Uneasy feeling lately...
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 158
Likes: 5
From: SC
Perfectly normal. My riding buddy, a 72yr old disabled veteran, went down and into the trees right in front of my eyes. A deer ran out in front of him in the middle of a tight curve that he was already leaned deep into. We always dressed for the occasion so full face helmets, full riding leathers, gloves, and boots. He didn't have a bit of rash but still came away with a broken neck in three places, broken orbital bone, broken teeth, and a brain hemorrhage. It was a miracle from God that he survived and I am sure he wouldn't have if he had been wearing anything other than a full face helmet.
It was a long, emotional two hour ride home from the hospital he was taken to from the crash scene and then flown out of on a life flight headed to Chapel Hill. I talked it out with folks on another online riding community. That really helped but the biggest thing was time. I had to make a decision about my riding, and my riding style. I slowed down and changed bikes to curb my aggressive riding. But his crash was not about aggressive riding, this time, it was about bad things that can happen to anyone riding any bike. You have to come to grips with the fact that at any time, the Lord can call your name.
It's been almost a year now and I thank the Lord that Bill is doing well but I still think about it most times I head out. Not going to stop me from riding. There are worse things than dieing, like never really living.
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
It was a long, emotional two hour ride home from the hospital he was taken to from the crash scene and then flown out of on a life flight headed to Chapel Hill. I talked it out with folks on another online riding community. That really helped but the biggest thing was time. I had to make a decision about my riding, and my riding style. I slowed down and changed bikes to curb my aggressive riding. But his crash was not about aggressive riding, this time, it was about bad things that can happen to anyone riding any bike. You have to come to grips with the fact that at any time, the Lord can call your name.
It's been almost a year now and I thank the Lord that Bill is doing well but I still think about it most times I head out. Not going to stop me from riding. There are worse things than dieing, like never really living.
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
Novice
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro, Nc
I was almost killed by a women about a year and a half ago on my bike, she t-boned me and broke every bone in my right leg including my hip and some ribs, almost had my lower leg amputated. For the first month after getting out of the hospital I felt uneasy just being a passenger in a car, but now I am pretty well healed and back on 2 wheels. I still think about that day and do my best to make sure that it doesnt happen again, but i will be damned if I let anyone or anything come between what I love second most on this earth after my kids...riding motorcycles
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 696
Likes: 13
From: Creston, Ohio
Does anyone believe the philosophy that when your number is called it doesn't matter what your doing, where your at, have a helmet and armor on or not, if it is your time your going to die no matter what. I kind of seem to think that way, I lost my dad when I was 8 years old, damn that has been 40 years ago already, I lost my sister 5 years ago, she was at home and started feeling sick and out of sorts, she went to the ER and within 20 min. she died, the Dr.'s have no idea what was wrong or caused it.
I don't always wear a helmet or leathers, most of the time no helmet and just jeans and a t shirt, what ever I feel like that day, I try to enjoy everyday the way I want to cause you never know what is going to happen. Life is just a game that no one wins.
I don't always wear a helmet or leathers, most of the time no helmet and just jeans and a t shirt, what ever I feel like that day, I try to enjoy everyday the way I want to cause you never know what is going to happen. Life is just a game that no one wins.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 17
From: Mid West
I think we all know that point rpking, we just don't dwell on it or put it out on a stick in front of ourselves to worry on.
Great and dear friend went down this last summer, he and his wife have given riding up for good and he is only 50 she 52, they went down hard and she could not take the thought of doing that again. I went down in '79, tumbled on a rain slick road at around 50mph, had made the mistake of thinking I wasn't sliding that fast on my rear and tried to stand up after losing the bike.
There are those instances we can walk away, others the buddy is ambulance carried off or worse the morgue picks us up, gotta live, gotta do what you think is correct for your life, pick your battles and challenges as carefully as we can but in the end, your number comes up there aint no cutting a deal.
