Everyone, please don't take twisties fast if you can't!

[Soujyu]

Just last weekend, a sportbike rider died on one of the more perilous roads in Texas. Everyone, be careful out there, and don't try to take the twisties fast if you don't feel like you can make it.

http://www.hilltopviewsonline.com/ne...dent-1.1376024

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New college student, Arturo Garcia, killed in motorcycle accident

By Bryce Bencivengo

Published: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Updated: Thursday, April 22, 2010

St. Edward’s University New College student Arturo M. Garcia Jr. was killed in a single vehicle accident Sunday afternoon.

Garcia, 29, was riding his motorcycle on Ranch Road 337 outside of Leakey, a town 100 miles west of San Antonio, when the accident occurred.

“I believe he was traveling faster than the posted speed limit for that area,” said Real County Sherrif Senior Corporal Jake Sanchez. “It is my belief he came around a curve too fast and lost control of the bike when it left the road.”

The posted speed limit was 55 miles per hour.

Garcia was ejected from his 2007 Triumph Daytona 675 motorcycle and landed between 25 and 50 feet away with the bike being lodged seven feet in the air in a tree, Sanchez said.

Officers responded to a 911 call from a passing motorist. Garcia was air lifted to Peterson Regional Medical Center in Kerrville where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. Sunday.

Sanchez stated that preliminary test results indicated that niether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident.

Garcia had enrolled in the New College program at St. Edward’s this semester and was studying business. He was a native of Austin who graduated from Westlake High School.

Garcia is survived by his parents, Alice Castro Garcia and Arturo Garcia Sr., his younger sister, Nicole Garcia and his paternal grandfather, Juan Garcia Jr.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at San Jose Catholic Church, in Austin.

[Soujyu]

Just as a point of reference, I've ridden that stretch of road twice already. Both times I was so scared that I almost became incontinent.

[revstriker]

Very sad.

[BlueRaven]

I wonder how they got the bike down from the tree?

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

I wonder how they got the bike down from the tree?

*shrugs*

The thing is that the trees in that area aren't really that tall either.

[LazinCajun]

Sad to see this happen to somebody so young.

Originally Posted by Soujyu

Just as a point of reference, I've ridden that stretch of road twice already. Both times I was so scared that I almost became incontinent.

What about the road makes it so dangerous?

On an semi off-topic note, I'm glad they didn't have the "He was/wasn't wearing a helmet" line in the article -- for some reason that irks me, and I'm not sure why.

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by LazinCajun

What about the road makes it so dangerous?

First thing, you can't take this road at the speed limit. I'm trying to guess where he died, and based on the fact that his bike ended up 7 ft up a tree, there's a 90 degree turn where you could potentially get the bike up a tree if you take the turn too fast. I would say that taking most of those curves at the speed limit will get you killed, let alone above the speed limit.

I'm trying to glean whether if he died east or west of Leakey. Both segments of 337 are really narrow and one mistake will either send the bike up a steep slope into the trees or straight over the cliff.

Secondly, the road is really narrow and has lots of blind corners, and that is especially true around the areas where you would end up going over the cliff if you miss the turn.

When I ride on this road, I tend to take the curves really slow and carefully.

[Soujyu]

This is the road in question.

[pedaltothemetal]

Originally Posted by Soujyu

This is the road in question.

Very sad!
This is the road and trees?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.308647&z=12

[Anthony_marr]

80% of all bike fatalities involve sport bikes. Even the Ninja 250 has been called a "death machine". More soldiers die from sport bike accidents than in Iraq + Afghanistan. I'm told that all military sport bike riders are now required to pass a safety course. But there is no more dangerous fuel combo than testosterone and adrenaline. And even women lose it. So take it easy, all.

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by pedaltothemetal

Very sad!
This is the road and trees?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.308647&z=12

Yeah. The trees don't get that high in that area.

[addy126]

Originally Posted by Anthony_marr

But there is no more dangerous fuel combo than testosterone and adrenaline. And even women lose it. So take it easy, all.

Anthony... just so you know "testosterone and adrenaline" are not limited to men.... note: Testosterone And Women
By Dr Abraham Kryger, MD, DMD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------"Testosterone (T) is a molecule that originates in the same sexual organs in both men and women but circulates in different amounts. Women have one tenth the amount of testosterone as compared to men but by age forty, their level can rise to half that of a 20 year-old man. It seems somewhat paradoxical that women’s testosterone goes up as they age and men’s goes down. But maybe that’s why women live longer! "

http://www.wellnessmd.com/wtestosterone.html

[addy126]

Originally Posted by Soujyu

Just as a point of reference, I've ridden that stretch of road twice already. Both times I was so scared that I almost became incontinent.

Hey "W".... we rent the cabins down on the Frio River (tubing) and run into Leakey for the restaurants (2) lol. Those roads can be hazardous at speed in a cage no less than the bikes.... but a nice ride nonetheless.

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by addy126

Hey "W".... we rent the cabins down on the Frio River (tubing) and run into Leakey for the restaurants (2) lol. Those roads can be hazardous at speed in a cage no less than the bikes.... but a nice ride nonetheless.

Yeah. The whole area is beautiful.

You need to come down more; the Ninjette is woefully underrepresented on these roads. I see a big pile of Harleys, then a smaller pile of literbikes, then it's poor ol' little me.

[revstriker]

Originally Posted by Anthony_marr

80% of all bike fatalities involve sport bikes. Even the Ninja 250 has been called a "death machine". More soldiers die from sport bike accidents than in Iraq + Afghanistan. I'm told that all military sport bike riders are now required to pass a safety course. But there is no more dangerous fuel combo than testosterone and adrenaline. And even women lose it. So take it easy, all.

This is very true. And as I understand it, the DOD requires soldiers to take and pass the MSF test in order to operate their bikes on base. I believe they also require a florescent vest.

[bob706]

Originally Posted by revstriker

This is very true. And as I understand it, the DOD requires soldiers to take and pass the MSF test in order to operate their bikes on base. I believe they also require a florescent vest.

Military has to take the ARC. If anyone has a chance to take the coarse I highly recommend it. Thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Garcia's family.

[tabogon]

Yes, we are required to take the MSF course, and within 90 days of completion we are also required to take a sport bike riding course.

[addy126]

Originally Posted by Soujyu

then it's poor ol' little me.

W... It's good to be a little different

[austexjg]

This guy had lots of experience too - racing and track days.