Learnt a lot of lessons today, made a mistake and had my first bin

[Old Steve]

Thought I was a careful rider and would never have an accident. Well that's my first lesson learnt, there is a need for eternal vigilance and yes, one day you might have an accident - it can happen to you.

Went out on my bike this arvo after a rain shower to buy a cooked chicken for dinner, my turn to do the cooking tonight. Picked up said roast chook and came away from the shops. Came down to this roundabout, thought I was riding safely as I was aware the road was wet. It was a standard four roads into a larger diameter roundabout. Car coming from my right with indicator going, I slowed, went towards the roundabout, thought "It's OK, he's turning left", and suddenly realised this was one of those drivers who think they have to indicate left when going straight through a roundabout. Braked, front wheel found the white line across the road (the give way line I suppose you'd call it), and down I went. Skidded for a couple of metres, landed on my left shoulder, think I've got a deep bruise which will come out in a couple of days time, and GLORIA has scratches on her front mudguard, headlight and speedo.

So what did I learn and what can I pass on to others?

1) ATGATT, even for a ride down to the local shops!!!!! I would be really sore and cut up if I hadn't been wearing all the gear. This is about the only thing I did right.

2) DON'T ASSUME!!!!! Just don't assume that you know what the other driver is going to do, even if he's indicating. My first mistake.

3) Keep away from painted lines. Get used to staying away from painted lines when riding in the dry because this habit will save you one wet day, I practice this every day I go out riding. However, I had to go across this particular painted line, and I now know that I could have handled it better. I think I turned away from the car when I braked which made the bike lean to the left and slide to it's right and I went down low side. Should have stayed upright gone straight across the painted line. Second mistake.

4) When you go out for cooked chicken, bring it home in one piece. The left hand saddle bag containing said chook landed on my left boot, the chicken is not a pleasant sight. Third mistake, bringing home a mangled chicken dinner.

5) Buy a second hand learner bike. Nuff said.

But I'm in one piece, bit stiff but really only my pride hurt and a couple of very important lessons learnt. Will fess up tonight at the Ulysses Branch meeting and pay my fine. Could have been a lot worse.

[Armi]

Car coming from my right with indicator going, I slowed, went towards the roundabout, thought "It's OK, he's turning left", and suddenly realised this was one of those drivers who think they have to indicate left when going straight through a roundabout.

Was the other driver indicating left before entering the roundabout? Cause when going straight through, you are supposed to indicate your exit.

http://nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadco...undabouts.html

The 5th picture.

But aside from that, lucky you and your bike aren't too banged up.

[Tigadee]

Glad you're OK...

My first time riding in rain today myself - previously only on wet road, after rain stopped. I was fairly nervous and kept a keen eye on white lines and man holes. Curves especially gave me the sweats because of what I've read happens to riders in wet conditions at roundabouts and sharp curves.

Thankfully arrived home without incident. Hope Gloria and her rider stay safe and recover quickly...

[Hopeful Bastard]

Yup. You are supposed indicate from half way round, NOT from the start. Bloody stupid rule that was introduced to better cyclists.

And it wasn't introduced sufficiently enough, So hence, you get farkin idiots like that guy/lady...

[FJRider]

Funny how ...

NOBODY believes all that ...

Untill it happens to THEM ...

And ...

Untill then ...

It WONT happen to THEM ...

[Oakie]

You learned a couple of basic lessons and didn't do too much damage to yourself or the bike. Well done. I've been lucky and learned those lessons with no harm done. Others in the same situation have not walked away. Take the lessons and tuck them away in your knowledge bank where they will probably save your hide another day.

[Madness]

Glad you're o.k

I hope no oil was spilled?

[Old Steve]

I'm thankful to the couple of motorists who stopped and lifted the bike off my foot, and the couple who asked if I'd like a lift home - there's some good people out there.

On the other hand, I don't think my wife had to state quite as many times as she did this evening that this was the tenderest chicken she'd ever eaten. She had chicken for tea, I had humble pie.

[rickstv]

All offs really suck so sorry to read of yours.

When any emergency braking is done on dry or wet roads, it is really important that the bike is completely upright and traveling straight.

It is quite amazing how much grip the front tire has, even in the wet, as the weight of the front end comes onto it. But, it has almost no grip if the bike is leaning and the front brakes come on. You may get away with it on a dry road but NEVER on a damp road. I have learned this from bitter experience.

Now this is your bitter experience too, but if you learn from it, then it will never happen again.

Congrats on the ATGAT too, I know how tempting it is to "just nip down the road for a second" Most accidents happen within a few minutes of home.

Rick.

[Parlane]

My low side was similar, a tad bit wet. Managed to brake right on some giveway paint. But the bike was perfectly straight so I have no idea what actually happened, the front just gave way and I slid for a bit.

[Mad-V2]

Also when riding after or during some rain you should avoid the middle of your lane and stick to where the cars right wheels travel.
There is always alot of oil in the middle of the lane that stays on ya tyre, especially at intersections and roundabouts.
It's worse when you haven't had rain for a week or two to wash it off cause ya get a big build up of oil, and when it does rain it can be really slippery.
I've seen a mate come off on a roundabout in dry conditions after his front wheel washed out on a push bike, I showed him the oil track that goes right round the roundabout which was about a metre wide of small drips built up over time.
The vision of his head slamming the road without a helmet pops into my head every time I enter a roundabout in the wet.
So take care when ya do the old kneedown roundabout surfing, cause ya won't look so cool lying in the middle of the road next to a smashed up bike.

[Armi]

When any emergency braking is done on dry or wet roads, it is really important that the bike is completely upright and traveling straight.

But, it has almost no grip if the bike is leaning and the front brakes come on.

Rick.

Very much this. When I first practised emergency braking I stopped in the width of 2 car parks from 50kph. The second time I was off balance and away went the front wheel. A broken wrist and 2 months later I'm just getting back on the bike.

[Banditbandit]

Glad you're OK. Yes - I never trust indicators on cages - I wait to see what the car is actually going to do before I move ...

[imac]

Welcome to the club

[Maha]

Glad you're OK. Yes - I never trust indicators on cages - I wait to see what the car is actually going to do before I move ...

I was keeping an eye on one a few weeks ago. It was behind a small truck that was about 100 mts behind us. It had its right hand indicator on for about 10K's...oncoming traffic were pulling to thier left shoulder as they spotted it, thinking it was about to pull out and pass I guess?...

''one of those drivers who think they have to indicate left when going straight through a roundabout''
..I signal when leaving...you never go straight through a round-a-bout, you always go around one.