The doom of beginning to commute to work

[Uncle B]

I ride 32.3 miles one way to work.
I have had two accidents since I got my new bike {C50T an 06} 06/02/06.
The first one was two weeks ago I got divebomed by a Dove from right to left dove missed my bike but got me in the left leg.
Yesterday a Jack-rabbit attacked me again from right to left rabbit got my rear break peddle and my right foot the bike and I are ok the animals are not.
I do have a fear of DEER or WILD HOGS.
B.

[Fishpart]

Morecowbell,

good info thanks.

[bnlfan]

Originally Posted by killrami

I bought a new Suzuki S40 I love it. Took the BRC MSF rider course 1/2 a month ago. This last week I started commuting in to work. Every day I get to here How I'm going to be killed! I try to explain that I'm aware of the risks and how you really need to be a defensive driver..... And I just get a responce of what kind of flowers I want at my funeral. Very frustrating!! So I usually have to relax a bit before I get going. Did anyone else out there go through this? How did you cope?
Thanks,
Rami

I've got the same bike and the same issue.

I made the mistake of being honest about some road rash after I dropped my bike when I got it. Now people make comments about me not getting out of the driveway and want to know when I will be riding to work.

After the last time a comment was made as a joke my response was, "Well, I have to practice to get better. I'm not as lucky as you. I wasn't born knowing everything."

That was the last time a smart a@@ comment was made to me about my bike.

[Warputer]

Originally Posted by killrami

Every day I get to here How I'm going to be killed!

Rami

Yep .....I hear this alot from the wife !

[JmalB]

Practice, practice, practice

And for the naysayers at work: Tell them to have a nice hardy cup of Ess Tee Eff You.

[Clint]

Uhh, the OP hasn't been here since June of '06.

[JmalB]

Dammit. Tricked again by the dead thread reviver.

[Bowtie18]

I would do my best to igonre the negatives. Many of them probably want to ride, but won't try, or have failed!

I don't hear much of that, but when I do, I just shrug it off! You just need to worry about your riding, and practice your skills. That is the best way to keep yourself out of trouble.

Riding isn't for everyone. We just sold my fiance's 06 V-Star 650. She just never got comfortable. I'm hopeful things work out better for you than her. I think the reality of riding on her own was just a bit much for her. It is a big responsibility, getting out and riding on your own. Many folks don't understand that minor incidents that would be a fender bender in a car can be disaster on two wheels.

Keep you head up, don't let others bring you down. But keep a healthy respect for the dangers. I wish you the best as you skills get sharper.

[Ichabod]

Originally Posted by morecowbell

Red is the hardest colour to spot in one's peripheral vision, its the last colour identified. All red definitely stands out in traffic, but keep aware when close to blind spots and riding next to people, it takes a little bit longer to strike the nerves than say yellow, which is one of the first colors identified.

I find that interesting. I wear a red Dale Earnhardt Jr. jacket when riding. I did that to stand out. I guess I am not helping myself like I thought Huh?

[peter-reebok]

I also commute.

I try to be where the cars aint!

Keep those low speed skills coming - and practice the emergency braking!

[Harsh Winters]

Originally Posted by morecowbell

Red is the hardest colour to spot in one's peripheral vision, its the last colour identified. All red definitely stands out in traffic, but keep aware when close to blind spots and riding next to people, it takes a little bit longer to strike the nerves than say yellow, which is one of the first colors identified.

Interesting. I have a red and silver jacket with white retro-reflective piping running through it and I wear a silver helmet so hopefully that combo works. It seems to since people will stop (generally) when I approach an intersection. I do have an additional light bar on the front so the bike is pretty hard to miss but coming up in someone blindside is always tricky.

Yes, you just need to practice, practice, practice on the bike and you will get better and more confident.

As for the naysayers, they are just jealous.

[Copronymous]

My wife is now the only person with permission to tell me to be careful. I've heard it so many times: "Be careful. It' not you, it's all the other idiots out there you gotta watch for." I'm tired of hearing that. Interesting how everybody who DOESN'T have a bike has the best bike advice. Anybody else who says it gets a smart a** comment in reply.

[Harsh Winters]

Originally Posted by Copronymous

I've heard it so many times: "Be careful. It' not you, it's all the other idiots out there you gotta watch for."

Yes, and I usually look at them and ask 'When will you be driving so I can stay off the road?' They don't know how to respond and I just walk away.

[Copronymous]

Originally Posted by Harsh Winters

Yes, and I usually look at them and ask 'When will you be driving so I can stay off the road?' They don't know how to respond and I just walk away.

[CobaltGod]

Originally Posted by Harsh Winters

Yes, and I usually look at them and ask 'When will you be driving so I can stay off the road?' They don't know how to respond and I just walk away.

I've used the exact same line.

Some people's children...

My friends and I are all daily riders. If we kept track of all the times we've had close scrapes in the last decade we could write a series of books. Only been two major bang-ups with among the 5 of us though. One was getting the rear tire slicked up on my buddies old Honda Magna and then he tried to turn... oops. The other was another brother trying to pass a slow driver in a no passing zone...she made a sudden left without signaling... he played superman and still has the pins in his ankle. But as you can see THOSE incidents are BOTH bad judgment calls by the rider.

Just be aware of your surroundings and don't make stupid decisions. I agree that most accidents are the fault of and ignorant or inattentive car/truck driver, most of them could also be avoided if the motorcyclist made better judgment calls about where to be riding and how close to play with cars in traffic.

Just my two cents worth....

[JimmyB]

Originally Posted by killrami

I bought a new Suzuki S40 I love it. Took the BRC MSF rider course 1/2 a month ago. This last week I started commuting in to work. Every day I get to here How I'm going to be killed! I try to explain that I'm aware of the risks and how you really need to be a defensive driver..... And I just get a responce of what kind of flowers I want at my funeral. Very frustrating!! So I usually have to relax a bit before I get going. Did anyone else out there go through this? How did you cope?
Thanks,
Rami

I just started riding and that's all I hear. It really unerves me too

[HITEST]

I did just what one has allready suggested, I told him the gas mileage I get and I havent heard anythng since. LOL

[Red S40]

Originally Posted by morecowbell

Red is the hardest colour to spot in one's peripheral vision, its the last colour identified. All red definitely stands out in traffic, but keep aware when close to blind spots and riding next to people, it takes a little bit longer to strike the nerves than say yellow, which is one of the first colors identified.

Our motorcycle safety instructor (and the accompanying video) said white is the most easily visible color. That being said, my current helmet is black, but only because it was the only color they had in stock in that style!

My boss keeps giving me the speech about how dangerous bikes are, I just tell him he's a bigger worry-wart than my Mom!

[frostbitevinnie]

Da zombies be awake from da smell of da turkey und taters.

[scrimmer]

Dem dadgum Thanksgiving Zombies r at it agin...