Mudge
Member
I went to MSF about 9 years ago and actually got a perfect score on the ride test. However, this is an accident that could have been avoided. I was coming off of 237 during the morning commute on friday (5-23), we got the green light so I took off pretty much as I normally would. I was in the far right lane, and someone from 101-South Bound came right onto North Mathilda (where the DO NOT ENTER sign is) pretty much right in front of me and then he proceeded to brake. I'm watching while I'm under hard braking wondering why he is still slowing down!
I may have had enough time to veer to the left, and in the future I should be checking my mirrors not long after take off to see what my '6' looks like so that I know what I can safely do if needed. This person showed up, as best I can remember, maybe 10 feet in front of me with me doing about 35/40 MPH by that time and him going slower, and not just slower but actively braking as he saw oncoming traffic. Now normally if you swerve out into oncoming traffic you get your ass on that gas pedal quickly to get out of the way but he responded by braking so hard that he beat me by about half a foot. I got to see his bumper just about half a foot from my visor as I did kind of an endo/high side right off my bike.
I am also probably very guilty if not using enough rear brake in relation to my front.
Things I've learned.
1) Get boots, no more tennis
2) if I'm riding into something totally blind, I probably shouldn't - but I need to be aware of what things look like behind me so I can have an escape plan.
3) Need to get to a parking lot and practice my hard braking (I've had this bike about 8 days before this happened)
I don't feel completely at fault, however I could have avoided this issue if I were more aware. So while I thought generally I was a very safe rider, being hyper attentive on my 68 mile commutes to Sunnyvale, I made a couple mistakes here that left me with some walking discomfort (swollen right foot). After I hit the ground I basically clutched myself in pain for about 7-8 minutes before I was comfortable speaking, I had a rub mark on my right nipple and some minor damage to my right arm (very minor, I had a leather jacket on).
I was also very lucky to be able to rest slightly more over the long weekend. I slept a bit extra and I know that is contributing a little towards my recovery, I walk slowly because of the swelling but at least I'm mostly in one piece with nothing broken. I'm about 270 pounds so I hit the ground hard! ugh.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.403...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sQODccNtCO67lABa-HPqLYQ!2e0
I may have had enough time to veer to the left, and in the future I should be checking my mirrors not long after take off to see what my '6' looks like so that I know what I can safely do if needed. This person showed up, as best I can remember, maybe 10 feet in front of me with me doing about 35/40 MPH by that time and him going slower, and not just slower but actively braking as he saw oncoming traffic. Now normally if you swerve out into oncoming traffic you get your ass on that gas pedal quickly to get out of the way but he responded by braking so hard that he beat me by about half a foot. I got to see his bumper just about half a foot from my visor as I did kind of an endo/high side right off my bike.
I am also probably very guilty if not using enough rear brake in relation to my front.
Things I've learned.
1) Get boots, no more tennis
2) if I'm riding into something totally blind, I probably shouldn't - but I need to be aware of what things look like behind me so I can have an escape plan.
3) Need to get to a parking lot and practice my hard braking (I've had this bike about 8 days before this happened)
I don't feel completely at fault, however I could have avoided this issue if I were more aware. So while I thought generally I was a very safe rider, being hyper attentive on my 68 mile commutes to Sunnyvale, I made a couple mistakes here that left me with some walking discomfort (swollen right foot). After I hit the ground I basically clutched myself in pain for about 7-8 minutes before I was comfortable speaking, I had a rub mark on my right nipple and some minor damage to my right arm (very minor, I had a leather jacket on).
I was also very lucky to be able to rest slightly more over the long weekend. I slept a bit extra and I know that is contributing a little towards my recovery, I walk slowly because of the swelling but at least I'm mostly in one piece with nothing broken. I'm about 270 pounds so I hit the ground hard! ugh.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.403...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sQODccNtCO67lABa-HPqLYQ!2e0
Attachments
Last edited: