Thanks for saving my life.

[sleemanj]

Today I have come to realise something, I'm a fucking bad rider, I don't think I was when I first quit riding in 2001 to do other things, but since returning, I definately am, fuck.

Today a bicyclist actually told me literally "thanks for saving my life", you know why, because I took a little lie down in front of him when he appeared around the bend coming the opposite direction and I went to tighten the line.

It was a fucking bicyclist, there was fucking heaps of fucking room, I wasn't going fast, I wasn't cranked over much, I certainly wasn't fucking knee down, and I fucking layed it down on a 90 degree bend.

That's twice in 4 months I've had a lie down, the first I convinced myself was something on the road in the dark. This one I could try and lay blame on an old dry front tyre or gravel in the corner, or bad suspension or ... but no, it was me, no two ways.

So to that cyclist who thinks I saved his life, thanks for the compliment, but it's totally unwarranted, you should really have chewed me out for nearly killing you and I would have agreed; in fact I probably should be thanking you for saving my life, because this is probably the impetus I need to get some professional training before I do somebody some damage. That's if I have any ability left that can be trained.

Fuck.

I know, , but ranting cheers me up.

And I'm not even mid life yet.

[scumdog]

Hope you learned from that little episode

[KiwiGs]

If you don't learn from this then you are bad rider.
Having had a few lie downs my self, i know how easy it is to look for an excuse. You haven't so you are more than half way to becoming a better rider.
The fact the cyclist thanked you, may also mean you are being a bit hard on your self.....
How are you and the bike by the way?
On the plus side could have been worse you could have been like me.
My last lie down kept me off bikes for a year and resulted in a couple of times under the knife.
Cheers

[rocketman1]

Mate,
Good on you for being honest, more us should be, sometomes its the only way to learn
Seem like you need some track time.
Book your self in for a few days at the next track day, it may improve things for you.
Good luck, with keeping the shiny (scratched???) side up in future.

[sleemanj]

The fact the cyclist thanked you, may also mean you are being a bit hard on your self.....

Nah, not a chance, there can only be two reasons for it, too fast for the bike, or shitty rider, I wasn't too fast for the bike by a long way.

How are you and the bike by the way?

Rode it back in a fashion, no major damage. Don't want to add to ACC's numbers so I'll just HTFU and limp about with the ibuprofen for a couple weeks :-/

My last lie down kept me off bikes for a year and resulted in a couple of times under the knife.

Yep everything could be worse, that's for sure.

[mattian]

you dusted yourself off and got back up and in the saddle again both times. Thats the important thing.

2 times is enough though bro.

Maybe a mentor might be a good idea for you.

[CookMySock]

uh, like what did you do to drop it? Once you get that figured out, just stop doing it.

Bikes dont just leap out from under you when you get a fright.

Steve

[KiwiGs]

Rode it back in a fashion, no major damage. Don't want to add to ACC's numbers so I'll just HTFU and limp about with the ibuprofen for a couple weeks :-/

Don't do that mate. If you want to keep the bike ACC numbers down, fine just tell the doc you fell of a push bike or something....

[mossy1200]

Go ride a dirt bike for a while and get used to unpredictable surface.It will change your natural responce to an incident.

[300weatherby]

Training is available and local ! : Mainland driving school has a motorcycle training section,training is done at Ruapuna and Levels,and skillsets specific to surviving on the road are taught,$250 will get a whole days instuction,you will get a shock at just how much you don't know about you,your bike and how easy it can be to avoid the carnage the car drivers and ourselves inflict! and you get to have fun doing it! - this course should be a mandatory part of licencing.

If you practice what you learn there,you will forever be safer

Mainland Driving School:03 9626927,ask for Mike Flowers,tell them Andy sent you (browny points for me !)

[Ragingrob]

The cyclist was on your side of the road coming towards you?? He can pay for your fucken insurance then!

[McJim]

Tell 'em you fell out of a car.

[Molly]

From time to time I beat myself up about my riding. Especially, for some reason, slow corners or descending corners (like going into Akaroa). I just have no sense of what the front tyre is doing (doesn't help that I'm riding with a Springer front end and 'numb' Dunlop tyres).

Maybe a track day would help (stop laughing at the back)? Besides, I always figured that as soon as I started getting cocky about my abilities I'll find myself on my arse.

A little doubt encourages restraint.

[avgas]

Being humble is the first step - means you are willing to learn your flaws.
I learn something new every time on a bike - yet many older riders I have ridden with think they are saturated with experience. Reality is that they are only full of something else.

[AllanB]

Make sure you claim ACC - I'd appreciate it if I knew where my money was going.

If you appear physically OK, tell them that since the accident you are having trouble preforming sexually and they need to fun a therapy trip to Amsterdam.