After some advice this morning, had rather too close a call on the way in to work.
Coming in on the Northern I lane split between traffic - now mid way through my second week and I am starting to pick up speed a little.
So this morning I am drifting through the traffic at a reasonable pace wearing my bright flourescent learners jacket. It is raining, but not overly heavilly. the traffic is all behaving itself with a nice sized gap so I am doing close on 60kph. Suddenly I notice in the gap two cars in front is a police motorbike.
Thought process - Police, I'm going fast enough to be an issue, and I'm wearing a bright yellow Flourescent thing with 'L' Plates on it, and I'm on the motorway where I'm not supposed to be anyway, best I stop splitting then.
So in a slight panic I grab a handful of the front brake. Wet road, over zealous braking, then the already struggling front tyre finds the white line and the front end decides enough is enough and slips sideways.
The bike going over kicked in some very old motorcross instincts and with the application of my right boot on the road made it upright and past the copper straight and level. I'm suprised he couldn't smell me though!
Now apart from a slightly aching right hip, me and the bike are fine. Not sure if the copper wasn't paying any attention to what he should have seen in his mirrors but as I wandered past him at about 35k's he didn't bat an eyelid.
Obviously I was going a little too quick for my ability - as an emergency braking manuever in the conditions was not controlled. It was the hazzard I wasn't expecting that made me panic and not react correctly - next time speed will be shed more calmly or not at all. A ticket is far far better than being under a car!
However, if the front end goes out on a road bike is it already too late? Or is there anything other than putting your foot out that you can do to save the situation?
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