Crashed on the Altamont last night.

[Mike Noface]

Well...I've heard that every rider goes down eventually. I guess it was my turn. So many strange events that led up to it. Full moon..etc. My baby mama sent me a text earlier in the day "motorcycle down on the altamont, looks like he's ok". My response was "Well it wasn't me...but I hope the rider is ok". (heal up other rider!).

I went to the chiropractor to get an adjustment. Off my normal commute route home. Adjustment was great. I felt great. I waited a few minutes before getting back on the bike. I pulled over a second time to adjust something in my jacket and went on my way.

I was driving 75-ish most of the way. Traffic on 680 and then 580 was moving well and I was in no rush. Many other bikes passed me and I waved. I was just feeling happy and taking my time. As I got to the Altamont traffic was moving slow so I stayed in the #1 and #2 lane making forward progress going no more than 30-35 (keeping my delta within 5mph of traffic). I kept thinking about that text from earlier in the day and thinking "It's not my day to go down..."

As I came down the other side of the Altamont, I didn't see a stalled vehicle in the #1 lane (just before that weird overpass/bridge thing where it's always a little wet on the ground?). I glanced over my left shoulder to merge back into #1 and when I looked back up the vehicle in front of me (white PT cruiser) moved right towards #2 (but didn't cross the dots) and slammed on their brakes. I grabbed front brake and applied rear brake, went into a slide, and probably target fixated on the rear end of the PT. Like "Oh shit I'm gonna hit this car!". I rear ended the PT and flipped over my bars. Landed on my left shoulder and left knee pretty hard. Gear did its job. Bike did a pirouette and took a beating. Probably totaled. The car I hit did not stop. This all happened in like 5 seconds.

This is where I get into the "what ifs". What if I had just moved back into #2 lane? I didn't really know what was next to me at that moment. I felt like an idiot. I felt bad for slowing down everyone else's commute. I felt bad for having a bunch of firefighters show up ... just felt like a jackass.

The good news is no broken bones or anything. I was feeling pretty terrible last night but already have some movement back in my shoulder. Ice and rest. As many ER workers and the EMS workers said to me last night... It could have been worse.

And now begins the soul searching about getting back out there etc...

Ride safe all.

 

[dittoalex]

General is the new "My First Crash Analysis" :rolleyes

Well...I've heard that every rider goes down eventually. I guess it was my turn.

No, not every rider goes down eventually. Statistically it is true, but there is no such thing as fate and you make your own luck.

Full moon..etc. My baby mama sent me a text earlier in the day "motorcycle down on the altamont, looks like he's ok". My response was "Well it wasn't me...but I hope the rider is ok". (heal up other rider!). I went to the chiropractor to get an adjustment.

Don't bring superstition into a structured, athletic regime.

Many other bikes passed me and I waved. I was just feeling happy and taking my time.

Don't wave, it distracts you and relieves you of control. Don't let your guard down and feel happy, motorcycling is about intense concentration with focus on form.

I kept thinking about that text from earlier in the day and thinking "It's not my day to go down..."

Don't ride if you're not 99.5% into it. This is why I disagree with most commuting.

I glanced over my left shoulder to merge back into #1 and when I looked back up the vehicle in front of me (white PT cruiser) moved right towards #2 (but didn't cross the dots) and slammed on their brakes. I grabbed front brake and applied rear brake, went into a slide, and probably target fixated on the rear end of the PT.

Practice quick head checks of less than a second. Controversial, but: I'm always trailing my rear brake while splitting. This trades brake light and bot-dot traction for reaction times and engine modulation.

 

[Moto Beck]

:x

i think what he's trying to say is that if we followed your militaristic approach to motorcycling i think most of us would question why the hell we're doing it at all.

Yes it requires 100% concentration, but i don't feel like I'm riding off to the battle of Stalingrad when i get on my bike. I do it because i want to have some fun and enjoyment out of my hobby, otherwise - what is the point?

 

[dittoalex]

i think what he's trying to say is that if we followed your militaristic approach to motorcycling i think most of us would question why the hell we're doing it at all.

Yes it requires 100% concentration, but i don't feel like I'm riding off to the battle of Stalingrad when i get on my bike. I do it because i want to have some fun and enjoyment out of my hobby, otherwise - what is the point?

