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Old 09-22-2006, 12:50 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default 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$$!

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Old 09-22-2006, 01:12 PM   #2 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 09-22-2006, 03:06 PM   #3 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 09-26-2006, 11:41 PM   #4 (permalink)
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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...
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Old 09-27-2006, 07:20 PM   #5 (permalink)
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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!
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Old 09-27-2006, 07:35 PM   #6 (permalink)
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i had an uncle who heard that so he never drove within 2 miles of his own house!

jim

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Old 09-28-2006, 09:57 AM   #7 (permalink)
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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.
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