Bad form, Artist!

[artistonFJR]

Had a very unusual riding experience yesterday, and it actually disturbed me beyond the point of shrugging it off. I was simply riding home at the end of a work day, but for some reason I found myself pulling Stoopid Beginner antics at every measureable point along the way. Sounds petty, but with this much power and weight little things mean alot! It was following too close, not fully checking the lane before I changed lanes, blindspot riding, bad cornering, not seeing potholes I already knew were there, and even a mis-shift, etc. I've been riding motors since I was 11 years old. This was like being 11 again. It actually scared me a bit. I am always soooo careful around traffic and aware of my surroundings (keenly so), and I can only be thankful that I wasn't 2-up or on a trip with miles to go. I noticed all my mistakes either immediatly after commiting them, or as they were happening, and corrected as I could.

COMPLACENCY! Must have been. It ain't lack of experience, or knowledge... but the self-preservation switch seemed to be off. My only saving grace is that no one around me pulled the usual cager-style stunts, as I don't know if I would have been ready to react properly. Today's ride in to work was fine, my wits about me and all seemed normal (read: paranoid) Sure gave me something to think about, though.

Ride safer!

C

Hmmm, maybe I was unwittingly trying to test the new sliders I just got from Skyway?!

 

[wfooshee]

Mindset wrong. Been there myself. Riding along and suddenly wake up and wonder for a second how I got there. Deep breath, stop thinking about work, wife, kids, whatever, and get back to the bike.

However, if you corrected, you were at least partially present on your bike, not completely zoned out. Just slipped away long enough to get to a bad place, then something pulled you back with a "Hey butt-head! Ya wanna watch what yer doin' here? The rest of us body parts don't wanna die!"

 

[exskibum]

Like you, I've been riding a long time. I've noticed 2 situations with my riding. The first is when I'm very tired. In that case, I've decided that my biggest problem is that it gets to the point that it's almost impossible to make myself look all the way through corners on twisty roads. All the symptoms appear (turning single apexes into multiple apex corners, inattentiveness, uncertain of speed, lack of confidence in my lines, parking it in corners, etc.).

The other situation is simply that some days I'm just not as good a rider as on other days. It's only the occasional day, but what you described sounds like that kind of day to me. I had one of those days last Saturday and told the GF that we were going to go home instead of extend the ride up to see some friends because I didn't feel like I was riding particularly well.

I've been skiing even longer than I've been riding, and I actually recognized this "one of those days" situation from skiing experiences. Some days in the bumps (magnified effect in the afternoon after tiring a little), I would end up cursing myself for linked recoveries, generally poor lines, late reactions, poor body position, and poor concentration. It took me a while (during my 100 day a year seasons) to finally realize that I needed to be a little less hard on myself and accept that the fact that I was skiing poorly that day meant nothing about my abilities -- I'd be myself again tomorrow. I learned to accept it and just go down to relax on the deck with a beer or go home. I don't know whether it's biorhythms, alignment of the stars, what I ate or anything else (unless it's fatigue, as addressed above), but some days, you just aren't as sharp as you expect yourself to be in a sport you have trained yourself at for so long. On the bike, that means to me that it's time to take extra precautions and get it back to the barn -- tomorrow will be a different day.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I hear what you're saying. I think many others also go through a similar phase every so often. Some may not. The main thing is, learn from this. Ride safe.

 

[SPORT]

Had a very unusual riding experience yesterday, and it actually disturbed me beyond the point of shrugging it off. I was simply riding home at the end of a work day, but for some reason I found myself pulling Stoopid Beginner antics at every measureable point along the way. Sounds petty, but with this much power and weight little things mean alot! It was following too close, not fully checking the lane before I changed lanes, blindspot riding, bad cornering, not seeing potholes I already knew were there, and even a mis-shift, etc. I've been riding motors since I was 11 years old. This was like being 11 again. It actually scared me a bit. I am always soooo careful around traffic and aware of my surroundings (keenly so), and I can only be thankful that I wasn't 2-up or on a trip with miles to go. I noticed all my mistakes either immediatly after commiting them, or as they were happening, and corrected as I could.
COMPLACENCY! Must have been. It ain't lack of experience, or knowledge... but the self-preservation switch seemed to be off. My only saving grace is that no one around me pulled the usual cager-style stunts, as I don't know if I would have been ready to react properly. Today's ride in to work was fine, my wits about me and all seemed normal (read: paranoid) Sure gave me something to think about, though.

