Ow oww owww!

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

So tonight while commuting it home I was taking it nice and easy - not lane splitting, not going above the limit, not weaving in and out of lanes, trying to keep a good distance from the car in front of me - no funny business at all just commuting home.

Then, just as I got onto the nauranga gorge - and bugger! - the car in front stops so damn fast it belies reality.

Turns out later that that car has just been involved in a six car front to end smash. Suffice to say that there was very little warning (in terms of brake lights etc).

I managed to scrub off most of my speed but was about a couple of meters short - ended up hitting the back of the car in front at about 15-20kph or so and acting like a yoyo just before I came crashing back down.

Now - point to make here - I'm not looking for any feedback or any self righteous posters to tell me what I did wrong and how I could have done it all differently. Save it for yourselves. Reason for posting is that it hurts like a mother right now but I was glad I had all the gear on.

So with about two bottles of wine down my gullet (which were in my backpack and I'm happy to say that they survived) and a good dose of codeine I can tell you that the ATGATT thing works. I might be bruised as feck but it could have been a lot worse.

As I was braking so hard all the weight was at the front of the bike. Once I hit the car I must have gone forwards and upwards and kind of flipped with my upper part coming down first . I believe I came down hard on my right shoulder, side of helmet and left wrist (read near face plant).

Feck but shock is a funny thing. Couldn't breathe for a wee bit (heavily winded) and the ringing inside my head meant I couldn't hear properly either. Found myself on all fours in the middle of the lane. Luckily the van behind me managed to stop in time and didn't add to the carnage. Top blokes who wheeled my bike to the grass verge and later took it back to my house for me.

But, apart from a decent amount of heavy bruising, nothing seems to be broken and all limbs are still attached. Not even any road rash. My helmet is a write off, gloves saved my palms and leather jacket saved the right hand side of my torso.

Draggin jeans saved my knees from road rash but I wish I had been wearing my new knee protectors as the knees feel pretty bruised right now.

All in all I think myself as being pretty lucky. But if any riders out there are wondering about whether ATGATT, makes sense the answer is yes it does.

The only thing I couldn't prepare against was twanging my left testie on the way off the bike. I reckon it shot round a couple of times like a roulette ball before stopping. Only realised how much it hurt later on. I think I might start wearing a cup from now on hurhur.

Anyway- ATGATT it makes sense.

[kave]

Keep a good eye on yourself tonight, adrenaline can hide the worst of your injuries and you may be suprised to discover injuries at a later stage. I was involved in a car vs bike and thought I got off without a scratch. Later I realised that my thumb no longer worked. When the pain actually arrived it was pretty nasty.

[madbikeboy]

Good you're in one piece. ATFG,ATT

[Gone Burger]

As I said before Ben - thank goodness you have walked away from this. Your lady is a lucky girl to have you home tonight and you are right - could have been so much worse. I was sitting at work watching the police and ambos rush past my window on the gorge, and heard that a bike was involved. I hoped like hell that whoever it was could walk away from it, and you have. Nothing you could have done here to change the situation as you say.

Rest up well, enjoy that wine (how gutted would you have been if you didn't have that to woff down), and heres to a speedy recovery. Poor bike, sounds like it too needs a good hug!

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Keep a good eye on yourself tonight, adrenaline can hide the worst of your injuries and you may be suprised to discover injuries at a later stage. I was involved in a car vs bike and thought I got off without a scratch. Later I realised that my thumb no longer worked. When the pain actually arrived it was pretty nasty.

Ta for that it is damn good advice - which the ambos also told me to keep an eye on. I've decided that self medication is the way to go tonight. It seriously hurts like I've taken a right kicking but I want to put off the pain until tomorrow. Tomorrow I am predicting excessive groaning while lying on the couch watching TV. The forecast for sunday looks much the same.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

As I said before Ben - thank goodness you have walked away from this. Your lady is a lucky girl to have you home tonight and you are right - could have been so much worse. I was sitting at work watching the police and ambos rush past my window on the gorge, and heard that a bike was involved. I hoped like hell that whoever it was could walk away from it, and you have. Nothing you could have done here to change the situation as you say.