Be hard on newbies rather than reinforce a squid mentality. Otherwise they'll run wide and take you out going the other way on Pesky.

 

[Moto Beck]

Be hard on newbies rather than reinforce a squid mentality. Otherwise they'll run wide and take you out going the other way on Pesky.

it shouldn't be applauded but negative reinforcement doesn't mentor new riders - it further alienates them. I'm sure you've read the countless "Squid" threads that shame these types of riders. I laugh and shake my head at every rider who passes me in shorts and a tshirt but i don't publically shame them because that only further turns them off from considering a differing opinion.

The reality is most people do what they want to do and think they are right over anyone else - i'm not a certified teacher in anything but my profession relies heavily on negotiating with clients in a high-pressure environment 5 days a week. I can only speak from my personal experience but I can never convince a client to think my way by calling them stupid (i'm not saying you did that here but hopefully you get what i mean), 90% of the time I can win them over if i can make them think that my idea is their idea. I do that by positive reinforcement with a touch of i have more experience with this than you do so this is what i think.

The best mentors i've had - guide and reinforce - they never shame.

 

[Moto Beck]

I agree with that attitude for professional endeavors. Even nearby "Crash Analysis - A place to learn from our mishaps". I disclaimed myself for that reason. This is not SBR



My target audience for this attitude is the riders who have been at it for a season or two and understand mechanics to the dangerous point of overconfidence: upgrading too soon, shooting for the moon to keep up with A group and splattering themselves on the loops we love and map out here, taking out fellow BARFers. The Peninsula becomes less fun in good weather when trains of these are complemented by incoming Religious Racers, knee down, well into your lane on 35/84 due to nearing triple-digit speeds. I'm a hypocrite so when I'm parking and squaring corners :ride it doesn't doesn't leave much room for adjustment. Makes for some cool footage when it all works out, though :wow

:thumbup:thumbup

 

[Map8]

Moved to Crash Analysis.

 

[dowlinginchico]

Why? Did you ask OP?

 

[Map8]

Why? Did you ask OP?

OP describes crash, asks "What if?" including questioning mindset and actions before crash. Fits criteria for threads which belong in Crash Analysis.

 

[Mike Noface]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. I'm feeling sore, but better today. I don't mind the thread being moved to Crash Analysis (I thought of putting it here instead of General initially) but there isn't much to analyze is there? No video, no witnesses here on BARF ...only my own personal recounting of what happened. I guess it was more to apologize for my mistake and screwing up anyone's commute on the Altamont yesterday.

@dittoalex: I've been commuting in the Bay Area year round for six plus years. I'm well aware of the focus it requires. So addressing me as a "newbie" or seasonal rider is a misguided assumption on your part. My bike is (was) my main mode of transportation.

Also, I was riding trials and dirt bikes when you were in diapers. So thank you for your sage wisdom.

Yeah. I made a mistake. It all happened in the span of about 5 seconds. I didn't see the stalled vehicle and reacted poorly to an emergency situation. I also experienced a bit of target fixation, which I have before like on Redwood Road ... but never in traffic like that. In hindsight I think a better choice would have been to just swerve right and hope to clear the vehicle in front of me without getting sandwiched. Again, I wasn't 100% sure what was on my right (poor situational awareness).

As for my mind wandering occasionally while I commute, this is definitely a problem of mine. My riding mentor (some of you BMW, Adventure riders probably know... Chuck Brown) who passed away not too long ago... said his worst wreck happened while lane splitting and thinking about his workday, not what was right in front of him. I always remind myself of his words when I catch myself doing that.

This was not one of those times. I was fully focused while traversing the Altamont, just made a costly mistake.

 

[motomania2007]

From what you wrote, it sounds like you were NOT maintaining a very good situational awareness and were surprised and target fixated and on top of that, your braking technique was less than ideal.

I am NOT saying the accident was your fault.

I am saying there are things you could have done better that might have avoided or reduced the impact.

The first thing I suggest is to take the IRC because that will give you a refresh of the basics to clear out bad habits AND show you how to maintain an even better situational awareness. The IRC will also go a long way to restoring your confidence in riding.

 

[Whammy]

Get back on the horse soon.
Learn from what you didn't see this last time.
I'm sure at 35mph you thought you were ok.
That's when you get those lane jumpers. Dial it back when you see it earlier.
The PT cruiser probably didn't have insurance that's why they left.