Little birds and wet roads...

**slofox** · 2nd September 2010, 11:32

Two incidents on the way back from the NZ Tag setting exercise this morning - which was a pretty cool ride, BTW. Daniel Lamb and I headed up 22 to retrieve the old and set the new. Best conditions I have encountered on that road - cool, overcast, but no wind and DRY road. Not too much clag lying around - couple patches of new seal, a bit of mud but overall, noice.

No 1. Tag done, I was heading home along west bank of Waikato River towards Ngaruawahia when there's this great thump just under my R shoulder...sat me back in the seat a bit - didn't see it coming or going but it had to be a bird. If a little bird has that much impact, I'd hate to hit a hawk...

No 2. Heading back into The Tron from Te Kowhai. Bit wet just there. Now I've often heard about how slick the tar snakes are when wet, and since there was one right under the wheels as I came out of a side road, I thought I might just test it out so to speak...They ARE slippery as it turns out...back wheel spun quite easily under a little power in 2nd. So no fanging it when leaning over I think...

**SMOKEU** · 2nd September 2010, 12:47

Just as well you didn't get hit in the face by the 'bird'. My mum was telling me she was driving in South Africa on a motorway once and a big bird flew right through the windscreen and ended up in the passengers seat. Never underestimate the damage a bird can do.

**Banditbandit** · 2nd September 2010, 13:19

I've been hit by thrushes, starlings, sparrows, yellowhammers and once by a Spur Wing Plover .. lucky the Plover was right on the left knee armour in my wetweather pants ....

Yes .. they hurt ...

**jack_hamma** · 2nd September 2010, 16:29

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

I've been hit by thrushes, starlings, sparrows, yellowhammers and once by a Spur Wing Plover .. lucky the Plover was right on the left knee armour in my wetweather pants ....

Yes .. they hurt ...

You can get a cream to rub for that Thrush, the rest don't think so....

**beyond** · 2nd September 2010, 18:11

Originally Posted by slofox

Two incidents on the way back from the NZ Tag setting exercise this morning - which was a pretty cool ride, BTW. Daniel Lamb and I headed up 22 to retrieve the old and set the new. Best conditions I have encountered on that road - cool, overcast, but no wind and DRY road. Not too much clag lying around - couple patches of new seal, a bit of mud but overall, noice.

No 1. Tag done, I was heading home along west bank of Waikato River towards Ngaruawahia when there's this great thump just under my R shoulder...sat me back in the seat a bit - didn't see it coming or going but it had to be a bird. If a little bird has that much impact, I'd hate to hit a hawk...

No 2. Heading back into The Tron from Te Kowhai. Bit wet just there. Now I've often heard about how slick the tar snakes are when wet, and since there was one right under the wheels as I came out of a side road, I thought I might just test it out so to speak...They ARE slippery as it turns out...back wheel spun quite easily under a little power in 2nd. So no fanging it when leaning over I think...

1. Yep, birds can hurt like hell. Had a Kingfisher fly under my right arm heading across the road from the right. I was doing 140kmh and it whacked me on the left pectoral. Thought I had been hit with a hunk of four by two. Left a massive bruise for weeks.
Had a thrush hit my helmet and it sounded like a bomb exploding at 160kmh.

2. Tar snakes are best not taken at all with a lean on in the wet. Makes for some interesting bike ballet

**newbould** · 2nd September 2010, 18:53

Originally Posted by beyond

1. Yep, birds can hurt like hell. Had a Kingfisher fly under my right arm heading across the road from the right. I was doing 140kmh and it whacked me on the left pectoral. Thought I had been hit with a hunk of four by two. Left a massive bruise for weeks.
Had a thrush hit my helmet and it sounded like a bomb exploding at 160kmh.

On a closed road under controlled conditions of course

**slofox** · 2nd September 2010, 19:16

Originally Posted by newbould

On a closed road under controlled conditions of course

I only ever ride on such roads...

**Nutter34** · 2nd September 2010, 19:42

Originally Posted by newbould

On a closed road under controlled conditions of course

There are two such roads...

North Island
South Island

Closed from easy international access.

Controlled conditions... That'd be throttle control then...

**Chooky** · 3rd September 2010, 09:49

Yer... Ran into a Gannet when I was doing over 200kph...
Crushed the fuel tank and blew the cap out...
Still managed to get home but...

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 3rd September 2010, 10:20

Originally Posted by slofox

If a little bird has that much impact, I'd hate to hit a hawk...

I have hit a Magpie... and have a video of me just missing another... oh the magpie hurt ... and also cracked my fairing...

**Bren** · 3rd September 2010, 10:56

A blackbird in the shoulder hurts like fark too...

Hit a pheasant once in a Ford Falcon500...tasted good too...nothing like good roadkill!

**george formby** · 3rd September 2010, 10:59

The feathery f#%^&*@s love me. I had a christian fantail replicating the crucifixion on my radiator for a while, nicely dried out when the nosy little boy brought it to my attention. I have nightmares of hitting an Albatross at full chat & turning into Icarus.

**awa355** · 5th September 2010, 07:06

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

I have hit a Magpie... and have a video of me just missing another... oh the magpie hurt ... and also cracked my fairing...

If a little bird has that much impact, I'd hate to hit a hawk... Have seen a bus windscreen smashed by a hawk .

**slofox** · 5th September 2010, 11:49

What is it with me and the bird population?

Today's was a Spur-Winged Plover...fortunately it hit the fairing, not me - just a sliding blow offset from the headlight. Hitting me might have been a problem since I was, at the time, involved in a little game with a tailgating bastard in a cage...not that I was doing anything illegal or stupid you unnerstand...

ME: OK
BIKE: OK - just a few feathers and a bit of spooge...

Nothing cracked or bent.
PLOVER: Fucked. Dead before it hit the ground. Still dead on the way home...

No wonder birds shit all over my driveway...