First crash

[Matariki]

Two weeks ago I had my first collision with another vehicle on the road. I ended up in hospital with a major fracture on my left tibia and minor fractures to my ankle. It happened in Masterton outside of Pak n' save at 7pm on Tuesday. I had just finished up Boxing training for the night and I was on my way to Featherston to do Muay Thai. I don't know what I did wrong, I had my head lights on and I was driving at the right legal speed. I was hit by a mobility van which failed to give way on the intersection. I saw it but I didn't have enough time to react. The police reckoned that I had less than a second to brace myself and they said what happened wasn't my fault. I was conscious throughout the event. I felt so powerless lying there on the concrete, fortunately my bike is ok. But now I'm having second thoughts about riding and I'm afraid to even travel in a car, intersections have been freaking me out since I came home from the hospital. My mother doesn't want me riding out at dusk or night ever again, Masterton is too dangerous for motorcyclists because people don't look. :facepalm:

Once I heal up I'm going to be attending every defensive driving course in the area, buy heavier motorcycle armour and ride in groups until I build up the confidence to ride alone again. I love riding, but I don't want my parents to freak out and I don't want to die or lose a limb riding. I know its a risk that I take on every time, that we all take on, but aren't I'm allowed to enjoy myself and share the road like every other motorist? :weep:

[riffer]

Masterton is too dangerous for motorcyclists because people don't look. :facepalm:

News flash girl. People don't look full stop. The mistake you made was assuming they did.

If this is the one thing you take out of this accident you will already be a better rider than 50% of people out there.

Heal well.

There are plenty of people who can help you with getting your mojo back. Just ask.

[sil3nt]

All this could have been avoided if you had just stuck to muay thai :rockon: and not done that stupid boxing crap :whistle: :bleh:

Take your time getting back into riding its far too early to be making any decisions on whether you will ride again or not :yes:

[Matariki]

All this could have been avoided if you had just stuck to muay thai :rockon: and not done that stupid boxing crap :whistle: :bleh:

Take your time getting back into riding its far too early to be making any decisions on whether you will ride again or not :yes:

I love that stupid boxing crap. :yes:
Yes, I understand its a bit early to decide but either way I need to conquer any fears that I might have about riding before they get the better of me.

[riffer]

Oh, and my mother tried to stop me riding because it's dangerous after my Dad went straight over a VW Beetle on The Terrace when it failed to give way.

31 years later she's still going on...

I'm still here. And I'm still riding. People apply their own rules to things and it's natural for a mother to worry about her children. But there's many more dangerous things to do than ride a motorcycle. In fact, it may just help you to become a very very good motorist.

[Ronin]

Got ya PM and will reply properly there but don't be to hard on your self. SMIDYS (sorry mate I didn't see ya) happen to everyone and until you get your spidey sense tuned in they are more of a danger. All ways ride as if the car you can see is going to pull out in front of you.

[Matariki]

Got ya PM and will reply properly there but don't be to hard on your self. SMIDYS (sorry mate I didn't see ya) happen to everyone and until you get your spidey sense tuned in they are more of a danger. All ways ride as if the car you can see is going to pull out in front of you.

Most definitley. I should of been doing that at the time, I'll know for the future.

[The Baron]

Dam - not good to read. (A bit close to home)

Glad to hear you are on the mend. Get well soon.

[Brian d marge]

Welcome to the club, Crashing hurts dont it .... you dont want to be doing that again!!

the feelings you have are normal ,,, Do the defensive course ( they are good fun!!!)

get back on the bike , and let us know in 20 years time !

Stephen

[ducatilover]

I second what Ronin said.

Heal well and keep it nice and safe :rockon:

[oneofsix]

Welcome to the club, Crashing hurts dont it .... you dont want to be doing that again!!

the feelings you have are normal ,,, Do the defensive course ( they are good fun!!!)

get back on the bike , and let us know in 20 years time !

Stephen

what he said, plus what others have seen about being invisible. There some good books and vids out there as well to supplement the practical, entertainment whilst you heal. Riding in the Zone comes with a DVD and some practical carpark practice scenarios.

