. Had some good food after day one, and had a few drinks with a couple other marshalls. Guinness and Black+Tan are GOOD
The trip home was fun. Not five miles after I left the endpoint the wind picked up. Blowing branches and shit around, pelting me with leaves and sand. The rain started shortly after, and I stopped under 220/99 before I ever got out of Hollidaysburg to swap to my clear shield and close all my vents. From there to Somerset was solid hard rain. Tons of bikes out still- even a trike that stopped under the same overpass I did. Of course, I was the only one foolish enough to do my normal slab speed in the wet. I'm going 80 indicated most of the way (72-ish actual), figure the cages are doing around 65, and the other bikes are at 55-60.
Couple stretches had standing water in the wheel ruts. Started hydroplaning the front. That's the most disgusting, alien feeling on a motorcycle. Like somehow the front end is on Mars. Nothing to be done except slooooowly let off the gas and hold it straight. Had to ride down the center of the lane in the high spot to clear the water. Turns out the Pilot Roads are almost better in the wet than the dry.
As for the cyclists- they're out of their spandex loving minds.
Good people, but no way would you catch me riding beside 18 wheelers on something that can't get out of the way wearing next to nothing. Leapfrogging through them was fun, and the lean angle some of those guys carried was ridiculous. Especially on tires no wider than my thumb. There were some very nice looking ladies out there too
Next time, we need to round some up to take out for drinks. Hmmm- do they drink? Lots of fitness nuts don't...
That JR meshie looked a whole lot cooler than my leather, so I may have to get one.
Just means it'll rain next time. Leather isn't bad above 30mph, but I spent way too much time in first gear doing 15mph over the weekend.