Topic: Ya missed me

[Kevin D]

On my last ride, I'm enjoying a sunny Saturday on my favorite road. I'm EB on my way home at the speed limit of 35mph on Huron River drive near Dexter, about to enter a blind uphill lefty. A WB cager appears in the curve, he has already crossed over the centerline, distracted? stoned? medical emergency? I don't know. No time for me to brake, honk, give finger, I just veer to the right. There's no shoulder, but no trees on the right, and its uphill to scrub some mph off, counting my blessings, just a bit of space to slip through as we pass I'm in the dirt and 2/3 of his car is in my lane.
 He recovered without incident and I went on for another 1/2 mile, then I stopped to collect myself. In another time I might have circled back to find the cager and talk to him about his error, but I didn't. I'm here four days later still counting my blessings, and pondering my next ride.
 One odd thing: if I was in a car, there would have been a head on collision, at least a glancing blow. But being on my CB allowed me to fit through in the available space.

[jgger]

God looks after orphans and idiots.......I know who my parents are! I dont which side of the equation you are on, but it is great you are still with us 👍

[ekpent]

Underwear change moment for sure. Glad it worked out. Does make you pause when thinking about that next ride. Things can change in an instant.

[Kevin D]

Well, I might have a foot in both camps, jgger.

My parents are long gone, but that doesn't quite make me an orphan.
Mom never liked me riding, and never once took a ride.
Dad didnt ride either, but he didn't object.
As far as being an idiot, it's been a long time since I have had an aptitude test.

....and Thanks I'm happy to still be here.

[Kevin D]

Eric, yes I'm apprehensive.

[72 yellow]

These people are everywhere.  Driving is what they do while doing something more important.  Day before yesterday I was out on my other bike (A not so quiet Sportster) and was alongside a guy in a car with his window down.  For no reason he just moved into my lane forcing me into the next lane.  Didn't seem to care.   

[34barab]

Kevin D

If you were in a car, the WB probably would have seen you.  I'm still amazed by how many four wheel drivers cannot, will not, or don't want to see bikes.

[Alan F.]

When you think about lane splitting this never seems to be the first thought, but is it really that different or safe?

Glad you and your CB rode out the other side safely together.
Ride on, tomorrow is another day.

But yeah, I always like yelling "you missed me!" Like Banderas did in Despardo in the bar shootout...
About 4:35 in this clip...

[seanbarney41]

Kevin...it's a double edged sword!  Many riders with less skill would have fixated on the hazard, and that would have been bad...but that is a skill that requires practice, so maybe consider that and keep riding. 

[dave500]

I drive a truck all day for a job and see #$%* all day!no one takes driving seriously anymore?you must ride with the attitude that all car drivers are #$%*witts,and some motorcycle riders aswell?you did well,experience/skill/timing and luck all fall into place here and at any close call aswell as collisions!

[demon78]

I agree with Dave back in the bad old days when I shop managed for a couple of bike shops I was the final word on whether the work was done properly I'd on the road up to 5 times a day God Almighty the people in cars were #$%*ing deadly at least a third of them and the rest were iffy, now 40+ plus years on. Worse. I see things on the Road now that are incredible so I've given up my license on my 80th so I don't add to it.
Bill the demon.

[Don R]

 I'm glad you had an escape route. Sometimes we aren't so fortunate.
  A friend was  going up a hill on a curve and down came two cars with one passing the other. He considered going to the shoulder but the car did and he was forced to pass between them. The road was cut through a hill and was steep on both sides. His wife hit him on the back and asked why did you do that? He asked what she thought his choices were.

[Kevin D]

 I will get back on. I need to go back and check where this happened, even though I have been there 100's of times. I'm thinking a few milliseconds either way would probably have made a big difference in the outcome.
 When I go for a ride I'm looking for the quietest road with the best pavement and best scenery. No Walmarts, no grocery stores, no school zones, no traffic lights, NO IDIOTS, just two lanes of smooth winding asphalt. Maybe I have to move to Montana or west Texas.
 ...and I think I need to share what happened so you all might avoid the same.
Thanks all for your support.