[willytheekid]

....My mother doesn't want me riding out at dusk or night ever again, Masterton is too dangerous for motorcyclists because people don't look. :facepalm:

Once I heal up I'm going to be attending every defensive driving course in the area, buy heavier motorcycle gear.... :

So sorry to hear about your crash HotKebab...never fun to drop a bike.
But don't let it get to you, learn from it and move on to lifes next challenge :yes:
Your mom & dad are always going to worry about you no matter what you do...thats part of there "job", assure them your ok and keep them informed about the steps you are taking to keep safe.(+1 for rider training, and +1 again for heavy gear :niceone:)
The bellow quote from riffer is VERY good advice, always!..ALWAYS!! treat other road users as if they are out to kill you...& you are invisible!...expect them to do dumb and dangerous things around you....because if you plan for the worst....you'll come out the best :2thumbsup

Truly hope the body feels better soon and mind follows just as quick.

(We expect to see a ride report from you soon eh :yes:)

ATGATT---all the gear all the time



News flash girl. People don't look full stop. The mistake you made was assuming they did.

If this is the one thing you take out of this accident you will already be a better rider than 50% of people out there.

Heal well.

There are plenty of people who can help you with getting your mojo back. Just ask.
+1 ... well said riffer, REP is in the mail

[Crasherfromwayback]

Sorry to hear about your nasty accident. Take your time to heal well, then try to ease yourself back into it. All accidents are bad, but they're not as bad if you learn from them!

[jaffaonajappa]

Once I heal up I'm going to be attending every defensive driving course in the area, buy heavier motorcycle armour and ride in groups until I build up the confidence to ride alone again. I love riding, but I don't want my parents to freak out and I don't want to die or lose a limb riding. I know its a risk that I take on every time, that we all take on, but aren't I'm allowed to enjoy myself and share the road like every other motorist? :weep:


Well spoken - good decision..........if you follow through with this idea, you should have a lot of safe but FUN biking times ahead of you.

[Sable]

My personal view is that they're all out to kill me, if you give them an opening you're trusting someone else with your life.

[Old Steve]

Best advice I got from this site once I started riding (at the age of 61) was:

Every other vehicle on the road is out to kill you.

Its amasing how defensively I ride now. For instance, coming up to a car parked on the roadside I check to see if there's a driver in the car, if so is the engine running, I fade wide so I'm clear of any opening door, if the engine is running I then keep a watch on the front wheels in case they turn (i.e. the car is going to pull out on me).

You're going to end up paranoid of other motorists but thats the price of safe riding.

Sorry to hear about your off, and I hope you get up the courage to ride again.

Illigitimous Nil Carborundum (don't let the bastards wear you down).

[kilgh]

Whoa! I thought I was a late beginner! 61! You give me hope Old Steve. :yes:


Sorry about the accident Hotkebab. Even in my car I assume everyone is out to get me. :shutup: Saw some freakish behaviour on tonight's ride. Car was on the complete wrong side of road ahead of me driving along....needless to say stayed well back from them!

Heal well, and then take your anxiety out on that kick bag.

[DrunkenMistake]

Sorry to hear about the crash,
Dont let one incident deter you from riding,
Think of it as a really shitty learning point, intersections mainly give ways I treat as if they are always going to go, like said above, you have to think everyone is out to get you, I managed to ride up the back end of a car at a great deal of speed,
lack of concentration was to blame, but I felt rather similar, scares the shit out of me thinking of it, but it helped me keep my concentration up strangely, I get itchy when I follow cars now though but I used to tail gate and its made me ride with safe distance.
Do a little google research, and do a defensive riding coarse or a ride right coarse, might just boost your confidence :]

[p.dath]

Two weeks ago I had my first collision with another vehicle on the road.... I don't know what I did wrong ... I felt so powerless lying there on the concrete ... I'm having second thoughts about riding and I'm afraid to even travel in a car, intersections have been freaking me out since I came home from the hospital....
Once I heal up I'm going to be attending every defensive driving course in the area, buy heavier motorcycle armour and ride in groups until I build up the confidence to ride alone again....

You've experienced a nasty shock. And that's reasonable. You've suddenly learned how frail the human body is, and how much pain hurts.

Give yourself a little bit of time, and I think some perspective might return to your thinking. Your view has temporarily shifted to the extreme, where everything to do with the road seems dangerous. Yes there is danger, but there is risk in everything - walking down the street, going to work, lying in bed ...

