**EDIT** I changed the topic to be more correct.
A few weeks back I woke up to start my day and head to work. When I opened the front door I noticed some snow flurries. No big deal, they were light and not sticking to the ground. However, from experience I have learned the 35 mile ride can become very crappy about half way to work. Therefore, I wait 25 minutes before I left. I happen to know from experience I can time the sand trucks and hit the road after they pass though.
I hit the road and notice a nice fresh layer of sand on the road. My trip into work was going rather well, even as the snow got worse and was sticking to the pavement. I get within 5 miles of work and find stop and go traffic at a large intersection with a stop light. The traffic was going so slow it took three red light cycles for me to get up to the light. The vehicle behind me was rather cautious about being behind a motorcycle and gave me plenty of space.
As I was coming up to the stop light I was moving about 5mph. My feet were on the ground acting as ski to help keep me stable as the road was getting slick. I was not worried at all. I know this road well and knew after this light and about a mile up the road the pavement would be dry. Strange weather in Reno, NV, the snow coming of mountains can dump a foot of snow in some places, and just a mile away if be completely dry.
As I do my mirror checks I notice the car to my left, in the left turn lane, driving to fast for the conditions, I guess he was tired of waiting to get into the turn lane. I do another check and notice the light is still red, but the turn lanes are about to turn green. The guy to my left might be okay and not slide into the intersection. I check my left mirror, oh crap!!!!! I am going to get hit. The guy is on his brakes and beginning to slide, in my direction. As the conditions were slick I could not get on the gas and accelerate from danger.
I look of my shoulder and the driver is panicking, turning the wheel as fast as possible, but not looking at me. He is fixated on the intersection. As his front wheels pass me I hear the clicking of his anti-lock brakes. I am sure I only heard this as my visor was up as the helmet was fogging with no air flow. Then, whack, I was hit with the rear of his car.
He hit my left saddle bag, which slung my rear out, and put me on the ground on my left side. I know this hard to understand, so here is a little picture. I am no artist, and the cars are not in the correct place, but you should get the idea how I got hit with the rear of the car, and landed on the same side I was hit on.
**EDIT**
The image keeps going away, must have something to do with Picasa. Here is a link in case the image does not appear: Link
I was only going 5mph so the slide was not far at all. However, I did slide a bit on the ice. Quick look behind me to make sure I am not going to get run over, all is good. I look back at the car that hit me, light turns green, he lets off the brake, the car straights out, and he continues though the intersection. DAMN IT!!! Dude just took off.
I jump up, the driver from the car behind me has stopped and is coming to check on me. All is good, I am good, my gear is good, and the bike has minor damage. I pick the bike up and ask the only person who stopped if he got the plate number. Nope, he said he was to busy watching me and making sure he did not hit me. This sucks!!!
I got to work, call the insurance company and the Highway Patrol. In the end, there was $3,100 is damage to the bike and $500 for a helmet. Not a single bruise, scratch, or bump on me. I really love MotoPort gear. I do not recall my head hitting the payment and my helmet did not have any scratches, but I wanted it replaced anyway.
Looking back, maybe I should have been closer to the middle lane. I was aware the turn lanes rarely have sand put on them early in the morning.
A few weeks back I woke up to start my day and head to work. When I opened the front door I noticed some snow flurries. No big deal, they were light and not sticking to the ground. However, from experience I have learned the 35 mile ride can become very crappy about half way to work. Therefore, I wait 25 minutes before I left. I happen to know from experience I can time the sand trucks and hit the road after they pass though.
I hit the road and notice a nice fresh layer of sand on the road. My trip into work was going rather well, even as the snow got worse and was sticking to the pavement. I get within 5 miles of work and find stop and go traffic at a large intersection with a stop light. The traffic was going so slow it took three red light cycles for me to get up to the light. The vehicle behind me was rather cautious about being behind a motorcycle and gave me plenty of space.
As I was coming up to the stop light I was moving about 5mph. My feet were on the ground acting as ski to help keep me stable as the road was getting slick. I was not worried at all. I know this road well and knew after this light and about a mile up the road the pavement would be dry. Strange weather in Reno, NV, the snow coming of mountains can dump a foot of snow in some places, and just a mile away if be completely dry.
As I do my mirror checks I notice the car to my left, in the left turn lane, driving to fast for the conditions, I guess he was tired of waiting to get into the turn lane. I do another check and notice the light is still red, but the turn lanes are about to turn green. The guy to my left might be okay and not slide into the intersection. I check my left mirror, oh crap!!!!! I am going to get hit. The guy is on his brakes and beginning to slide, in my direction. As the conditions were slick I could not get on the gas and accelerate from danger.
I look of my shoulder and the driver is panicking, turning the wheel as fast as possible, but not looking at me. He is fixated on the intersection. As his front wheels pass me I hear the clicking of his anti-lock brakes. I am sure I only heard this as my visor was up as the helmet was fogging with no air flow. Then, whack, I was hit with the rear of his car.
He hit my left saddle bag, which slung my rear out, and put me on the ground on my left side. I know this hard to understand, so here is a little picture. I am no artist, and the cars are not in the correct place, but you should get the idea how I got hit with the rear of the car, and landed on the same side I was hit on.
**EDIT**
The image keeps going away, must have something to do with Picasa. Here is a link in case the image does not appear: Link
I was only going 5mph so the slide was not far at all. However, I did slide a bit on the ice. Quick look behind me to make sure I am not going to get run over, all is good. I look back at the car that hit me, light turns green, he lets off the brake, the car straights out, and he continues though the intersection. DAMN IT!!! Dude just took off.
I jump up, the driver from the car behind me has stopped and is coming to check on me. All is good, I am good, my gear is good, and the bike has minor damage. I pick the bike up and ask the only person who stopped if he got the plate number. Nope, he said he was to busy watching me and making sure he did not hit me. This sucks!!!
I got to work, call the insurance company and the Highway Patrol. In the end, there was $3,100 is damage to the bike and $500 for a helmet. Not a single bruise, scratch, or bump on me. I really love MotoPort gear. I do not recall my head hitting the payment and my helmet did not have any scratches, but I wanted it replaced anyway.
Looking back, maybe I should have been closer to the middle lane. I was aware the turn lanes rarely have sand put on them early in the morning.
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