Ow oww owww!

[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
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


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.