[Stev-o]

Maybe I have to move to Montana or west Texas.

Hey Kevin....most of us have had a similar experience, it can happen in Montana and Texas too.

But I agree, nearly all of my riding is in a mostly rural area with little to no traffic, that is the most fun riding for me.

BTW - I was in Dexter last weekend, but we were driving vintage Corvettes...

[Kevin D]

most of us have had a similar experience

Yep, I'm sure Stev-o. It's just not every day that I have my life threatened.
Think it was a gray Nissan.
Start to finish one second.
Almost like it didn't happen.

[demon78]

 Kevin D I think if we were to go looking you would find it happens even in places as isolated as the Dempster Highway although it might be a bear, moose, large truck, or car that try's for you. I just looked and it's been closed since the 3rd of Sept because of a LNG truck in the ditch, so just about as far into the booney's as you can make it in North America you still run the risk of getting shortened up by the opposition.
Bill the demon.

[Bailgang]

This is from a trip my wife and took to Tennessee a couple of years ago, what you don't see in the pic is an overturned mobile crane in the ditch and a couple more cars scattered  around all due to some chump who didn't stay in his/hers lane while coming around a blind corner. We got there not too long after it happened.

[bear]

I drive a truck all day for a job and see #$%* all day!no one takes driving seriously anymore?you must ride with the attitude that all car drivers are #$%*witts,and some motorcycle riders aswell?

Very true Dave,

Our club does a run up to an annual charity ride in the Snowy Mountains.

My mate borrowed my bike to do it as his was off the road at the time.

He rode up by himself because of work commitments.

About 50km out from the event he was involved in a "head on" with a couple of Fireblades.
They where playing " boy racer" coming down the hill and met Paddy on a blind corner.
Both of their bikes where on his side of the road.

The result......
Two wreaked Fireblades on damaged (but still rideable Road King)
Unfortunately the two young Honda riders got to contemplate their sins at Wagga Base Hospital.

Cheers,
Brian

[spotty]

Congrats on the luck/skill/braintakingover, that's a good day when everything lines up for the best
As for best place for a safe ride ..... strangely my fave is a freeway......most folks just cruise along on auto-dickhead-pilot but should they choose to engage manual/dickhead mode you've usually got somewhere to go to avoid moron-in-a-box
On country roads round here it's either the side of a cliff or off the cliff to avoid
And unfortunately with windy steep roads drivers are either in overconfident mode or sh1tting themselves mode. Mrs spotty is in the local volunteer fire brigade and most of their callouts are for the above reasons
Either some dickhead who thought his knackered, bald tyred tuner car was up to it or a dumb arsed tourist who is barely capable of driving in a straight line at the best of times
I go with the opinion that they all got out of bed this morning with the intention of killing me and ride accordingly

[spotty]

I should also perhaps mention that the freeway is also the natural habitat of my bike of choice - the VMAX, keep it in 3rd hovering around the speed limit, dickhead cuts across, whach the throttle open and hey presto you're doing twice the speed limit and gained half a mile on the fcukwit by the time you change into 5th......
If you ever get the chance , ride one.......

[dave500]

I looked at one once spotty and it snarled at me!im too scared to ride one!

[Kevin D]

I had a good ride yesterday, 170 safe miles. I went by Huron River drive and couldn't pin down the exact spot of the incident, the front of the car across the centerline is stuck in my head. It was such a nice day I didn't want to dwell on the bad so just went on my way.

[Stev-o]

Good to hear, Kevin...

[my name is nobody]

Underwear change moment for sure. Glad it worked out. Does make you pause when thinking about that next ride. Things can change in an instant.

Had these same thoughts 3 weeks ago. Some smart a$$ passes me on the shoulder, while I was in slow
lane, just before an exit off the hiway. I'm at 55 mph and slowing down, to exit, he's at about 80 in passing gear and on the shoulder. He blows by, flips me  off, pauses to see what my reaction, and takes off.
I don't know why.........

PS...Glad ya made it Kevin.