Sat 23 Jan 2010
Posted by Max
January 23rd, 2010 under
Commentary ,
Company NewsNo Comments
The Death Zone? Sorry, I know that sounds harsh. Those of us who rock and mountain climb, are familiar with the term “Coffin Zone”. This is commonly known as any time you are 50 feet off the ground. A fall from that height or higher will most likely be fatal.
The are many parallels between climbing and riding when it comes to safety. Not least of which, is the burden of responsibility for ones own well being. Like it or not, Your survival falls to you as the biker. “It was the other guy’s fault” does not do much for you when they are reading your eulogy. Treat any potential accident like it is your fault, and you’ll live a much longer life.
The harsh reality, is that intersections are the “Death Zone” for us on two wheels. Studies have shown that a hefty percentage of car verses motorcycle accidents, happen at intersections. The major cause? The other driver simply did not see the motorcyclist. Commonly “the other guy” makes a left turn and crosses the path of and oncoming bike, causing head-on or a T-bone accident. So it is YOUR responsibly to be seen, if you want to live to see another day.
There are many tactics for safety while entering an intersection. Here are a few of mine.
First, always ride with your headlight on. I recommend using your high beam during the day. This is a major weapon towards getting a driver’s attention.
Unlike some recommendations I have seen , I recommend that when entering a multi lane intersection, you do so in the lane closet to the yellow line. This has two benefits: first you take the “right on red” guy out of the equation. Second this enables you to get a clear shot of your headlight beam on that guy waiting to take that left turn. Your focus is on him. Get and keep his attention. Get nervous? Use your horn.
One of the most important tools, is your own acknowledgment that you are entering the “Death Zone”. This mindfulness and sense of awareness is your best ally. Setting yourself up before the intersection is also key . Use hand signals always. Get that guy off your butt, before you enter the intersection. A gentle “slow down” hand signal will help here. If you must stop quick, raise your hand all the way up then drop it down again making the slow down hand signal by moving your hand in an up in down motion towards the ground. Make sure that your saddle bags are not blocking the view of your hand signal.
When entering the intersection, try to use a car on your right side as a shield. A car is much less likely to cross in front of another car or truck. Simple primal instincts are in play here. A bike is simply not much of a visceral threat to the driver of a car. While entering the intersection get that headlight beam on the guy waiting to turn in front of you. Sit up straight and be aware. You are “running with the bulls” here. It is up to you to keep the clear of the bulls and at the very least keep their attention.
Finally if you do enter an intersection in the right lane be careful of ” the Hook”. The hook is when the guy waiting to make that left turn hooks directly behind the car in the left lane to slip through traffic. The problem is that if you are slightly behind the car to your left, he will take you out, having never seen you. Try to keep that blocker car directly beside you and watch for the right on red car.
If you have an accident, there is a good chance it will happen in the Death Zone. Intersections are a powerful convergence of steel and mass with humans on their individual speedway through time and space. It is up to you to make sure the distracted stressed out drivers see you and yield. If they do not, the price paid is ultimately yours. Would you climb a several thousand foot cliff face, without taking your personal safety into your own hands. Not unless your looking to cash in that life insurance policy.
Lee Sutherburg AKA Mad Max
President
Thu 10 Jul 2008
Posted by Max
July 10th, 2008 under
CommentaryNo Comments
I just finished watching the movie adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s book Into the Wild.
I first read this book during my tenor at a Buddhist monastery in the dead cold winter of “98” at the remote tip of the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Nova Scotia.
The book was the buzz of the Abbey. One copy being passed from person to person. When it came my turn, I devoured it in 24hrs almost to the minute. Though my reading speed had increased dramatically during my time at the Abbey, this personal record for me none the less.
I remember being deeply touched by this story. Before coming to the Abbey, I had made a habit of 3 day trips into the mountains of my home state Maine. Often times I would head out into a Nor’easter for days of sustained 20 deg. below 0 temperature. No one ever really knew where I was during those trips, and though I didn’t think much about it at the time, I am sure many people thought I would die out there one day. But I was “searching” and people knew better than try and talk me out of it. I did have great gear and learned a few things the hard way but I always seemed to get by out there.
The Abbey itself sat on an ocean cliff surrounded by nothing but mountains. Every “day off” we had, I would head to the kitchen for some food for my pack and then “storm” the mountains. I had spent many a day with typo map and compass, peering out the library windows picking my destination. The mountain tops I chose were always too ambitious but with piolet in hand, I always made it there and back.
I remember one such trip I had to cross two small but vigorous winter streams. So there in the snow, I stripped down to my underwear and crossed each one in the frigid winter run off. I remember the feeling of panic as I crossed and the blinding pain of the cold….I also remember the vivid realization that one wrong move and I would be down and loose my clothes and gear. Though terrifying at times, I have never felt so alive.
