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View Full Version : My nomanation for the Bone-head award...


Takingabreak
6th July 2005, 02:42
Hi all.

First, let me frist say to MuscelPump, Here I was being the one to tell you how to ride, well, we all have our days I guess, sorry dude.

Ok, this was my "Little fun" on the way to work today........
NO, I am just fine.(Thank God)
NO, The Bike did not get a scatch. (Thank god II)
Basicly, no runs, no hits, just one error.

I was going down a road called Beaverton-Hillsdale hyw, there is a intersection on this road that has 5 major and two service street all come together in the worst possable design, this is one of the most dangerous intersections in Washington county, and no#5 in my state(Accarding to the state traffic div.) Anyway, it is a well know mess i have to ride though every morning, this moring was like most, traffic was a bit lighter then most times, I was coming towards it at about 40ish(Speed limit is 35)just with the flow of traffic, when the cars in front hit there brakes, and come to a quick stop, I could not see the reason why, but I hit my brakes, Only to find out why they were stopping, a car four cars ahead blew a coolant hose, the left side on my lane was covered in antifreeze!
As a toutched the brakes, the tire locked up, and weren't doing anything to slow me down, I had to make a choice.
I try to always look ahead, and to plain a coulpe escape routes, I could not change into the left lane do to traffic, if I went right(Split the lane between the curb and the cars) I would find there was a car turnimng into a driveway(The one that lost the coolant)I could move to the right and lay it down, or hit the back of the last car in front, or lane split to the left.

I took the one I thought best and went and split the lane on the left side.

So when I got to work, I try to think of all I did right and more importantly, what I did wrong.

Let start with wrong.....
1) I was going to fast.(Dumbass)
2) I was looking too far ahead, and not Enough of right in front of me.(Dumbass)
3) Familuarity can leed to a false sence of security.(Dumbass)
4) Coffee first before riding.(Be Awake Dumbass)
5) Watch the road surfess, not just the cars.(Watcha ride'n on Dumbass)
6) I was thinking of other things then just riding.(Don't think about Dad Dieing, try not dieing yourself, Dumbass!)

On the right side........
1) I kept my cool.(I didn't freeze up)
2) I had a plan before I needed it.(Escape routes planning)
3) I didn't hit anything.(Thank God)
4) That I did go to church Sunday.(Hada Angle on my shoulder)

I post this in hopes that others will learn form my neer Dumbass experiance, was it close, Yes, was I very very lucky? Yes.
Am I going to learn myself, YES!

If you feel that there is more to the right and wrong you feel should be added, please add it, I can learn as well, and I am glad to still be here with you'all.

Thanks for reading(And no laughing too much.) :laugh

Moved On
6th July 2005, 02:50
6) I was thinking of other things then just riding.That's the one that got me into a ditch. Not being in the right frame of mind will try to bite whenever it can.

I'm glad your reflexes kicked in when you needed them JT !!!

Gazza

cantolina
6th July 2005, 02:52
Hi all.

First, let me frist say to Musel Pump, Here I was being the one to tell you how to ride, well, we all have our days I guess, sorry dude.

Ok, this was my "Little fun" on the way to work today........
NO, I am just fine.(Thank God)
NO, The Bike did not get a scatch. (Thank god II)
Basicly, no runs, no hits, just one error.

I was going down a road called Beaverton-Hillsdale hyw, there is a intersection on the road that has 5 major and two service street all come together in the worst possable design, this is one of the most dangeruos intersections in Washington county, and no#5 in my state(Accarding to the state traffic div.) Anyway, it is a well know mess i have to ride though every morning, this moring was like most, traffic was a bit lighter then most times, I was coming towards it at about 40ish(Speed limit is 35)just with the flow of traffic, when the cars in front hit there brakes, and come to a quick stop, I could not see the reason why, but I hit my brakes, Only to find out why they were stopping, a car four cars ahead blew a coolant hose, the left side on my lane was covered in antifreeze!
As a toutched the brakes, the tire locked up, and weren't doing anything to slow me down, I had to make a choice.
I try to always look ahead, and to plain a coulpe escape routes, I could not change into the left lane do to traffic, if I went right(Split the lane between the curb and the cars) I would find there was a car turnimng into a driveway(The one that lost the coolant)I could move to the right and lay it down, or hit the back of the last car in front, or lane split to the left.

I took the one I thought best and went and split the lane on the left side.

So when I got to work, I try to think of all I did right and more importantly, what I did wrong.