Rest up well, enjoy that wine (how gutted would you have been if you didn't have that to woff down), and heres to a speedy recovery. Poor bike, sounds like it too needs a good hug!

Thanks Katie. Funny thing is that two of the cars were fully written off but the silly biker who was at the back (me) makes the headlines (so to speak). I think I got off pretty lightly and thank my lucky stars for sure.
My missus is being a star and keeping a wary eye on me but she has already said that she understands if I want to carry on with my favourite hobby (I think she is just trying to get rid of me lol).

[Gone Burger]

Thanks Katie. Funny thing is that two of the cars were fully written off but the silly biker who was at the back (me) makes the headlines (so to speak). I think I got off pretty lightly and thank my lucky stars for sure.
My missus is being a star and keeping a wary eye on me but she has already said that she understands if I want to carry on with my favourite hobby (I think she is just trying to get rid of me lol).

she sounds like a keeper Ben!

[scooute]

Glad to hear you are Ok, nothing worse than having no way out even when your doing everything right, been there done that and hurts like hell, enjoy the self medication and I hope the next couple of days arent too uncomfortable for you!!!!

[bittertwistedcute]

Glad you are in one (uncomfortable) piece but this
Keep a good eye on yourself tonight, adrenaline can hide the worst of your injuries and you may be suprised to discover injuries at a later stage. I was involved in a car vs bike and thought I got off without a scratch. Later I realised that my thumb no longer worked. When the pain actually arrived it was pretty nasty. is a great post to bear in mind
Good luck with the healing

[oldrider]

You done good just staying alive, hope you get over it quick and with minimum stress and cost!

[GOONR]

Glad you're still walking and talking fella.

You may well ache like a fucker when you wake up in the morning... More booze and codeine recommended.

[motor_mayhem]

I saw all the cars on the side of the road as I was coming up the gorge, didn't see you there though, usually keep a look out for bikes. I think the roads seem to be the worst when there has just been enough rain to wet them and it mixes as a fine paste (as opposed to surface water etc) so really slippery. Hope that's the only close call you are unfortunate enough to be involved in this year. Take it easy

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

I saw all the cars on the side of the road as I was coming up the gorge, didn't see you there though, usually keep a look out for bikes. I think the roads seem to be the worst when there has just been enough rain to wet them and it mixes as a fine paste (as opposed to surface water etc) so really slippery. Hope that's the only close call you are unfortunate enough to be involved in this year. Take it easy

Yeah the light rain was fully in my mind when I slammed the anchors on. I didn't want to slide but I didn't want to hit the car in front either. Damn sods law all round, if only etc etc but best not to dwell on those thoughts and just accept it and learn from the (rather painful) experience I say.

On a different point funniest thing of the whole situation was a cyclist who was coming up the gorge complaining how me and the policeman were in his way and being inconsiderate. Damn tosser. The policeman took it in his stride (those guys have to put up with an awful lot of crap) but if I was him I would have tazered the bastard just for giggles.

[breakaway]

What caused the nose to tail?

[trailblazer]

glad to here you have come out of this with only aches and pains and a few bruises. Rest up well over the next few days and you will heal up quickly.

[Thaeos]

Heh a cup eh, I just got myself a chest & back protector combo, maybe you could suggest that to knox..

[wysper]

Now - point to make here - I'm not looking for any feedback or any self righteous posters to tell me what I did wrong and how I could have done it all differently. Save it for yourselves. Reason for posting is that it hurts like a mother right now but I was glad I had all the gear on.

So with about two bottles of wine down my gullet (which were in my backpack and I'm happy to say that they survived) and a good dose of codeine I can tell you that the ATGATT thing works. I might be bruised as feck but it could have been a lot worse.



