Daydreaming and Biking Just Don't Mix..... - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

jbrough7 · 09-22-2006, 12:50 PM

I'm sure you've all been there....tooling along on a nice country road with fields of corn, swaying in the light breeze, on either side of you. The ribbon of asphalt unfolding before you has a few hills and dales and corners, just enough to make it interesting but not TOO much of a challenge for a leisurely ride.

Your bike's mellow exhaust purrs contentedly in the background as you shift into sixth and left her fly!

Your mind, perhaps in some sort of utopian bliss, has left the building when a farm tractor pulling an old trailer loaded with hay pulls our from a side lane pretty much right in front of you. It's still not a big problem as there is enough room between you and the trailer and your mind has half registered this slow-moving obstacle.

Still, most of your limited grey matter is still harkening back to that last curve. You speed up to pass and that's when things get dicey. Once you are very close you realize the trailer DOES NOT HAVE ANY LIGHTS WHATSOEVER!! The tractor pulling it has signalled a left turn and his brake lights are on.

You jam on the brakes as hard as you can and pray you can stop in time.

Your bike wavers a bit but stops pretty true five feet behind the overfilled and illegal trailer. You take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Lesson learned: Keep your mind alert and your thoughts on the road in front of you at all times. It seems the one instant you are not 100% attentive something stupid jumps up to bite you on the a$$!

jim

Apertureguy · 09-22-2006, 01:12 PM

Very True.

Riding home last night...was very comfortable, and had been so the entire 45 minute ride.

As I'm driving by some places I know (close to my home) I'm scanning around...looking for people I know, etc..

As I'm turning my head this way & that...I don't realize that I'm starting to drift very close the double yellow line...or that I have passed over it & am now heading into oncoming traffic.

Thankfully, I had a feeling I wasn't paying enough attention...and for some reason kept trying to remember a thread I read about it on this site. Well, once I looked up I realized I was in the wrong lane. Was lucky...traffic was very light and I had plenty of time to get back where I was supposed to.

But the very important lesson to learn is that...you can't lose focus.

If you do...there's a very good chance it will kill you.

Time4me2ride · 09-22-2006, 03:06 PM

The margin for error is so much smaller on a bike than in a cage that you have to be alert at all times, to the extent that is possible being human and all.

texrider · 09-26-2006, 11:41 PM

Yeah, and riding while drowsy is some pretty scary stuff, too! Nothing like the sensation of motion, and realizing you did not re-open your eyes the last time you blinked...

Graywolf · 09-27-2006, 07:20 PM

I'm sure you've heard that most accidents happen close to home.(usually under 35 mph) When you get used to the same old ride routine, you can get less careful and THAT"S when you'll GET it!

jbrough7 · 09-27-2006, 07:35 PM

i had an uncle who heard that so he never drove within 2 miles of his own house!

jim

bajaraider · 09-28-2006, 09:57 AM

great write up, and thanks for the reminder. always a good thing to think about.
glad you were alert enough to (with no offense) pull your head out.

09-22-2006, 12:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
jbrough7 Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: 2006 Bandit 650S Location: Strathroy, ON, Canada Posts: 293	Daydreaming and Biking Just Don't Mix..... I'm sure you've all been there....tooling along on a nice country road with fields of corn, swaying in the light breeze, on either side of you. The ribbon of asphalt unfolding before you has a few hills and dales and corners, just enough to make it interesting but not TOO much of a challenge for a leisurely ride. Your bike's mellow exhaust purrs contentedly in the background as you shift into sixth and left her fly! Your mind, perhaps in some sort of utopian bliss, has left the building when a farm tractor pulling an old trailer loaded with hay pulls our from a side lane pretty much right in front of you. It's still not a big problem as there is enough room between you and the trailer and your mind has half registered this slow-moving obstacle. Still, most of your limited grey matter is still harkening back to that last curve. You speed up to pass and that's when things get dicey. Once you are very close you realize the trailer DOES NOT HAVE ANY LIGHTS WHATSOEVER!! The tractor pulling it has signalled a left turn and his brake lights are on. You jam on the brakes as hard as you can and pray you can stop in time. Your bike wavers a bit but stops pretty true five feet behind the overfilled and illegal trailer. You take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Lesson learned: Keep your mind alert and your thoughts on the road in front of you at all times. It seems the one instant you are not 100% attentive something stupid jumps up to bite you on the a$$! jim

09-22-2006, 03:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Time4me2ride Sprocket Pilot Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Silver/Grey VStar1300 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 846	The margin for error is so much smaller on a bike than in a cage that you have to be alert at all times, to the extent that is possible being human and all. __________________ Carpe equus ferrum

09-26-2006, 11:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
texrider Sprocket Pilot Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: '04 Vulcan 2000, '05 VTX1800 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 858	Yeah, and riding while drowsy is some pretty scary stuff, too! Nothing like the sensation of motion, and realizing you did not re-open your eyes the last time you blinked... __________________ "Sprocket to me, baby!"

09-28-2006, 09:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
bajaraider U.B's LoveChild Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2005 M50, 1970 TC120 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 1,030	great write up, and thanks for the reminder. always a good thing to think about. glad you were alert enough to (with no offense) pull your head out. __________________ RED M50 - 2005 "only a motorcycle rider understands why a dog hangs its head out the window" My Toys

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09-22-2006, 01:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Apertureguy Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: New York Posts: 3,185	Very True. Riding home last night...was very comfortable, and had been so the entire 45 minute ride. As I'm driving by some places I know (close to my home) I'm scanning around...looking for people I know, etc.. As I'm turning my head this way & that...I don't realize that I'm starting to drift very close the double yellow line...or that I have passed over it & am now heading into oncoming traffic. Thankfully, I had a feeling I wasn't paying enough attention...and for some reason kept trying to remember a thread I read about it on this site. Well, once I looked up I realized I was in the wrong lane. Was lucky...traffic was very light and I had plenty of time to get back where I was supposed to. But the very important lesson to learn is that...you can't lose focus. If you do...there's a very good chance it will kill you.

09-27-2006, 07:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Graywolf Seat Tester Joined: Sep 2006 Bike: 2005ShadowVLX/2006 C50C Suzuki Location: Pilot Mountain, N.C. Posts: 56	I'm sure you've heard that most accidents happen close to home.(usually under 35 mph) When you get used to the same old ride routine, you can get less careful and THAT"S when you'll GET it!

09-27-2006, 07:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
jbrough7 Kickstand Operator Joined: Dec 2005 Bike: 2006 Bandit 650S Location: Strathroy, ON, Canada Posts: 293	i had an uncle who heard that so he never drove within 2 miles of his own house! jim

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