Half a Lane

[themeatmanlandry]

Half a friggin' lane!!!!

That's all the SUV lady gave me.

She wasn't on a cell phone (she may have just hung up, but she wasn't on one when she passed me), she wasn't eating, and she had both hands on the wheel. She was, quite simply a sufferer of termial stupidity. Her cerebral cortex had a short.

I'm heading towards a nice, tight, 90-degree, slightly-banked right-hand curve Saturday morning. It used to be covered in a fine, chalky white dust from the crushed rock this particular county uses for road repairs, but it has recently cleared, so I thought I'd hit it like I used to (before the dust).

Just in case there's still a little dust on the road, I decide to run tight (to choose the right-hand side of my lane). There was a lot of high grass on the right side of the turn (that ain't no excuse for her mistake!!), so she couldn't see through the turn (neither could I).

Usually these folks run the centerline (skinny roads) or barely stay in their own lane, but this chick needed 75% of the road to turn her compact SUV.

Had I been railing along, not planning for trouble (the white dust), I would have needed the other 50% of my lane.

Luckily, I was riding about 70%, looking for a possible compromise in traction at any second. Had I been in a car (or another SUV) there would have been a crash . . . possibly BAD.


I mention this because I feel that it is important that we share our "Oopsies." Maybe someone will realize that they are riding too high in the danger zone (70-80% is the most anyone should ride on the street), that they can't see through the corner, whatever, etc., etc., and slow down a tad.

We have some folks here that are starting that downward spiral into "too fast land," and I like to think that posting "what ifs" and "almosts" may save their bike at the very least . . . and possibly their skin.


[EDIT: I had a GREAT ride Sunday morning to make up for it!!!]

too bad, did you beep?

[SuzukiGirl1]

Originally Posted by soad

too bad, did you beep?

Right...because a motorcycle horn will SURELY get her attention and make her realize that she's driving like an idiot and suddenly decide to give the motorcyclist room.

what? maybe she didnt notice that she was doing what she was doing. its an honest question.

[Louis]

I don't think she was "right"-ing you Soad.

[007]

nightmare scenario... good that you made it through without a hair missing

[SFAZ]

Originally Posted by 007

nightmare scenario... good that you made it through without a hair missing

lmao! that's what YOU think! cough stress balding cough!

to bad about the close call. Sometimes it's good to hit the clutch and rev the engine, it's grab more acctention than the horn, that's for sure!

[themeatmanlandry]

Originally Posted by SFAZ

lmao! that's what YOU think! cough stress balding cough!

to bad about the close call. Sometimes it's good to hit the clutch and rev the engine, it's grab more acctention than the horn, that's for sure!

Ummmm . . . no. Leaned over in a corner, making the turn, and you're going to "hit the clutch and rev the engine"? I don't think so.

@soad: Yeah, I got a little beep off. I don't think she gave a hilll of beans.

[axel_2078]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

Right...because a motorcycle horn will SURELY get her attention and make her realize that she's driving like an idiot and suddenly decide to give the motorcyclist room.

He was just asking a question. What's the need to sneer like that? Everyone seems to be getting really sarcastic lately. People don't seem to be as courteous as they were when I first joined this forum back in May. This isn't directly solely at Suzukigirl either.

[LayinLo]

Axel_2078, what'd you say about my mama?

[sicrx69]

Sup,
Yea damn SUVs are the King kongs of the road and we are just the little guys they pick up and eat!!! This topic lead me to a curious question, when you guys ride city/highway where do u ride in the lane. I usually ride on the far outside near the outer line, my chain of thought is..if something goes wrong and i need to get out of the road fast then i can aim for the grass or shoulder. My brother on the other hand likes to ride near the inside lane, middle is a NO/NO, all that grease and sometimes peices of debre(tires,animals small kids etc). Just though i would get an opioion from some of the seasoned riders.
John
"00 Gsxr 600

[themeatmanlandry]

I ride in different parts of the lane, depending on what'sup with the particular situation. For instance:

If I'm going above, say 40 mph, and having to ride a little close to the vehicle in front (or if the vehicle is an 18-wheeler), I ride in the middle of the lane, so crap that they hit won't pound me.

If I'm in front of/behind someone's granny, I ride in different parts of the lane, so she'll take notice and maybe remember I'm back/up there.

I usually ride in the left third of the lane when I'm in 'normal' conditions, so I'm visible in two mirrors.

[oldgeezer]

Normally, I ride closer to the center line of the road as I feel that makes me more visible to cars entering from side streets. However, if I am on a two lane highway and there is an uncoming car, I tend to drift toward the center to right of my lane as that make me more visible to vehicles behind the oncoming car which might be wanting to pass him. My general rule of thumb, "position yourself as far away from a potential hazard as possible, consider yourself invisible." The Old Geezer

[007]

Do the "late apex" turn as David Hough suggests. It is the safest way to take a curve: 1) it makes you most visible to others 2) you see further into the curve, so you can identify hazards way sooner.

Yes, the "late apex" is not a cool, racy turn - but then you are not racing on public roads, are you? Keep the superfast turns to the racetrack!

PS - it is never 100% safe though -I'm wondering what would've happened with Landry, if he took the "late apex"?

[SuzukiGirl1]

Originally Posted by oldgeezer

My general rule of thumb, "position yourself as far away from a potential hazard as possible, consider yourself invisible." The Old Geezer

I use the same thumb!!

<<I kill me!!!!>>

[oldgeezer]

Hey SuzukiGirl. When I read my rule of thumb, there were actually two rules so I reckon you have to use two thumbs. Har har har.