On my way back that night, the first stream has swollen to almost double its size. Once again I swallowed my terror and cut a large pole to steady me as I stripped down and crossed . As night fell, I made it across but nearly frozen. The only thing I could do was get warm, dressed and continue on, getting twisted around in the many times darkness. Like my family and friends back home, I know I worried the Monks and Nuns at the Abbey to death….. They always were relieved to see me stumble in around midnight and would set about pumping me with hot tea while I shared stories of my day’s adventures …………But boy I had fun out in those mountains.
When I read “Into the Wild” I was struck by the Shakespearian beauty and tragedy of it. It seem to hit close to home and I knew I felt it deeply. How one person’s recklessness is another person’s spiritual journey. How with a couple of missteps it could all go wrong. We think we are prepared to accept fate but do we really know until we are there? I have always felt the deep suffering of Christopher McCandless. I found a kindred spirit in Chris …..Like any good story he was both hero and fool………Perhaps this describes us all.
Recently I have begun preparations to storm the winter mountains alone again. It seems an unending beckoning that I can no longer ignore. The Colorado Mountains are much less forgiving………..
Max
Sat 10 Feb 2007
Above: a clipping from Dec. 2003 article about our ride. Left to right Dave Benson, Andy Cherney and me. Click image for larger version.
The cruiser motorcycle magazine industry has been going through some major changes lately. First Jessica Prokup left her post as Editor of RoadBike Magazine. Then soon after, we learned that the magazine Cruising Rider was to be discontinued as of the November 2006 issue.
The previous two mentions had been met with sadness on my part but the recent appointment of Andy Cherney to the helm of Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine, had me picking up the phone to offer Andy the Maxair Team welcome and all due congratulations.
I had the opportunity to ride with Andy (then Associate Editor) in the summer of 2003. The Maxair crew met him along with other MCM readers at a hotel in Utah. We had ridden over 600 miles the day before from Colorado to meet Andy who was riding in from California. With Andy in the lead, we then proceeded to carve up some of the most fantastic Utah and Colorado scenery I have ever seen, while making our way two days and 550 miles back to Colorado Rockies to attend the Copper Mountain Cyclefest. Read online version (different from the artcle in print)
That first night we met yet another Maxair team member and some more riders at a hotel in Durango, Colorado. Baked from the day’s sun and high on life, we ate our fill and drank mugs of cold beer at the hotel restaurant, until late that evening. The conversation, laughter and goodwill was sublime. My impression of Andy was that he is a salt of the earth Biker and not simply a motorcycle rag pen pusher. He is down to earth, approachable and most of all carries a refreshing humility about his life and work. No air of pretense with Andy, he is just one of the guys. In short, a true biker.
The next day we rose early (too early for most of us, still tired from the fun of the day and night before). Though most of us were dragging our feet, once again Andy was leading the charge. After yet another wonderful day riding through the Colorado Rockies we arrived at Cyclefest. We all hated to see the ride end. For me it was one of the most fantastic and fun rides of my life. Andy rides with a passion and enthusiasm that is nothing short of contagious. Like a hot first date, he’ll leave you wanting more.
Andy has been at the magazine for eight years now, and I have no doubt that he will bring this same passion to the forefront of Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine as he steps up and takes hold of the reins. During our phone conversation, Andy seem excited about the prospect of bringing a new life and character to the Magazine. His main objective is to reconnect with you/us the reader, to find out what we would really like to see in this evolution. With Andy at the helm I expect Motorcycle Cruiser to gain new momentum and readers as Andy steers its course.
Since Motorcycle publications play such an important role in our collective conscience as a Motorcycle culture, I personally feel that we all share a vested interest in the end product. With that said, I urge you all to give Andy your support and ideas in the coming months. If you have not picked up a copy of MCM in a while, do yourself a favor and pick one up in the coming months. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
From all of us a Maxair, we would like to give a big shout out and welcome to you Andy. The best of luck to you in your new role. We know you are going to do awesome things!!
Thu 16 Nov 2006
Posted by Max
November 16th, 2006 under
Commentary1 Comment
There has been a battle waging with regards to the use of helmets. I’m not talking about the public battle but instead my own internal conflict.
Sure, the public battle has been going on for a while, with all due legislation and finger pointing. In fact, I once canceled our ad business with a major cruiser publication, when the Editor opined that people who rode without helmets are “ignorant” and if they were injured, this Editor would feel no pity for them. I found this type of statement repulsive. Especially given that a fellow rider had died (while not wearing a helmet) just recently on a ride, that I had decided not to attend at the last minute. No doubt I felt very sorry for him and his twin brother, who flew here to take his body home. (more…)
