A stark reminder!
Near miss
Tony I know the feeling happen to me about a year ago just as you said nice ride just crushing along all of a sudden the jerk a short distance in front of me makes that u turn it's a hell of a feeling and also an unbelievable one. A lot of my friends give me crap because I always leave some distance between myself and the guy in front of me or cars in front. I have had a few near misses and if not for leaving a proper distance in front I would have been laid out. Tony is right keep alert there are a lot of bad drivers out there who do not respect the biker .
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 50
From: Louisville, KY
So you were close enough for your boot to have left a fair dent in the side of his car.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: CA
I really do pay attention to this "safety" stuff, and I've reached a conclusion.
It's not about the "effing cage driver" seeing us. It's not about high-viz gear and loud pipes.
We have to see them. We have to pay attention, we have to looklooklook, thinkthinkthink, whatifwhatifwhatif. And we have to have the skills to do what comes after the "what if".
It's on us. It's always on us. If they don't see us, then we have to see them.
It's on us.
It's not about the "effing cage driver" seeing us. It's not about high-viz gear and loud pipes.
We have to see them. We have to pay attention, we have to looklooklook, thinkthinkthink, whatifwhatifwhatif. And we have to have the skills to do what comes after the "what if".
It's on us. It's always on us. If they don't see us, then we have to see them.
It's on us.
When I got my first bike 30 years ago, someone said "RIDE LIKE YOU ARE INVISIBLE" I never forgot that.
Thank God you're OK Tony. And that beautiful bike too! I try not to become complacent but on beautiful days in the country with the leaves turning and all it sure is easy to get mesmerized and it only takes one second, as you pointed out.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
I have adopted a new riding style here a few years back. I assume every car I see is going to hit me. I assume every car I see is going to pull out in front of me. I assume every parked car has a kid behind it waiting to run out in the street to chase his ball. Laugh or scoff if you must but I try to say a little prayer every time I mount up.
It may not sound like much fun but actually it has become 2nd nature anymore. I know that every time I get on my bike for a ride that there is going to be at least one instance where someone is going to try to take me out at some point during that ride. It serves me well.
Sadly, its not just cars either. a few rides back a buddy I was with sat at a stop sign with me out in the country. I don't know what he seen or didn't see or what he was thinking but he pulled out right in front of a car and that car missed him by mere inches! I thought for sure I was about to see an awful accident. I asked him what the hell he was thinking and he said he just didn't see the guy!!!! What it was,was he wasn't focused.
When riding in a pack I prefer the end of the line because sadly, I trust NO ONE when it comes to getting home in 1 piece. Iv seen bikers do some dumb **** myself so I am picky with who I ride with. The more booze the flows the further back I ride!!!!
It may not sound like much fun but actually it has become 2nd nature anymore. I know that every time I get on my bike for a ride that there is going to be at least one instance where someone is going to try to take me out at some point during that ride. It serves me well.
Sadly, its not just cars either. a few rides back a buddy I was with sat at a stop sign with me out in the country. I don't know what he seen or didn't see or what he was thinking but he pulled out right in front of a car and that car missed him by mere inches! I thought for sure I was about to see an awful accident. I asked him what the hell he was thinking and he said he just didn't see the guy!!!! What it was,was he wasn't focused.
When riding in a pack I prefer the end of the line because sadly, I trust NO ONE when it comes to getting home in 1 piece. Iv seen bikers do some dumb **** myself so I am picky with who I ride with. The more booze the flows the further back I ride!!!!
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BlackFLHR
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Nov 24, 2009 08:17 PM
