Phurrball's first bin, and what I've learned.

[Phurrball]

There seems to be a lot of this around at the moment...

First bin out the way for me now - after two odd years on the road. I am fine - a couple of tiny scrapes here and there, but nothing that'll slow me down at all.

Pretty stupid really - many lessons in the situation for me and hopefully for others too.

As per, running late for a lecture going at a fast tootle eastward (towards Waterloo Quadrant) down Princes St by Auckland university:

Had just passed a car that had reversed out and was travelling in the same direction as me. I was riding close to the flush median, I had just checked the pedestrian crossing, and determined it was clear. I noted a black hatchback reversing out of a park on the other side of crossing and about to pull into the space on the east side of the PedX to either park, or maybe do a 3 point turn (see picture - either poor reversing positioning, or 3 point turn/pull into park)

I made the terrible error of assumption at this point - as the car was moving forward towards the other side of the road, I assumed it would keep doing that, or at least pull into the flush median and I would pass on the left. It didn't quite do this...

The car stopped and the back of the car stuck out diagonally from the flush median into my lane. I only recognised what was happening after the fact, as instincts took over...

Grabbed the front brake at approx 50ish. Oh dear. Locked that (Or at least a witness tells me they heard a locked-brake screech) Boom. Clipped the corner of the car that was sticking out. Taking off the rear bumper.

My guess is that both parties contributed to the crash...

Minor scratches on legs (Was only wearing jeans - bad!), scrapes on boots, gloves and back of backpack.

Bike has a cracked engine casing (oil everywhere), smashed speedo/left indicator, damage to left of headlight bezel, scrapes and dent on tank, scrapes on frame, minor scrapes on tailpiece.

Lesson one - don't take risks because you're late. I'm sure my concentration wasn't what it should have been as I was stressing. The universe saw fit only to give me a minor crash as a wake-up call - I count myself lucky! Getting there on time isn't worth crashing for. If you're late, the stress affects your concentration.

Lesson 2 - assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups. If there's parked cars, expect people not to see you and to behave erratically.

I KNOW both of these things, but wasn't on top of my game. That's what's pissing me off the most - If I'd been calmer, and expecting the worst, I would've avoided the crash.

Oh well, never mind - I'm fine, and counting my blessings.

Another life lesson learned.

[crashe]

Glad to hear you are ok ...........

Arnica tabs or arnica cream are really good for any bruising that is sure to appear.

[Kwaka14]

Glad you're ok Ross, give me a yell if ya need a hand with anything....

[Babelfish]

Bugger eh? Always good to see a good bin write-up though, especially when the binner writes it.

I think you have a good mindset about it all, I commute daily and I'm pretty switched on (imho) but it takes firk all to have a wee lapse and if thats at the wrong time then BIFFO. Happened to me the other night, coming back from training, had a half asleep moment taking off at an intersection and a car running the red passed within an inch of my arse. I ALWAYS look in 100 directions when I go through an intersection...apart from that time.

Dont knock yourself too hard, it sounds like the wake-up worked...onwards and uprightwards mate!

[Ixion]

Are TPTB putting something into the water lately, or what.

[mstriumph]

glad to hear you are ok ......... the first one is ALWAYS a bucket of cold water ['cause it just seems so unimaginable until it actually happens ......]

bike a writeoff?

[Babelfish]

Are TPTB putting something into the water lately, or what.

I definately felt something in my waters

[Smorg]

Glad to hear you are ok ...........

Arnica tabs or arnica cream are really good for any bruising that is sure to appear.

is there anything you dont know?

[crashe]

is there anything you dont know?

Hell yeah heaps of things I dont know........

I learn new stuff everyday......... its what you do with that knowledge that counts.

[Leong]

Nice write up - Looks like you've learnt from it! 1st bin in bout two years - Not bad. We started biking at about the same time if you remember, I've binned twice already!!!

[Phurrball]

A bit sore today, but still 95% okay.

The more I think about it, the more I think the other driver may have reversed from the opposite side of the road since I didn't see them until it was too late - although I can't be shure. The other possibility is that they'd pulled (not very well) into the flush median having been traveling in the same direction as me (making me primarily responsible for the crash) - this seems unlikely, as I'm sure I would've seen them...

I'll leave the blame game up to the insurers (BTW Star are really looking after me - more on that later)

In hindsight I really appreciate the quality of my gear: -

Abrasions on my gloves (Palms and finger-tips) and my left boot, a TEAR in the leather at the back of the right boot (peg I think) I would've been a mess without this gear, especially the gloves and boots(I cringed as I saw an sv650 rider in shorts, t-shirt and sneakers go past after the fact).

Big take-home message for everyone here is that ordinary shoes are never OK judging by the damage to my boots (I always wear my boots) My take-home message is that I should really get some draggins or similar if I insist on riding in jeans around town.

The bike shouldn't be write off ('tis naked after all - so no pricey tupperware) although I am kicking myself I didn't put crash bungs on it - they would've saved the engine casing and possibly the tank/frame.

If you want to ogle it it's at Motohaus at the moment. (might post some piccs here)

Thanks all for the positive feedback - if other's can learn from this too, the suffering hasn't been wasted.

Ross

[Babelfish]

I'll leave the blame game up to the insurers (BTW Star are really looking after me - more on that later)

Whether legally it is their fault or not, I always go by the rule that its my fault as I should always be on my game and better than any other road user out there in defensive terms.

I cringed as I saw an sv650 rider in shorts, t-shirt and sneakers go past after the fact.

I love natural selection

Thanks all for the positive feedback - if other's can learn from this too, the suffering hasn't been wasted.
Ross

Yeah man, always good to see a good (?) bin write-up on here and see some lessons getting propogated

[surfer]

You can't beat being in the moment and doing that one thing. The world slows down when you are there.

Easy said than done though as being late or worrying about something in our stressed out lives often is the case. Good write up, glad you are ok.

urrggghhh horrible thoughts after seeing Smorg's avatar, I think I'm going to have a nightmare tonight .

[Phurrball]

Whether legally it is their fault or not, I always go by the rule that its my fault as I should always be on my game and better than any other road user out there in defensive terms.

My thoughts too. Have been kicking myself over it - I could so easily have avoided it by being a little calmer, and a little more cautious along a piece of road that generates so much muppetry. Sigh. Oh well...

[Macktheknife]

My thoughts too. Have been kicking myself over it - I could so easily have avoided it by being a little calmer, and a little more cautious along a piece of road that generates so much muppetry. Sigh. Oh well...

Gotta say, love the attitude you are using for dealing with this.
Sorry to hear you are sore but really glad that is all you suffered. You have done well to avoid anything more serious and having taken 2 years to do so, well done.
Hoping the repairs go well and fast for you.
Ride safe.