My first hair raising moment

[danielle]

Ok so i've been biking for a year and have thankfully never really had a real hair raising moment where i feel i've been put in danger. I suppose it helps that i ride like a nana and never take risks, but i am aware that even that cannot save me from the uncertainty on the road.

Anyways to the main event, i was biking from feilding to palmy the back way that goes past the awahuri tavern (i think) with my boyfriend behind me and we hit the passing lanes, i was travelling 100ks and saw a car turn out to pass us so i retained the same speed thinking this guy was going 120 or so. Then instead of passing us he just sat next to us in the passing lane without actually passing so i reduced speed to maybe 90 because i didnt want him to turn into me! So then once he passed and we passed the sign that says merging in 100m or so i look in my mirror and see that a bus is trying to pass me when i know for a fact that there is not enough room. So i freak out and cant decide wether to speed up or slow down (keeping in mind that from 100ks the fxr cant speed up much more) in the fear that the bus would end up next to me and push me out of my lane. So i let off the throttle looked straight ahead and pulled to the left a bit and the bus finally got past after the passing lanes had ended (thank gosh another car wasnt coming in opposite direction)

While this may seem like a relativly small and insignificant experience to others, to me it was the first time i got the shakes and the heart race going, i think i reacted right and i know there will be many other hair raising experiences that will trump this one but i just thought ild share regardless!!

[Sentox]

A whole year until your first hair-raising moment? Mine came in week 1 Apexed way, way too early going into a left turn, ran wide on the exit, and found myself looking into the grill of an oncoming SUV. Target fixation kicked in, and I went for the brakes, so it was pretty much a trifecta of the worst possible actions. Managed to get back to my side just in time, but my lines got a whole lot more disciplined afterwards, that's for sure.

Second one was coming round a corner in the wet to find some dairy cows had resurfaced the road with a considerably less abrasive material. Serious back end wiggle at about 70kph. I would have crapped myself, but my bum was much too tight...

In your situation, that's when it's nice to have a bike that will at least clear 100 ok. When in doubt, throttle out? To be honest though, if I was in your position and decided to back off, I probably would have braked as well (within reason, and subject to what's behind you). Better to let the bus clear you quicker.

[Maha]

You can do it, dont be intimidated by other road users.
You did the right thing with the car dude is 90-100kph is your comfort zone, but where the bus is concerned, your FXR would easily put 10-20 mts between you and it within seconds.
If it happens again, keep your eyes straight, twist that throttle, count to three then release. You'll love the feeling.

[wbks]

No offense, but maybe you should have a play around a track day one day? Not trying to sound critical, but it doesn't really sound like that should have been as much of an issue as it was, and "freaking out" at anything on the bike, let alone a bad merging situation probably wouldn't have happened if you were a little more confident, or knew what you and your bike could do? That said, I wasn't there, so good job staying out of trouble, anyway

[CookMySock]

@danielle, I think you did the right thing. Stupid cunt bus driver shouldn't have been there. Once you are on a bike with moar boogehhh you can just smoke them all, mwaaah!

@Sentox, geez man I think you should just slow down on the road ay.

Steve

[Sentox]

geez man I think you should just slow down on the road ay.

Tis the truth In all honesty, though, I have actually stopped trying to ride so far over my ability level. Can't say I'm perfectly disciplined in this department, but at least I'm not an accident waiting to happen anymore.

[howdamnhard]

You did the correct thing Danielle. Soon as you have your full you can get yourself a faster more powerful bike. The advantage a bigger capacity bike has over other vehicles is acceleration and being able to fit into smaller gaps. Something you will learn to exploit once you have one. More power if used sensibly is better than less as it gives you more options. Hang in there ,take care and have fun.

[Tryhard]

I think you made a great decision on the car. Well done.
As for the bus I reckon the driver has issues. He/She should be a more responsible driver being in charge of passangers and the like.

A bit more top end would give you more options. However I will say it again you made some good choices

[YellowDog]

You can do it, dont be intimidated by other road users.
You did the right thing with the car dude is 90-100kph is your comfort zone, but where the bus is concerned.................

Hey Danielle, well done for surviving your first scare. There are some good points here and IMO the main one is confidence. It was your road and the bus driver also knew it. If you had held your line, the bus would have had to take action and not you. I know the fear of getting squished is not a nice one, but was never going to happen. You just need to believe it as the biggest danger to you at that moment was the resulting actions of your panic.


Lucky for you your instinctive reaction was good.

Well done. Next time hold lane and your nerve

[CookMySock]

Well done. Next time hold lane and your nerve

There is a time to get out and not be so brave.. Like a bus next to you running out of lane...

Anyway, once you are on a larger and noisier bike all this goes out the window. People don't fuck with you any more. It's great.

Steve

[ESXB0Y]

Well done! Can be a daunting experience when a few tonnes of vehicle is fighting you for your lane, even when you are in the right. I would have personally giving the throttle a bit of a squirt to stay in front of the bus, but that moment of indecision can be a b*tch when it comes! I definitely agree about the louder bike, though. Jumped on a mates Ninja with a really loud exhaust and its like the parting of the red sea when you come up to cars - they dive for cover.

[2wheeled Gasman]

best err on the side of caution Danielle....did you happen to get the bus rego plate or even see the bus co logo? how about a complaint to the company? because thats just intimidation on the road. it might not acheive much but it might make you feel better

[Laxi]

Anyway, once you are on a larger and noisier bike all this goes out the window. People don't fuck with you any more. It's great.

Steve

shit DB! does your bike have a built in IED dispencer or sumint???

[sinfull]

Good on ya !

[danielle]

No offense, but maybe you should have a play around a track day one day? Not trying to sound critical, but it doesn't really sound like that should have been as much of an issue as it was, and "freaking out" at anything on the bike, let alone a bad merging situation probably wouldn't have happened if you were a little more confident, or knew what you and your bike could do? That said, I wasn't there, so good job staying out of trouble, anyway

I am doing the womens training course at manfield in may so hopefully that should help. In hindsight i proberly could have droped a few gears and gased it out but hindsight is a wonderful thing isnt it!

I was considering selling my bike and looking for a bigger 250. Not a ultra speedy one but something like a hornet or bandit that would proberly have double the horse of mine, be more comfertable cruising at 100, al round be more comfy on the road, and would be a good step before a 600 or watever.

Thanks for all the votes of confidence guys!