Scary ride tonight

[Oaksong]

I was riding home from a seminar down 15-501 out of Durham towards CH. This black car (with tinted windows) was in front of me and acting weird. I really don't like weird acting cars, cause they do dangerous %%%%. So, I shifted lanes, and prepared to just go past them. RIGHT after I did this, the car (which was in the LEFTHAND lane) decided to turn RIGHT, across all lanes of traffic, right in front of me. I saw this and just acted. That strange super-calm that comes over me when %%%% like this happens. I immediately dropped throttle, and put progressive pressure on both brakes. I usually use my front brake primarily, and not my back brake, so I actually overbraked the rear and my rear tire came loose from the road with a loud squeel.

So, at this moment, I have about 25 feet (maybe) between me and the black-car-of-death with my rear wheel fishtailing all over the road. I leave it locked for the moment, continue to do a progressive front brake, and as the car continues the turn I have dropped enough speed to swerve (you can dodge a car in less time/distance than it takes to brake). I let out the brakes, restabilizing the bike, then swerve out and around the car (which was mostly out of the way at this point). I don't know if the %%%%%%% even saw me, I doubt he was looking, to be honest. He was probably drunk.

This all happened in less than 3 seconds and from a starting speed of 40+ mph. 5 seconds later the calm withdrew from my consciousness. Normally, at this point, I get around to panicing a bit. Not this time. The supernatural calm was gone, but I was still cool and collected. I felt lucky. I thanked whatever part of me it is that handles emergencies like this. I am glad that I always wear a full set of armored gear and a full-face helmet. I re-commited to taking the advanced rider course where I can drill emergencies like this to get more proficient. I also decided that I will keep riding. I guess it is just in my blood or something.

[ranline]

Nice job Oaksong! Glad you're ok!

[Oaksong]

Originally Posted by ranline

Nice job Oaksong! Glad you're ok!

Just goes to show that the BRC is worth every penny.

I am SOOO gonna take the experienced rider course.

[JHoke]

I know I am gonna get flamed for asking... you tried to pass the wierd acting car on the RIGHT?

You were behind the car of death, but went to pass it on the right?

I agree you handled it great once you were in the situation, but I would have hung back and avoided it all together...

I *am* happy you got out without a scratch tho!!!

[sra4031]

Originally Posted by JHoke

I know I am gonna get flamed for asking... you tried to pass the wierd acting car on the RIGHT?

You were behind the car of death, but went to pass it on the right?

I agree you handled it great once you were in the situation, but I would have hung back and avoided it all together...

I *am* happy you got out without a scratch tho!!!

My first thought as well. Anyone like that I whether have in front of me as a good distance. JMO

Glad you are OK.

[Oaksong]

Originally Posted by JHoke

I know I am gonna get flamed for asking... you tried to pass the wierd acting car on the RIGHT?

You were behind the car of death, but went to pass it on the right?

I agree you handled it great once you were in the situation, but I would have hung back and avoided it all together...

I *am* happy you got out without a scratch tho!!!

Yeah, that was my inexperience. It was the only place to pass them though, as they were in the far left hand lane.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by JHoke

I know I am gonna get flamed for asking... you tried to pass the wierd acting car on the RIGHT?

Nope. No flame here.
Good point, in fact.
I think the proper response would have been to slow down; stop if necessary and let the accident happen to somebody else.

[sra4031]

Originally Posted by Oaksong

Yeah, that was my inexperience. It was the only place to pass them though, as they were in the far left hand lane.

You are still talking about passing though, but I think the point was to drop back your speed and create distance between you and the weird car so you can keep him in sight and then examine the situation.

[Clint]

The conservative approach is usually best, but I've certainly been guilty of being cocky. I remember once having an SUV start moving into my lane from the right in an absolutely desolate area of Wisconsin. I simply moved over and watched his eyes. Eventually he saw me and jerked the wheel back. I just eased ahead with one finger in the air.

It wasn't the safe thing to do, but my overconfidence at that moment skewed my judgement.

[Oaksong]

Originally Posted by sra4031

You are still talking about passing though, but I think the point was to drop back your speed and create distance between you and the weird car so you can keep him in sight and then examine the situation.

No, I got that. People asked about "Why the right side". Cause that was what was available.

One of the lessons learned was to hang back.

[JHoke]

Originally Posted by Oaksong

Yeah, that was my inexperience. It was the only place to pass them though, as they were in the far left hand lane.

All good... the important things are that you are here and you can learn from it...

Best thing is to let the asshat be an asshat and do be there when he implodes

[tbsS50]

Glad you're O.K. I rode my motorcycle ('75 Honda CL360) on NC's 15-501 a lot during the 70's.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Oaksong

No, I got that. People asked about "Why the right side". Cause that was what was available.

