My first down...
Discussion
So at the right old age of 60, I've had my first road "off" 
I say this in the context of having a few "off's" whilst green laneing around Wiltshire in my younger years. But then I only hit the grass and mud at slow speeds.
So, just riding my triumph scrambler up a local country road on a dry day at 30mph past White Waltham airfield, approaching a gentle curve in the road, leaning so slightly and the back wheel just slid away and down I went.
Now, I'm not here to preach to others what to wear, and I don't want anyone telling me either. All I will say is the armor in my jacket did what it says on the tin. My elbow and back that took the brunt of the impact and slide down the tarmac are fine, and the jacket still looks good too.
I wasn't however wearing my biking jeans with armor, just workmen's cotton trouser, and yes they tore up a bit on the hip.
For some reason I kept my head off the ground as I slid and just watched the direction I was sliding, so the crash helmet has not a mark on it !
After a few moments got myself up, a few cars stopped to check on me, a guy helped me push the bike of the road. After realizing I was ok, and the bike only seemed to have a broken clutch and gear lever, I then called my son around and we pushed it the half mile home !
The bike can be fixed for not much money, and it was my pride that hurt the most.
As per the picture, seems a build up of road grit and other crap was enough to make the tire loose grip. I'm usually good at checking the road ahead but just didn't notice this.
What do I personally take away from this ? If you ride long enough your bound to have spill, except that fact or go do something else with your time and money.
But going forward, my New years resolution is each ride I'll make sure I put my bloody biking jeans on !!
I say this in the context of having a few "off's" whilst green laneing around Wiltshire in my younger years. But then I only hit the grass and mud at slow speeds.
So, just riding my triumph scrambler up a local country road on a dry day at 30mph past White Waltham airfield, approaching a gentle curve in the road, leaning so slightly and the back wheel just slid away and down I went.
Now, I'm not here to preach to others what to wear, and I don't want anyone telling me either. All I will say is the armor in my jacket did what it says on the tin. My elbow and back that took the brunt of the impact and slide down the tarmac are fine, and the jacket still looks good too.
I wasn't however wearing my biking jeans with armor, just workmen's cotton trouser, and yes they tore up a bit on the hip.
For some reason I kept my head off the ground as I slid and just watched the direction I was sliding, so the crash helmet has not a mark on it !
After a few moments got myself up, a few cars stopped to check on me, a guy helped me push the bike of the road. After realizing I was ok, and the bike only seemed to have a broken clutch and gear lever, I then called my son around and we pushed it the half mile home !
The bike can be fixed for not much money, and it was my pride that hurt the most.
As per the picture, seems a build up of road grit and other crap was enough to make the tire loose grip. I'm usually good at checking the road ahead but just didn't notice this.
What do I personally take away from this ? If you ride long enough your bound to have spill, except that fact or go do something else with your time and money.
But going forward, my New years resolution is each ride I'll make sure I put my bloody biking jeans on !!
I'm glad to hear you're OK and thanks for sharing. I'm sure you'll hurt for the next week or so as older bodies definitely take longer to shrug off the sort of things that youth would have barely noticed.
As you say, kit is a personal choice but it's good to know that when it is being used it does what is expected.
I hope this doesn't put you off.
As you say, kit is a personal choice but it's good to know that when it is being used it does what is expected.
I hope this doesn't put you off.
CHLEMCBC said:
TheTrash said:
Is there any obvious source for all that crap on the road like a field entrance or similar?
It's a build up of salt and grit from spreadingI think if you ride bikes for a number of years the odds are stacked against you in some way shape or form.
I've had my fair share of offs over the years, mainly on a racetrack but one or two on the road due to surface (like this one, diesel) and being punted off by a SMIDSY.
What it taught me was you need eyes in the back of your head, but make sure you invest in some decent gear and wear it regardless of the weather.
Glad you are OK, I'm sure you will feel battered and bruised for the next few days at least it's Xmas and you can numb the pain a little.
I've had my fair share of offs over the years, mainly on a racetrack but one or two on the road due to surface (like this one, diesel) and being punted off by a SMIDSY.
What it taught me was you need eyes in the back of your head, but make sure you invest in some decent gear and wear it regardless of the weather.
Glad you are OK, I'm sure you will feel battered and bruised for the next few days at least it's Xmas and you can numb the pain a little.
Firstly I'm glad you're OK, it's exactly this kind of unexpected crap on the road which plays on my mind. Much as you make your best efforts to note all conditions around you it's inevitable that sometimes you're just not going to spot something.
But I'm in two minds about the comment about accepting the inevitably of an "off". I know exactly where you're coming from and intellectually i think you are correct.
But if I were convinced that at some time I'm gonna have an off then i wouldn't get back on a bike. Same for me with skiing ( so far broken ribs , broken sternum, broken thumb ) but I ain't gonna crash next time. Paragliding ( busted knee ) but I ain't gonna crash next time. Smoker ( no lung cancer yet ). among other behaviours some may regard as dangerous. I think , as humans, we have an inbuilt ability to believe it will only happen to someone else. And without that ability we'd lose out on so much fun in life.
Having said that i am an ATGATT just in case.
Just my tuppence.
But I'm in two minds about the comment about accepting the inevitably of an "off". I know exactly where you're coming from and intellectually i think you are correct.
But if I were convinced that at some time I'm gonna have an off then i wouldn't get back on a bike. Same for me with skiing ( so far broken ribs , broken sternum, broken thumb ) but I ain't gonna crash next time. Paragliding ( busted knee ) but I ain't gonna crash next time. Smoker ( no lung cancer yet ). among other behaviours some may regard as dangerous. I think , as humans, we have an inbuilt ability to believe it will only happen to someone else. And without that ability we'd lose out on so much fun in life.
Having said that i am an ATGATT just in case.
Just my tuppence.
Glad the op is ok!
I'm almost 60 & have been a very lucky boy on too many occasions. I hit a similar amount of silt on a B road in Kent last year. Was from flooding presumably a week earlier & obscured by shade going into the corner. By some miracle the traction control avoided an almost certain high side as I was giving it the ham fisted beans.....
I'm almost 60 & have been a very lucky boy on too many occasions. I hit a similar amount of silt on a B road in Kent last year. Was from flooding presumably a week earlier & obscured by shade going into the corner. By some miracle the traction control avoided an almost certain high side as I was giving it the ham fisted beans.....
Biker9090 said:
Glad you're OK.
I know that road VERY well.
Please report the build up of muck there along with pictures of the accident it's caused. The next poor sod that hits it might be able to claim from the useless entity that is RBWM if they come off!
What tyres were you on out of interest?
I was going to ask the same. I've started using way 'knobbier' tyres since the roads around me are covered in this sort of crap all the time. My Tiger had fairly aggressive 50/50 tyres that would cope fairly easily with any gravel on the road.I know that road VERY well.
Please report the build up of muck there along with pictures of the accident it's caused. The next poor sod that hits it might be able to claim from the useless entity that is RBWM if they come off!
What tyres were you on out of interest?
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