AWWW come on WW let us vent our self righteous holier than thou what I would have done better advice.... isnt that the point of a fourm? :shit:

But seriously.. good to hear you are ok. I tend to ride in all my gear too, I know with my luck the one time I choose to quickly shoot up the road will be the time I misjudge a corner, miss the signs of oil on the road or something similar.

Hope there aren't any hidden injuries and your don't take too long to heal.

[Pixie]

Keep a good eye on yourself tonight, adrenaline can hide the worst of your injuries and you may be suprised to discover injuries at a later stage. I was involved in a car vs bike and thought I got off without a scratch. Later I realised that my thumb no longer worked. When the pain actually arrived it was pretty nasty.

I think any adrenaline in his system would have subsided long before he got to a 'puter to tell his tale.
At least I would hope so or else he will probably die from it's sustained effects.

[schrodingers cat]

Ok I'll bite - "ATGATT it makes sense. " What does that mean?

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Ok I'll bite - "ATGATT it makes sense. " What does that mean?
All The Gear All The Time.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

What caused the nose to tail?

I have no idea. Too many cars involved and some of them just took off afterwards. I was a bit too busy wondering if I had damaged anything to be able to ask many questions.

My guess would be that someone cut into someone elses lane and everyone just stood on their brakes. Road surface was still a little bit slippery, from light rain earlier, which wouldn't have helped matters.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Thanks all for you kind comments. Woke up this morning and everything still moves (if somewhat slowly and painfully).

Even my head feels relatively good after my self medication efforts last night.

Anywho I'm off to lie on the couch now, for a good long while.

Cheers

[schrodingers cat]

All The Gear All The Time.

Cheers. You mean jandles AND shorts then.

'S funny. I bought a set of leathers recently and immediatly felt more secure than my cordura. No it didn't translate into another 40kph average speed...
ATGATT - it goes with the territory

[vifferman]

Sounds like you were pretty lucky, Mr Wild Weston. While I guess it's "something that could happen to anyone", my second thought (after that) was that it need not have happened at all. Did you and the 5/6 car drivers involved get ticketed for failing to stop within half the visible distance or whatever? If you'd been travelling a wee bit further back, and been more alert, could you have braked and swerved and gone to the side of the car in front, instead of into the back of it? I know this sounds "holier than thou", and in the same circumstances, I suspect I may have ploughed into the car too, perhaps more worslier, as I have developed a tendency to follow too closely, although I'm usually pretty aware of what's happening up ahead (and I don't mean immediately ahead, but much further ahead).
My point in all this (what may seem like putting the boot in) is that this is a good (?) learning experience. Maybe a bit late for you, but perhaps someone else will take the time to evaluate their riding habits and develop some better ones.
Anyway, I hope you'll take this in the spirit it was intended. I'm sorry you had your wee crash and got hurt, and hope you get healed quickly.

[steve_t]

What caused the nose to tail?

Sounds like some cagers weren't following the 2 second rule... which is the 4 second rule in the rain

Wild_Weston, I hope your nuts are OK. Nuts vs tank can be painful! Sprot bikes need a dent in the tank so the force gets taken up by your thighs and not your nuts!

[Fatt Max]

Glad to hear you are ok dude,
My gear saved me this week, know the feeling
You take care and watch the signs, if something dont look/sound/feel right, get your arse to the quack
Look after yourself

[ukiwi]

"Woke up this morning and everything still moves (if somewhat slowly and painfully)."

Did you ever move any other way?

Now before I offer my sympathy I need to tell you exactly what you did wrong, you should have given Candece your bike when you had the chance, she did offer.

Seriously Ben I'm glad to hear you are ok, or as ok as can be expceted. Give us a shout if there is anything we can do, even if its helping finish off the wine you managed to save.

[Eyegasm]

Sod it ben.

Hope to hell you didn't write the bike off!!! Those cans took you forever to get right HAHA

[p.dath]

That adrenalin thing is interesting. I've had adrenalin hide a testicular injury and internal organ bruising for maybe 8 to 12 hours.