Ride safer!

C

Hmmm, maybe I was unwittingly trying to test the new sliders I just got from Skyway?!

Karma or providence (I prefer providence),

This was a lesson of remberence. Learn from it, next time out you'll not be as complacent.

 

[Neil San Diego]

I expect that everyone has "one of those days" occasionally. In the mornings, I'll wait until I'm out of the shower and dressed before I decide if its a bike day or a cage day. Every once in a while things just feel unbalanced; that's a cage day.

On the bike, that means to me that it's time to take extra precautions and get it back to the barn -- tomorrow will be a different day.

True that!

 

[James Burleigh]

Who hasn't experienced what you describe? The trick is to self-monitor and be aware of that fact (of reduced concentration) and modify your riding style accordingly. Dave Hough has the great phrase "Match your speed to your ability to process information." Like just this weekend when riding with jwhite518 on some twisties, I told him after rendezvousing that I was feeling kinda "spacey," just meaning that I had to work hard to find my concentration. As a result, I took it slow and easy, and let him know to go on ahead and not worry if he lost me in his mirrors. And when commuting, if I'm feeling more disengaged than usual, I cut way back on aggressive out-in-front riding. Thanks for posting. Jb

 

[C&C]

I've had that out of sync feeling myself from time to time. It seems like the stuff your brain, used to do automatically, needed thought to perform. First thing I do is try to tell myself (or admit) that there is a problem, then at least slow down a bit.

It's kind of the opposite of, you know, that day you feel like you're riding on a rail and in the groove. You just have to make yourself more aware when the feeling is gone.

 

[SPORT]

It's kind of the opposite of, you know, that day you feel like you're riding on a rail and in the groove. You just have to make yourself more aware when the feeling is gone.

Yep!

 

[Duezzer]

I call those times "the times I could not see"

I think my brain for some reason wont let go of all the crap that is banging around in it and I keep focussed on it not my riding

I get in a zone that is not safe.

I now use my 2 rule.

On the second occurance (ie catch myself not paying attention a second time ) I find the first place I can pull over and take a break

While on the break I have to ask myself what I have been thinking of over the last while that will not let me be present during the ride

I usually have some buisness I have not sorted out and need to look at it.

Usually takes 1 to 10 min to get my head back to a place I can see again.

Ride Safe come home alive

 

[exskibum]

I call those times "the times I could not see"
I think my brain for some reason wont let go of all the crap that is banging around in it and I keep focussed on it not my riding

I get in a zone that is not safe.

I now use my 2 rule.

On the second occurance (ie catch myself not paying attention a second time ) I find the first place I can pull over and take a break

While on the break I have to ask myself what I have been thinking of over the last while that will not let me be present during the ride

I usually have some buisness I have not sorted out and need to look at it.

Usually takes 1 to 10 min to get my head back to a place I can see again.

Ride Safe come home alive

Love your "2 rule"! Think I'll adopt it. Now, any chance you have a suggestion for getting cage drivers to adopt even a "5 rule"??

 

[feejer222]

Maybe that was an extreme end of the spectrum. Makes you wonder how much your 'rider awarenes' varies without you realising it.

I would put money on fatigue being a big player in what happened. "At the end of a working day". I have noticed for years how I do my best concentrating in the morning and my awareness ect. tapers off later in the day, even moreso as I get older.

 

[James Burleigh]

I would put money on fatigue being a big player in what happened. "At the end of a working day". I have noticed for years how I do my best concentrating in the morning and my awareness ect. tapers off later in the day, even moreso as I get older.

