Near miss!

[lemure]

Had a near miss Friday afternoon about 4.15pm on the Waiwera Hill heading south toward Hatfield Beach. Just before going downhill into the sweeper onto the straight a car veered from the outside passing lane heading north into my side of the road. Survival skills kicked in, and I had just enough time to veer to my left onto the gravel before my right hand was hit by the car's right exterior mirror. They don't look much, but do they hurt. I couldn't stop as there was only a thin gravelled part before the deep ditches on the side of the rode, so had to carry on until the first exit. The driver didn't stop, neither did any of the cars behind me. Two nice folks did abut five minutes later. Very good outcome - no broken bones, but badly bruised hand and fingers. And a smashed throttle-side mirror on the Intruder. Thankfully I've been concentrating on "emergency avoidance" skills since the BRONZ course last month - must have learned something....

[Renegade]

aahhh, that was close to death.

[Phurrball]

Fakrkingell!

Buy a lotto ticket bro!

[johnnyflash]

Hell Lemure, that a bummer, thankfully you came out of it ok, It fair makes you want to do serious injury to some of these halfwits dont you... Well no wonder ya werent on the cruiser run today ya missed a beaut run...

[Edbear]

Went and saw him this arvo and took a couple pics. Considering a closing speed of at least 160lm/h, (80km/h area), this is one lucky guy!

[gijoe1313]

Crapola! Geez, showed some good skills there and kept it together! I bet the frikk'n loose unit in the cage probably didn't even know what happened... until they see the damage on the side of their ride!

Hope your hand heals up well, apply plenty of your fave anti-inflammatory cream and get it checked out?

Good to hear you are able to post about this!

[Cache Wraith]

Wow, what an advertisement for the BRONZ course. Hope your hand heals quickly.

[lemure]

Thanks for the thoughts guys... in real terms it was a "slight scratch", but it brought home to me that as riders WE need to be the ones to watch everyone else on the road. BTW, Edbear looked a tad suspicious when he came to see me yesterday - a bee hit him just above his left eyebrow while he'd been riding during the morning. Left a nick like a knife tip and a puffy eye. Anyway, the hand's been really sore, swollen and black. But today there's a lessening in swelling, the mirror's replaceable and the sun's shining. Even after the prang to end Friday, I still remember the GREAT ride I had up SH16 from Dairy Flat to Wellsford, then back to Waiwera - beautiful weather, cruisy easy ride. First time I've been North of West Coast Road - thoroughly enjoyed it! Hopefully I'll be back riding later this week as I can't do anything over the weekend due to previous engagements. Wife now wants me to sell the bike, and she's said she'll NEVER go pillion again. Don't mind the latter, but as to selling the bike - NO WAY!

[klingon]

... had just enough time to veer to my left onto the gravel before my right hand was hit by the car's right exterior mirror.

OMG! Misses don't come much nearer than that!

Excellent skills keeping your head together enough to avoid the car (mostly), avoid the spill into the gravel, and keep the bike upright and under control under the circumstances.

I'm going to do the BRONZ course ASAP. Your experience has just re-confirmed how important it is.

[Goblin]

OMG! Wicked skills lemure!
Really glad you are here to tell us your story.
We always have to be looking out for all that dont see us.
"Escape, dont brake" has saved my life on more than a few occasions.

[Zuki Bandit]

Good to hear yer ok mate!

[Edbear]

. BTW, Edbear looked a tad suspicious when he came to see me yesterday - a bee hit him just above his left eyebrow while he'd been riding during the morning. Left a nick like a knife tip and a puffy eye. Anyway, the hand's been really sore, swollen and black!

Yeah, thought we could get together and compare injuries, but you won "hands down!"...

[Macktheknife]

Bloody good work there mate, well done. If there was any justice in the world the bastard would have run off the side of the hill just around the corner.
Hope your hand is ok.

[lemure]

My hand's still sore, 3 fingers are still too swollen to bend them into a fist, and two knuckles hurt like mad - probably broken the doctor thinks. Have replaced the mirror, but can't get my hand into a glove, and it's difficult to use the front brake lever without pain. So haven't been riding since, and still have to use my left hand to do some things - nah, don't guess, it's embarrassing. LOL. Missed being able to go riding a few of these fine days we've had since, but since most of the weather's been enough to blow someone off the road I don't mind. However Spring's only two weeks away tomorrow, so can't wait for some decent weather. Have fun guys, and thanks for your comments.

[Goblin]

My hand's still sore, 3 fingers are still too swollen to bend them into a fist, and two knuckles hurt like mad - probably broken the doctor thinks...

Doctor thinks it's broken??? Didn't they x-ray it?? If it's still swollen and sore I'd say it's more than likely broken. Bummer for you dood! I can only imagine the frustration of not being able to "get a grip".

Good luck with the healing. Hope you're back in the saddle again soon.