One of the lessons learned was to hang back.

Indeed. You were lucky.

A couple of months ago, right here in "River City", a young fellow tried to pass a slow moving semi.....on the right side. Turns out the truck was moving slow because he was positioning himself for a RIGHT TURN. That young rider is not able to tell us the lesson he learned.

[Oaksong]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Indeed. You were lucky.

A couple of months ago, right here in "River City", a young fellow tried to pass a slow moving semi.....on the right side. Turns out the truck was moving slow because he was positioning himself for a RIGHT TURN. That young rider is not able to tell us the lesson he learned.

Yeah, I am glad that I had the skill to do something about it, but a lot of it WAS luck. If that guy had turned a second later, I wouldn't have had the time/distance to really do anything.

It would be nice if people used turn signals...

I am just glad it was a learning experience not a hospital experience.

[sra4031]

Originally Posted by Oaksong

It would be nice if people used turn signals...

I have seen car makers are putting them on more and more cars today

I rode with someone who refused to use their turn signal, they said it gives someone the chance to cut them off. Never rode with them again, mainly due to the way they look at things when they drove such as using tailgating as a way to signal they want to pass.

[07M50zAllDaWay]

Originally Posted by Oaksong

I was riding home from a seminar down 15-501 out of Durham towards CH. This black car (with tinted windows) was in front of me and acting weird. I really don't like weird acting cars, cause they do dangerous %%%%. So, I shifted lanes, and prepared to just go past them. RIGHT after I did this, the car (which was in the LEFTHAND lane) decided to turn RIGHT, across all lanes of traffic, right in front of me. I saw this and just acted. That strange super-calm that comes over me when %%%% like this happens. I immediately dropped throttle, and put progressive pressure on both brakes. I usually use my front brake primarily, and not my back brake, so I actually overbraked the rear and my rear tire came loose from the road with a loud squeel.

So, at this moment, I have about 25 feet (maybe) between me and the black-car-of-death with my rear wheel fishtailing all over the road. I leave it locked for the moment, continue to do a progressive front brake, and as the car continues the turn I have dropped enough speed to swerve (you can dodge a car in less time/distance than it takes to brake). I let out the brakes, restabilizing the bike, then swerve out and around the car (which was mostly out of the way at this point). I don't know if the %%%%%%% even saw me, I doubt he was looking, to be honest. He was probably drunk.

This all happened in less than 3 seconds and from a starting speed of 40+ mph. 5 seconds later the calm withdrew from my consciousness. Normally, at this point, I get around to panicing a bit. Not this time. The supernatural calm was gone, but I was still cool and collected. I felt lucky. I thanked whatever part of me it is that handles emergencies like this. I am glad that I always wear a full set of armored gear and a full-face helmet. I re-commited to taking the advanced rider course where I can drill emergencies like this to get more proficient. I also decided that I will keep riding. I guess it is just in my blood or something.

Your first mistake was going towards Chapel Hill....lol

Glad you made it thru!

[Oaksong]

Originally Posted by 07M50zAllDaWay

Your first mistake was going towards Chapel Hill....lol

Glad you made it thru!

I live in Carrboro, pretty hard to avoid it!

[Davecm203]

Glad you are ok. Good thing that you did not take your eye off of them. That is a dangerous bit of road even without black cars with tinted windows. A lot of people will change lanes without warning, talking on cell phones, lost and looking for UNC Hospital (or something), over agressive drivers,...

Way to be on your toes.

[Oaksong]

Originally Posted by Davecm203

Glad you are ok. Good thing that you did not take your eye off of them. That is a dangerous bit of road even without black cars with tinted windows. A lot of people will change lanes without warning, talking on cell phones, lost and looking for UNC Hospital (or something), over agressive drivers,...

Way to be on your toes.

My dad told me about when he moved here from California (when I was five). He said the two biggest things he noticed were:

1. People here are ugly.
2. People here can't drive.

At UNC, at least the girls are pretty decent. Still can't drive though.

[Rickster]

Hind sight really is 20-20, and looking back, yes I agree the best thing (at that time & place) would have been to slow down, but come-on guys/gals, in the real world if you slow down every time you see someone acting weard, well lets just say it happens to me so often that if I didn't have the option to pass them it would take me twice as long to get anywhere, and besides if things get really bad, I would much rather have an accident happen behind me, than in front of me. Besides, slowing down in traffic can create it's own problems.

As for him passing on the right, as long as he isn't passing on the shoulder, I see nothing inherantly wrong with that, just use the same cautions you use when passing on the left.