My first off...

[Aaron]

Well more like a fall really...

Coming home from another night of unsuccessful poker I was approaching the Riccarton Road roundabout, (two lane, I'm in the left one) on Deans Ave going south to north.

The roads were wet, was still raining lightly when I approached the roundabout, now about 5-6 meters away is a huge white arrow, and being in the left lane the road cambered down towards the gutter... see where I'm going

Long story short I didn't crash so much as fall, (was doing sub 20, probably sub 15), basically what happened was the front wheel went out from under me, the bike and I fell to the right, landing on my elbow (thank you kevlar armour), and hip...

To give an impression of how fast I wasn't going, when it was all over the bike was less than two meters from me Hence, no crash, but fall.

I tell ya what, it happened so quick, I was 12" off the road before clicking what had happened.

Damage to bike: lost right indicator, right mirror stick bent back a bit, rear brake lever curled perpendicular to the engine, little ding on the exhaust and some fairing damage. Rode her home, good as gold.

Damage to me: levis held up to the fall, will be a good bruise though. Interestingly I've lost a bit of skin off my elbow (through the jacket and sweatshirt)... must have been a goodn' and I'm thankful to the jackets elbow armour, without that I could have been looking at a fractured elbow for sure.

Summary: Good fall to learn some valuable lessons at not too much of a cost. (I don't think). No one saw it, but those that drove past afterwards could probably work out what had happened

Dead lifts and squats paid off when getting the bike up in record time Very lucky there was no traffic, giving me time to assess myself and the bike before trying to clear the road. Personally I think the conditions were favourable (aside from the rain causing the whole thing anyway), but the road was tarseal, and wet, allowing me to slip 'n slide and more importantly not too rough a surface for the bike.

Anyways, driving to work tomorrow, hopefully score an indicator and be back on the road Friday, (If I can walk, leg has stiffened up somewhat while typing this).

(Guess I'll be heading over the crashed bikes thread now )

[BNZ]

Hahaha, bugger mate. Rule no 1. If its wet and shiny, stay the f&*$ away from it! Hope it doesn't set you back too much moolah!

[gav]

Glad you're OK, but with your name it was only going to be a matter of time.....

[bugjuice]

that sux dude! You'll be surprised how quick the adrenalin kicks in and helps you pick the bike up... My bike is 165kgs at the lightest, and I managed to pick it up when I once dropped it, by myself..

Hope the damage to you isn't too bad (you'll feel it in the morning) and hope the damage to the bike isn't too expensive!!
Live n learn, that's all you can do! Just don't do it twice (or more) like some people around here!!

[inlinefour]

Probably to most of us at some stage. If you have not had an off then your the sort of person who does not like to push it to the limits.

[Krusti]

Write 300 times.....wet paint on road is slippery......You will never look at an arrow the same again... You poor bugger... pisses you off I bet.

May it be your last

[dangerous]

bugger dude, that roundabout can be a slipery bugger due to the amount of traffic that flows through it, dust, rubber, little rain and some paint isent a good blend....... did the same as you at that age, only I used the Bishopdale roundabout.

[750Y]

ratshit dude, glad to hear you & the bike were ok.

[GSVR]

Hahaha, bugger mate. Rule no 1. If its wet and shiny, stay the f&*$ away from it! Hope it doesn't set you back too much moolah!

I agree its the wet and sticky things its ok to go down on. With consent of course!

Speaking of low speed offs. I jumped on my bike in central Wellington and rode off with a D-Lock attached to the front rotor. Very embarrassing.
I was distracted and my mind was on other things than my D-lock.
Just broke one indicator.

[TonyB]

Sorry to hear that Aaron. Bet you're pretty sore today.
That white paint is like ice when its wet. Dunno if you've ever driven/ ridden from Hokitika to Wanaka, but you know how they paint "one way bridge" on the road before a one way bridge (funny that), well nearly one covers the whole lane.....and is painted on a corner. Must be bloody interesting when is raining.

[Pwalo]

Bad luck mate. Those road markings seem doubly slippery after it's rained for the first time in a while, and it's damned hard to save a front end lose no matter how good you are.

Put it down to experience. Take care in the wet.

[ManDownUnder]

Write 300 times.....wet paint on road is slippery......You will never look at an arrow the same again... You poor bugger... pisses you off I bet.

May it be your last

It does raise an interesting point though... how hard would it be to make paint that actually allowed a little traction too?!?

I mean... lemme see...
1/2 bucket of Paint
1/4 Buckey of medium grade sand.
Shake well till dissolved
Apply to road and bake in sun for 2 hours
Remove cones

Hell - I reckon the contractors could get that right...

[FROSTY:Me]

bad luck dude--but ya learned something thats the big thing.

[Monsterbishi]

Speaking of low speed offs. I jumped on my bike in central Wellington and rode off with a D-Lock attached to the front rotor. Very embarrassing.
I was distracted and my mind was on other things than my D-lock.
Just broke one indicator.

I have a perfect way of not getting caught out like that on my bike, I always park with the front tyre facing inwards to wherever, so I have to roll backwards before riding off, if I've forgotten the lock, it'll just stop me gently, so no fall...

[vifferman]

It does raise an interesting point though... how hard would it be to make paint that actually allowed a little traction too?!?

A lot of it is special paint, with a low-sheen finish. Even so, it's often more slippery than asphalt or coarse chip seal in good nick.
If this particular arrow is not non-slip, I'd complain to the council, as it's a road hazard.