cautionary tale of cycle drafting truck almost kaput

47silver · 47silver's Garage

I was in the right lane in the 911s, doing the speed limit. as i began decending a long hill on I70, a 40 footer in a hurry was passing me directly behind him was a motorcycle rider and he was using the draft I assume.

Seeing an opening between me and the truck (about 2 car lengths), he decided to pass the truck on the right. When he pulled into the right lane, the air stream slowed his bike down I estimate 5 mph or so, . I caught him out of the corner of my eye, i let off of the throttle, he missed my fender by inches and he poured on the throttle and took off. I think he had to get to a bathroom to wipe.

Wonder how often this occurs and an accident happens. I rode bikes moons ago and never was aware of that happening.

Danny_Ocean · 08-26-2006, 08:16 PM

Years ago when travelling between Camp Pendleton and LA on I-5, I witnessed a guy on a motorcycle drafting a Greyhound bus. He couldn't have been more than 5' behind the bus. No way was he able to see ahead or react in time if the bus had to stop short.

Dude was not wearing eye protection, gloves or even shoes/socks...still wonder today if he eventually became "road pizza"...

randywebb · 08-26-2006, 09:39 PM

guy on a m/c roared past me one time in Louisiana in the wet - I thought he was crazy; about 5-10 minutes later I came to a bridge with a steel roadway ... there was crashed m/c there with a dead body and cops already -- guess who.

gestalt1 · 08-27-2006, 07:59 AM

i'm a non-biker but with the cost of gas and my long commute i've been thinking about taking lessons and getting a bike. my big problem is the safty factor. many of my biker friends either don't want to think about it or tell stories of all there close calls - making me feel this is not worth it. i know many here are also bikers, any one with input? i think there is a huge difference between the typical kid on sportbike w/ no helmet and a responsible biker without the big ego. but how much do you feel is an accident caused by stupidity or by circumstances beyond your control?

Danny_Ocean · 08-27-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gestalt1
i'm a non-biker but with the cost of gas and my long commute i've been thinking about taking lessons and getting a bike. my big problem is the safty factor. many of my biker friends either don't want to think about it or tell stories of all there close calls - making me feel this is not worth it. i know many here are also bikers, any one with input? i think there is a huge difference between the typical kid on sportbike w/ no helmet and a responsible biker without the big ego. but how much do you feel is an accident caused by stupidity or by circumstances beyond your control?

A) It's not worth it, especially if you have a family that depends on you.

B) It's usually not the biker's fault.

C) If it is the biker's fault, they were probably doing something stupid/reckless.

Get an economy car. Those can still be squashed by an SUV, but odds are you'll live longer.

Eric-325I · 08-27-2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gestalt1
i'm a non-biker but with the cost of gas and my long commute i've been thinking about taking lessons and getting a bike. my big problem is the safty factor. many of my biker friends either don't want to think about it or tell stories of all there close calls - making me feel this is not worth it. i know many here are also bikers, any one with input? i think there is a huge difference between the typical kid on sportbike w/ no helmet and a responsible biker without the big ego. but how much do you feel is an accident caused by stupidity or by circumstances beyond your control?

My wife and I have gone over this many times over the years. She has always wanted a bike for ocassional two-up rides. I have always wanted a bike for fun... Well, after I bought the SC, my wife went out and bought a mid-sized non-harley cruiser. Although I have ridden bikes many times in my younger days, we are both taking a Basic Safety and Liscensing course this fall and becomming liscensed.

Regarding safety: I am worried about it to be honest. My Uncle is a retired Fire Chief and Paramedic who has many stories of using shovels to scoop cyclists 'goop' from the roadway. Graphic but sobering. I believe that there are a few issues to deal with, especially in our rural area. Many do not wear helmets or body protection (we will), many bar-hop and are running from town to town at dusk risking deer strikes, drunk driving, etc... None of which we will do... Lastly, I am pulled out on by careless drivers so often it's sickening. In my car it's annoying and dangerous. On a bike that would be scary and may be deadly. Defensive driving is of the utmost importance.

For reference: My daughters boyfriend has been a rider for over 10 years with many many miles under his belt. He rides a Yamaha R1? or R6... Always wears a helmet, jacket, boots, etc. Has never been in an accident. Good guy and rides 'responsibly'. My older neighbor Randy commuted on his BMW 9 months of the year for most of the 70K plus miles on the bike with only one accident. He was at a stop sign and our schoolbus driver pulled too tight around the corner and ran over Randy's bike with the rear wheels. Randy just jumped off the bike and watched the slow-motion carnage take place... Ouch!

Eric

Eric

DarrylD · 08-27-2006, 01:23 PM

Every time I see a motorcyclist riding without a helmet I think to myself, "now there's evolution in action."

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Hmm, I might have something so say on this subject...

I can say that before the crash I was feeling pretty confident about things, and rode pretty "confident." As for starting to ride, I think it is fine as long as you go in with your eyes wide open. I've often heard people say that riding in LA (or an urban area) is nuts, but frankly I don't think there is much of a difference. WHen you're on 2 wheels, you're exposed no matter what the circumstances. The only thing that changes are the dangers.

I can say without hesitation: all gear all the time. And good gear, not cheap crap. That includes every bit of your body. If you aren't willing to wear everything, then you shouldn't get on the bike. And if you do, realize that you may have to live with the consequences.

Even with full gear, you still might go down. You can stack the odds in your favor, but the reality is that ***** happens. People can turn left in front of you (the most common serious accident). Animals or debris can show up in front of you (some avoidable, some not). And road conditions can catch you out if you're not 100% on your game.