But when it wore off - boy did I feel it. Could barely move the next day.

[Sentox]

Glad to hear you're ok! Good thing you were doing those braking drills on Monday eh :p

It's something that makes me a little nervous in the Manawatu Gorge. Traffic tends to lump together and form a bumper-to-bumper convoy for the whole stretch. If someone at the front has to stop in a hurry, everyone behind them is going to be scrubbing off speed the blunt way.

[Berries]

Sounds like some cagers weren't following the 2 second rule... which is the 4 second rule in the rain!
What, doesn't that apply to bikes as well then ?

[pritch]

I'm not looking for any feedback or any self righteous posters to tell me what I did wrong and how I could have done it all differently.

Glad you're OK.

So when you thought it over, and you would seem to have the time right now, I for one would be interested to read your thoughts as to anything that you might have done differently to avoid the crash. A discussion of precisely the type that you wish to avoid could possibly be of benefit to others.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Glad you're OK.

So when you thought it over, and you would seem to have the time right now, I for one would be interested to read your thoughts as to anything that you might have done differently to avoid the crash. A discussion of precisely the type that you wish to avoid could possibly be of benefit to others.

Because you didn't try to tell me what I did wrong and instead politely asked me of what I thought I could have done differently I will answer your question.

It' s simple really - I hit something on the bike - it could have been avoided. Everything is theoretically avoidable (apart from death or taxes - as the saying goes).

In true terms of what happened - the van behind me was a wee bit to close for my liking and I accelerated slightly to move away from it (as I couldn't change lanes). Even after accelerating I was still under the speed limit. But when looking up from my mirror (which I used to check the new distance of the van from me) that is the point when everything turned to custard in front of me. Hardly any brakelights just cars hitting one another. Car in front of me must have hit the one in front of him pretty damn fast as it was a write off with a "v" indent in its engine bay (I assume from a towbar).

I've been out and checked the bike today and I reckon I managed to scrub off more speed than I thought last night. Bike has taken it all quite well. Front lights and instrument panel is all messed up but the engine started fine and the front wheel and forks don't look bent. So with a bit more clarity in my head today I would estimate the impact speed of around 10kph.

So what could I have done different - squeezed the brakes a bit harder possibly, there was no decent exit route as the lanes got thinner on the bend there and I would have more likely ended up going under wheels if I had tried that. Stopping was the only option. I reckon the milliseconds I lost in checking my mirrors and then looking up cost me the extra reflex time I needed to stop.

If anyone is wanting to learn from my experience the only thing I can say is practice your emergency braking. I had been practicing (as recently as Monday) but still on the day the slight dampness of the road made me dubious about my ability to stop without sliding. I honestly reckon I could have stopped in that distance but my brain made me hold back from braking harder.

All good though. I'm pretty happy with the outcome, which could have been a damn sight worse. Police will work out whether anyone was doing anything wrong (including me) and that is their call. I was pretty happy with what I was doing - could I have done things differently or better? Possibly, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it - I'm just going to make sure I learn from it.

Cheers All.

[willytheekid]

Good to hear you walked away from that one :yes:
Hope the body and bike are ok mate, but its good to hear your recovering and came off not to bad (poor bike tho).
Rest up and get well ...then get back in the saddle :scooter:


all the best- Willy & Phat Girl

Their panel damage...could be our life! ....ride safe everyone

[Gone Burger]

Pleased to hear the bike is not as bad as you thought. You had finally got it to a point you were happy with, and you were really settling in and getting comfortable to how it felt. So there is still hope for the bike getting back on the road soon? Not bent - good start.

Hope you lay on the couch all day Mr. You going to take a few days off work? I bloody hope so!

[Toaster]

Glad you came through that relatively lightly Ben. I am sure we all sympathise with your comment about vejicles following bikes too close and giving you little room to emergency brake without having two tonnes of metal ramming you up the butt. That stretch of road has a bad rep for crashes and often people following too closely or not anticipating queues around corners. I hope you and the bike fix up quick.