I’d always thought that there’d be a day when it finally happened, and indeed, last Friday it did. As I was ascending Schultz about half way up, two pseudo downhiller types came raging by me in a wide right turn. Lame I thought, and as the turn ended the trail narrowed and the third guy came into view. I had no where to go, and neither did he, so we collided smashing bars & forks. I was sent to the ground while he plowed into a log. As I got up, I turned and looked towards him and said:
“hey pal, do you know how this works? Do you know who has the right of way?”
There was only a slow dumb giggle in response, while he scrambled to get back on his bike and race off. I couldn’t believe it. Not only did I just get wrecked by a downhiller, on Schultz of all places, but he was tacky enough to not even stop nor make eye contact.
What is that? Wreckless endangerment?
I finished my ride. Kilo and I made it up to the dry lakes and she had a blast in the water. It took about that long for me to stop grinding my teeth. I stumbled around shrugging my shoulder while I missed the turn to the second lake of the dry lake hills. I managed to reroute us back down to Schultz somehow and as Kilo and I wandered back through the main trail head parking area, there was one of the guys from that incident, and three bikes. I wondered if this was happening.
The other two, one having collided with me, were on their way back up to Schultz tank to get the truck they shuttled in. Never mind the lameness of anyone shuttling Schultz, I stopped a distance away from the guy and the bikes and contemplated what the correct course of action would be. I had time to rationalize and still, I turned around and confronted him. He was evasive with answers seemingly aware of the situation that had happened, but having no will to be involved. I was able to get out of him who was who and which bike belonged to the one that crashed into me. Although I was momentarily at peace since the kid was not there, I left and returned to my car down at the “Y” of Schultz & Elden Lookout.
At the moment I opened the door to my car, I realized that I had not served myself enough justice in the situation and so hurried up packing the bike and the dog into the car, and drove back up to the trail head where that kid and those bikes were. I got out, walked over to the bike that was involved in the crash, set it flat on the ground and proceeded to bend the rear dérailleur approximately 100 degrees perpendicular to the wheel. I wanted it to break off, but it didn’t as the hanger was part of the one piece steel rear frame. Mongoose quality.
Somewhat satisfied, but not entirely, I started walking back to the car. The guys friend tried to defend him, but I couldn’t hear any of that. I simply said that if his buddy was enough of an idiot to essentially attempt a hit & run on the trail, then he deserved what just happened. The friend reluctantly agreed. Right then, the guy in question, returned with the truck. I expected that, as I had contemplated prior, I was going to get into a punch up. I accepted this and was willing, but as the kid got out of his shuttle truck, he avoided me at all costs and hurried around to his bike. I suggested some basic trail ettiquette ideas to him, and he did nothing. He reluctantly adimitted to the incident but that was it. I was amazed. He was already at his bike and simply wanting to leave the experience, but once he realized the damage to the bike, became completely slumped and saddened.
And then I just left. Now, I maybe feel some guilt towards the bike for having damage it, which was only the messenger. I suppose I’ll have some shit Karma because of this, and I don’t care. He got what I think was a deserving result of careless action. I have since learned to stay off Schultz which is fine. Let the douchebags of the world have that trail. I just hope it’s not Ang or anyone else that gets involved in a collision next time. There will be hell to pay someday. Regardless, in a positive light, maybe that kid will show up at the shop this week to get his dérailleur replaced.
It’s already been about a week since Bussmann left the shop. Then Randy put in his notice a few weeks ago. I believe his last day is in a week, but nobody has seen him in the last two and all of his shit is moved out.