Let start with wrong.....
1) I was going to fast.(Dumbass)
2) I was looking too far ahead, and not Enough of right in front of me.(Dumbass)
3) Familuarity can leed to a false sence of security.(Dumbass)
4) Coffee first before riding.(Be Awake Dumbass)
5) Watch the road surfess, not just the cars.(Watcha ride'n on Dumbass)
6) I was thinking of other things then just riding.(Don't think about Dad Dieing, try not dieing yourself, Dumbass!)

On the right side........
1) I kept my cool.(I didn't freeze up)
2) I had a plan before I needed it.(Escape routes planning)
3) I didn't hit anything.(Thank God)
4) That I did go to church Sunday.(Hada Angle on my shoulder)

I post this in hopes that others will learn form my neer Dumbass experiance, was it close, Yes, was I very very lucky? Yes.
Am I going to learn myself, YES!

If you feel that there is more to the right and wrong you feel should be added, please add it, I can learn as well, and I am glad to still be here with you'all.

Thanks for reading(And no laughing too much.) :laugh

BS, yer alive and in one piece....no bonehead award for you...

Good story and a good reminder....

I have to say that you were struck with some pretty unusual circumstances....despite all you did wrong (you think), I would say that you did a lot of things right....and you're here to tell about it, and we'll just thank God and your riding skills for that....

Thanx for sharing......we ALL get complacent at times....ALL of us...

Preacher
6th July 2005, 02:56
Glad to hear everything came out OK. I wouldn't nominate you for bonehead of the year for the situation you outlined, but I might for your horrendous writing skills. ;)

I think you might be a contender for the forum record, "Most typos, misspelled words and missed punctuation in a single post." :D :D :D :D

Just a little humor to lighten up the mood.

SportsterBart
6th July 2005, 02:58
Geezus Jeffy! Glad you're okay bro.

The funny thing about riding these things is that you can never be too experienced; that is to say, you learn something on each and every ride.


Bart

Takingabreak
6th July 2005, 03:11
I said it before, and now once again....we need a spell check!

PlanB
6th July 2005, 03:33
You did fine, Jeff! Early mornings are not my forte, so having you share your story was a wake-up call for me...Now I have a reason to tell my boss I won't be in until I'm fully awake from now on...let's see if 10am works! :D

Y2K
6th July 2005, 03:51
heh heh heh...how did your laundry come out :laugh
I'm bet'n dem shorts is permently stained :p
Y2K :smoke

PS: Glad you came out ok on this one,I don't envy you your route to work.
Having lived a short time on Hall Blvd. in Beaverton I would have to say you've got the worst traffic in the metro area.

Takingabreak
6th July 2005, 04:00
heh heh heh...how did your laundry come out :laugh
I'm bet'n dem shorts is permently stained :p
Y2K :smoke

PS: Glad you came out ok on this one,I don't envy you your route to work.
Having lived a short time on Hall Blvd. in Beaverton I would have to say you've got the worst traffic in the metro area.

I was a bit unnerved, but no, the laundry was just fine, thank you.

Takingabreak
6th July 2005, 05:00
:bump bump

dabronco
6th July 2005, 05:33
He can spell, he just can't proofread!

Wardog
6th July 2005, 12:22
In the early days of airplanes any landing you walked away from was a good one. You did everything right when the unexpected happend and that is all that counts. :clap :clap :clap :clap :tour

GRAYFEATHER
6th July 2005, 12:30
You could not be that much of a dumm ass you got to work safe and sound and wide a wake.

Grayfeather.

RedRider
6th July 2005, 12:33
Glad ta hear yer alright! They say a great ride is one where you and the bike come away from in one piece; congratulations on yer great ride!


I must admit to having the same problem of staying alert while riding to work each day- I'm just not a morning person... :frownthre

I would also say that the circumstances you described seem pretty surreal, but definitely possible.....almost like that movie "Final Destination".....pretty spooky. :yikes

Anyhow, glad ta hear that your training and reflexes took over and saved the day.

Takingabreak
8th July 2005, 04:09
Thanks all, but I want people to learn from my almost bad day. :bump

blueglide88
8th July 2005, 04:45
No bonehead award for you. More like a good riding award. You came upon a dangerous situation, and in a split second made a decision and controlled your bike in such a way that you did not go down. I say damn good job. ;)

Bikerdude
8th July 2005, 16:00
Sure glad u are able to tell us about this experience!! I, for one, in the 35years I have been riding, have had things like this happen more than once . We all need to always be aware of our surroundings...ALWAYS
Sure glad things worked out....Please--everyone(myself first) BE SAFE-RIDE Safe :tour

jlcrss
8th July 2005, 16:29
I was told when I first started to ride there are two kinds of riders. The ones that have fallen and the ones that haven't fallen YET! Glad everything turned out for you. I just pray that when my time comes I am prepared and come out of it in the best possible out come, me going home.