Here are a couple of paragraphs to this point from my article on rush-hour M.C. accidents:

"One of the most salient statistics to come out of this analysis is that an overwhelming amount (70%) of rush hour accidents occur during the evening rush hour. And it’s not about the dark, because most rush hour accidents (85%) happen during daylight (probably explained by more riders being out in the summer months). I certainly find that the evening commute seems more frantic, like everyone is in a hurry to get home (just as I am). On top of that, drivers are mentally fatigued after a long day at work (just as I am).
"This statistical analysis has taught me to ride more conservatively on the way home, recognizing that fatigue may cause my judgment to be off just enough to misjudge that tight lane change between cars. Or conversely, that drivers are more likely to make poor decisions in the evening, resulting in more frequent violations of my right-of-way. That conservatism translates to a slower average speed, an increased bubble where possible, and fewer “yeah-baby!” passing maneuvers."
Jb

 

[exskibum]

"One of the most salient statistics to come out of this analysis is that an overwhelming amount (70%) of rush hour accidents occur during the evening rush hour. And it’s not about the dark, because most rush hour accidents (85%) happen during daylight (probably explained by more riders being out in the summer months). I certainly find that the evening commute seems more frantic, like everyone is in a hurry to get home (just as I am). On top of that, drivers are mentally fatigued after a long day at work (just as I am). [/indent] "This statistical analysis has taught me to ride more conservatively on the way home, recognizing that fatigue may cause my judgment to be off just enough to misjudge that tight lane change between cars. Or conversely, that drivers are more likely to make poor decisions in the evening, resulting in more frequent violations of my right-of-way. That conservatism translates to a slower average speed, an increased bubble where possible, and fewer “yeah-baby!” passing maneuvers."

That sure doesn't surprise me. And the worst part of that analysis is that it isn't even you -- it's the cagers (many of whom don't pay attention at the best of times) who are also fatigued and sharing the road with you.
 
You've got larger cojones than me commuting on Bay Area freeways (and in SF) every day. I don't commute to work on my bikes, mostly because I'm lucky enough to live only 0.4 miles from the office.

 

[artistonFJR]

Thanks all, for your insights and recounting. Yeah, I know when I'm not wanted on the road, and that was my strongest realization that I have to be the safety net for my own ass. I do like the "pull over after second incident" idea. It was a matter of brain overload, set the bike on cruise, then went in back to fix myself a sandwich... Bad idea on a commute route.

Maybe the dvd player mounted in a tank bag is not such a good idea, seeing as how I'm not as perfect a rider as I once thought... *For sale, One Cortec tank bag with Panasonic DVD player monitor* ha!

I always always ride in heavy traffic like I'm carrying an open box of light bulbs and fresh eggs... Yesterday I was making glass omelets!

C

 

[camera56]

Love your "2 rule"! Think I'll adopt it. Now, any chance you have a suggestion for getting cage drivers to adopt even a "5 rule"??

+1 on the 2 rule. Great advice.

If something like that happens on a long ride, one of the things I find helps is to drink some water and maybe have a snack. Some part of you is experiencing some level of shock. That's why your brain has gone absent on you. A little act of self-care, and I think the 2-rule is a great example of that, often gets me back to center.

 

[camera56]

Just an ad to this point. Last week I was driving along all safe and secure in my car TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE (BLUETOOTH HEADSET) when CRUNCH. Some nice young gal swerved to make a turn and hit me all down the passenger side. $4000 in damage. Ugh.

She was freaked, I was calm.

Thought 1: She's my daughter's age.

Thought 2: it's just metal.

Thought 3: I'm very happy I'm not on my bike

Thought 4: I'd like to think I would have been more aware while riding my bike . . . which is the point you're making in this thread.

Ride safe

 

[Big Sky]

Wait: are you really an artist?

If so, that would explain everything. Artists are SUPPOSED to be addled brained. :lol:

 

[artistonFJR]

Oh, Big Sky, that's just a rumour, we actually have a............look a kitty!