Everything has some element of danger. Motorcycling is pretty high on the list. But only the individual can determine if the reward is worth the risk. Plenty of people ride for years with no accidents. Plenty of people get seriously hurt or killed too. The problem is that when something goes wrong, you are totally exposed and at the mercy of everyone and everything around you. Leather is great, but it will lose to the bumper of another car.

I still love 2 wheeled vehicles, but I probably won't get on a motorcycle again. And if I do (some years in the future), it will be at a superbike school, and then probably ride only under very controlled conditions. My "high risk" activity will be with my track car, on the track. In that case. I stack the deck in my favor (most of my mod money spent on safety, running at a track with rescue personnel, etc).

I still get a wistful feeling when I hear a twin rumble by. But I also get a sick feeling in my stomach when I see the rider, as nearly 95% of them are lacking some bit of gear.

nota · 08-27-2006, 05:48 PM

get a dirt bike
the trees donot try to hit you

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by DarrylD
Every time I see a motorcyclist riding without a helmet I think to myself, "now there's evolution in action."

They are excellent organ donors, generally young, healthy up to the point they become a radish. Neuro ICU nurse I know told me they say a huge drop in these superb donors when they passed the helmet law in Cali.

I saw a guy on an enduro get sucked under a tractor trailer from the side of the truck. Freeway speeds and he was a bit too close, saw it happen in my rear view mirror..

Friend(well actually a friends older bro) in HS had a big truck back into him at McDonalds, drug him about a mile before he realized any thing was wrong.

I actually have a lot of stories, one guy was run over by a garbage truck that did not see him at an intersection, ground his calcaneus (heel bone) flat on one side, very neatly filleted all the fat and skin off his heel, spared the big bomber artery nerve and vein at the inside of his ankle though, so he got to keep his foot.

trekkor · 08-27-2006, 09:24 PM

My brother in law's daughter layed her bike down at low speed when she lost grip in the marbles on the side of the road.

She broke both her arms and sheared off her knee cap.

After 1 1/2 years of wheelchair/therapy and surgeries, after many close calls on losing the leg she now walks with difficulty.

KT

trekkor · 09:58 PM

I was watching a "fastest vehicle" type show the other night that featured a 150ish mph pedal bike at the salt flats.

The guy had to ride behind a fast car with a wind screen/drafting pocket. This one guy slipped out from the protective space and was litteraly blown away. Tumbling at 150.

He was hurt really bad when the wind nailed him. Almost died and took over a year, if I can remember the details somewhat accuratley, to get back on the bike again.

KT

Moses · 08-27-2006, 10:07 PM

I used to ride a lot as a kid. Had two wrecks of note. Both my fault.

First I was on an uncrowded freeway that NEVER saw traffic. As I rolled around the bend, there was an ocean of brakelights. Wreck ahead. I had a choice, lay it down or plow into the back of a pickup. I chose the truck. Just before impact I let go of the handlebars and stood up. I flew over the endgate and slammed into the back of the trucks cab. I was mostly unhurt, but it could have been awful.

Another time I was going around a curve on the way to my girlfriends house. I guess a truck had lost about half a load of pea gravel. Another choice. Lay the bike down or go straight through a white three rail fence. I chose the fence and busted through, landing on a lawn. Again, mostly unhurt.

Both times I was wearing jeans, hiking boots and a T-shirt. Never owned a helmet. Lucky? Yes. Stupid? Absolutely. I will not own another bike nor will my son as long as I have any influence.

singpilot · 08-28-2006, 08:51 AM

As we are standing in the motorcycle junk yard looking at all the wrecked bikes with paper plates on them, I tell all of my newbies that the motorcycle is the safest vehicle on the road right up to the point of impact.

33 years and 20-25K miles a year on a bike, and have never had an impact yet. The secret is never putting yourself into a spot you can't ride out of.

Believe it or not, the most comprehensive motorcycle accident analysis report ever done has all the stats. Stupidity is #1's one thru 25. #26 is gunshot wound from drive by. As luck would have it, the government funded study was named for it's author.

The Hurt Report. Google it, it's good reading.

id10t · 08-28-2006, 09:38 AM

Six guys I know/knew have been in *terrible* accidents - only one is still alive, but he managed to get creamed *twice* - and each and every time it was the car driver's fault.

singpilot · 08-28-2006, 12:28 PM

BTW, I did go back and look at the stats for Todd's 'incident'.

1% of bike accidents were collisions with animals.

Todd, you're a stat!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

and as my dad always said, "son, you're not useless...you can always serve as a bad example."

onlycafe · 08-28-2006, 01:00 PM

old timers used to say that there were only two kinds of riders, those that have been down and those that will go down.

sithot · 08-29-2006, 10:19 AM

It doesn't matter who is at fault in a MC accident. The guy on the MC gets the worst of it.
I've been riding for a long time and have been down. Even slow stuff hurts. A lot!
My bikes are now "artwork" for me to enjoy. I ride very little anymore. I still collect and go around the block occasionally to keep the fluids moving but for the most part I've gone into retirement.
If everyone rode a bike that would be a different story.
The US has the worst drivers in the world. The driving test here is a joke. Cell phones, soccer moms in Urban Assault Vehicles and people who just don't care who gets in there way because they are THE most important person in the world attitudes.

There are lots of cars that do very well on fuel if your ego isn't too big to drive one. I for one don't give a rats arse what I'm seen in these days.

Good luck,

Tom

cashflyer · 08-29-2006, 10:36 AM

I've been riding for 31 years. (well... not non-stop, ya know...) Dirt, street and MX.

I've nearly given up on street riding, except for the 6 miles between work and home. I never had to watch for the cell-phone driver while I was in the woods or in an MX event.

Riding on the freeway scares the bejeebus out of me.