Great and dear friend went down this last summer, he and his wife have given riding up for good and he is only 50 she 52, they went down hard and she could not take the thought of doing that again. I went down in '79, tumbled on a rain slick road at around 50mph, had made the mistake of thinking I wasn't sliding that fast on my rear and tried to stand up after losing the bike.
There are those instances we can walk away, others the buddy is ambulance carried off or worse the morgue picks us up, gotta live, gotta do what you think is correct for your life, pick your battles and challenges as carefully as we can but in the end, your number comes up there aint no cutting a deal.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Nope, just the opposite. Last summer when a woman ran a stop sign and hit my wife and me, I learned there are some situations you can't control no matter how good a rider you think you are. But there are also lots of things you can control - so I'm riding with at least some protection to help me survive the next time someone runs me over. In fact after that experience, I feel better with a helmet and leathers now than I do without. Nothing's inevitable and I can at least postpone when it's my time to go.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 11
From: Ladera Ranch, CA
I hesitate to post this as I am very superstitious and typically avoid discussing topics like this but lately I am a bit uneasy or overly cautious on the bike. I know why; a couple weeks ago I drove by the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident moments after it happened. it shook me up a bit and I couldn't wait to get home and off the bike that day. I live in texas and don't always wear a helmet, particularly in the summer. I have worn one every day since I drove by that horrible scene. I have been riding a long time and this is the first time I remember feeling this way. I love to ride and am not considering giving it up but I don't like feeling this way as it takes the fun out of it. I am not completely freaked out nor am I riding in fear. I just have thoughts in the back of my mind when on the freeway. I'm sure it will pass but I wanted to see if anyone has experienced this. Thanks..
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 901
Likes: 5
From: Springfield, MO
I don't think you're feeling anything unusual. We had a husband and wife killed this past summer on their brand new Ultra here in our town. Car changed lanes, bumped another car into oncoming traffic and just that quick they were gone.
Every time I would drive down that stretch of road you could still see the paint lines on the pavement from where the police investigated the accident. Got a very uneasy feeling. Heck, one lady in our riding group told her husband she was done. She said, "We've got two young boys, and we can't both get killed." So just like that, she never got on the bike again.
I think your uneasy feeling will pass with time, but don't every get so complacent (good advice for all of us) that we get careless.
Every time I would drive down that stretch of road you could still see the paint lines on the pavement from where the police investigated the accident. Got a very uneasy feeling. Heck, one lady in our riding group told her husband she was done. She said, "We've got two young boys, and we can't both get killed." So just like that, she never got on the bike again.
I think your uneasy feeling will pass with time, but don't every get so complacent (good advice for all of us) that we get careless.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
From: Texas
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
While being aware of the dangers is healthy, focusing on them is not, especially while riding.
We all have better days than others but I've never had a day on my bike where I felt "uneasy" enough to think about parking it... But I've felt uneasy enough to slow down a few MPH on some days though.
At 59, my brain simply does not process what my eyes see as quickly as it used to. The only time I'm even aware of this is when I'm pushing myself or the bike near the limits, e.g., racing through a canyon, or the like. Nowadays, I just factor in a little more margin for error than I did in the past and by doing so I can ride comfortably and confidently in any situation.
Being aware of the potential dangers is good. Riding in fear, or even slightly unnerved, is not. If I ever found myself thinking about what could happen if something goes wrong while riding, for more than a fleeting moment, I'd re-assess how much I really wanted to continue riding.
We all have better days than others but I've never had a day on my bike where I felt "uneasy" enough to think about parking it... But I've felt uneasy enough to slow down a few MPH on some days though.
At 59, my brain simply does not process what my eyes see as quickly as it used to. The only time I'm even aware of this is when I'm pushing myself or the bike near the limits, e.g., racing through a canyon, or the like. Nowadays, I just factor in a little more margin for error than I did in the past and by doing so I can ride comfortably and confidently in any situation.
Being aware of the potential dangers is good. Riding in fear, or even slightly unnerved, is not. If I ever found myself thinking about what could happen if something goes wrong while riding, for more than a fleeting moment, I'd re-assess how much I really wanted to continue riding.