The idea of getting additional education is a great idea (it is always a great idea, weather you have had an accident or not). I would see if there is any advanced rider training in your area, but failing that, find a mentor - someone with a lot of road riding experience - that can help you reach the next level in your riding.

Keep your chin up, and don't dwell on negative thoughts that are not constructive. Make sure you keep your mind on positive things.

[z500nz]

Hope you're healing well.

As the others say - get defensive driving tuition, anticipate other drivers actions ahead of you, and get more visible with a quality fluoro jacket! It can make a difference during the day, and most effective at night!

[Quasi]

Hey - not good to hear about your adventure, but treat it as a learning experience. I am sure once you are a little more recovered from your injuries, you will remember all the great things about riding that drew you to it in the first place.
As so many have said - I treat every other vehicle out there on the road as though it is out to get me. (Thanks Katman)

Heal well and fast and ride when you are ready.

[cheshirecat]

This is a despatch rider on his way to work. he's out in the country and I'd consider that traffic jam easy. I used to be a London DR (like katman) where the pace is a trifle quicker and we'd be doing this 10/12 hours a day 5 days a week. Take a close look at his head movements, positioning and careful pacing. He anticipates every situation and vehicle whilst maintaining an even rythm, controlling (very important) the vehicles around him - not fast but not slow. I wouldn't reccommend this kind of riding starting off or if at all. just use it for his observation. There was an old phrase for beginner DRs in London called 'gone by lunchtime' such was the attrition rate and not a long term carear path. Although we all had the occasional 'incident' the accident rate amongst the more experienced riders was very low considering our on road time and traffic density although everyone in our Co ended up in hospital at some stage and three were killed. I only had three falls in three years, two of which when stationary - I was lucky!
DR commute (http://www.youtube.com/user/svengalie#p/c/3342201955846665/16/StD830UF0Cw)

[Brian d marge]

This is a despatch rider on his way to work. he's out in the country and I'd consider that traffic jam easy. I used to be a London DR (like katman) where the pace is a triffle quicker and we'd be doing this 10/12 hours a day 5 days a week. Take a close look at his head movements, positioning and careful pacing. He anticipates every situation and vehicle whilst maintaining an even rythm, controlling (very important) the vehicles around him - not fast but not slow. I wouldn't reccomend this kind of riding starting off or if at all. just use it for his observation. There was an old phrase for beginner DRs in London called 'gone by lunchtime' such was the attrition rate and not a long term carear path. Although we all had the occasional 'incident' the accidnt rate amongst the more experienced riders was quite low considering our on road time and traffic density. I only had three falls in three years, two of which were when stationary!
DR commute (http://www.youtube.com/user/svengalie#p/c/3342201955846665/16/StD830UF0Cw)

Ahhh the weather ..lovely summers morning ! ( not ) ...as he said , why would you take the car ....brings back a lot of Memories that did

I have often thought of seeing if I could do It again Just as a holiday ..just for kicks

Stephen

[Katman]

This is a despatch rider on his way to work.

Ahh, memories.

Anyone keen?

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[cheshirecat]

Ahhh the weather ..lovely summers morning ! ( not ) ...as he said , why would you take the car ....brings back a lot of Memories that did

I have often thought of seeing if I could do It again Just as a holiday ..just for kicks

Stephen
Yes I miss those kicks - never thought I'd hear my self say it though. Have to hold my self back these days in traffic and it all seems a bit tame in Welly. One would really stand out and probably get 555'd by the self rightious left right and center.

[cheshirecat]

Ahh, memories.

Anyone keen?

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Deep joy, remember those late night long distance jobs in that stuff?

[Brian d marge]

Ahh, memories.

Anyone keen?

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Me I made Money!!!!!

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

. One would really stand out and probably get 555'd by the self rightious left right and center.

I wouldn't make it to the end of the street ,,,,,,

Stephen

[Katman]

Me I made Money!!!!!

Stephen

Most of the English riders managed to find excuses to take those sorts of days off.

It left plenty of work for the hardy Kiwi, Aussie and S.A. riders.

[oneofsix]

Most of the English riders managed to find excuses to take those sorts of days off.

It left plenty of work for the hardy Kiwi, Aussie and S.A. riders.

Typical, leave it to the colonies to do the job. When the going gets hard the English go to tea.