Balance in the universe
I'm going to put today's events down to the universe wanting to keep my life in balance, because the alternatives are that either I'm an idiot, or there's some higher power out there who has it in for me, and both of those are just depressing.
Hmm this ended up being kinda long. Skip to the blue bullet points if you don't like reading but somehow found yourself here.
Ordinarily I don't like writing, but I need to complain to the universe and this seems about as good a place as any to do so, so here goes:
Some weeks ago I booked my restricted test for today. As it approached my nervousness grew, not helped by ever worsening weather forecasts.
So I wake up this morning and it's pouring with rain. Brilliant.
But that's ok. I actually kinda enjoy the rain and recently got myself a good rainsuit, although still only have summer gloves.
Out into the gloomy day I head, wrapped up in rainsuit and bright yellow reflective belt. I'm not usually a fan of bright yellow (I'm a biker, not a Christmas tree), but mothers are prone to buying such things as presents and I figured I would impress the tester with my safetyness.
About half an hour later my hands were suitably cold and wet and I had arrived at the AA office. Would have been nice to do the test a little closer to home, but the more local test place doesn't do Saturdays. Oh well, such is life.
I fill out the application form and do the signature and photograph thing (yay for awesome helmet hair picture). I was good and arrived early as instructed so there's some time to hang around in the AA for, but hey at least it's warm.
The tester appears and we go outside to check my bike is all in working order.
Brake lights, indicators, horn. All ok. We head back out of the rain to discuss the test procedure.
The procedure is seeming simple enough, until a couple of minutes into it I hear BANG.
Nooooooooo my bike! I walk (briskly) around to it and it's lying on the ground.
I stand it up and start it. Still goes ok.
On to the test. I was nervous before but now I'm downright shaken. I pootle around for a while, listening to the voice in my ear. We get back to the AA and the tester tells me that my rear left indicator now comes on continuously rather than flashing, but other than that my riding was good.
So my blue bit of plastic is exchanged for a bit of paper and I'm free to go. The L plate which has lived on my tail for the last 6 months is relegated to under the pillion seat for the trip home.
Back down the motorway I go. At 100kph yay! In the rain again.
Until a couple of km from my exit when a set of red and blue lights appear in my mirrors. Surely they're not meant for me. I pull over to give them room to pass.
But they stay in my mirrors. Oh no! What have I done. I'm not speeding. Did I not indicate for long enough on that last lane change? Has he noticed my faulty indicator?
So I pull over to the side. I'm new to the whole getting pulled over thing and I don't pick the best place to stop. The officer signals to me to move to a better spot, and I do so.
We have a bit of a chat about my not picking the best place to pull over and he explains that this is just a licence check. I pull out my newly acquired bit of paper and hand it over. He has a read and enquries about the size of the engine in my bike.
Everything is in order and the officer goes on his way. I continue home.
Putting today in terms of a score of me vs the universe
- Rain - Universe: 1, me: 0.
- I bought a rainsuit last week. Hah universe! - Universe: 1, me: 1.
- Bike falling over. Yes I'm putting the blame squarely on the universe for this. - Universe: 2, me: 1.
- I passed my restricted. I think I get a point for this. Universe: 2, me: 2.
- Getting pulled over - I don't know what to make of this. We'll call it a draw, universe.
Special thanks go to the testing lady for being so understanding about my bike. She barely even batted an eyelid.
Also of note is that being pulled over wasn't anything like some of the stories I've read on here. We didn't exactly have a long conversation, but the officer seemed like a pretty nice guy. As a first interaction with the police it wasn't at all bad.
All in all the universe and I are even, but the universe doesn't have to pay for scratched up fairings
I still don't know how my bike fell over. It did so on the stand side so apparently the stand collapsed. It was in neutral and the steering lock wasn't on as I had just started it do do the pre-test inspection, but the ground wasn't exactly sloping a heap.
Anyone have any theories?
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Originally Posted by skidmark
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