Paying Attention on the Slab

[Cdogman]

The other day I was running right around the speed limit on I-215, 4 lane superslab that circles the Salt Lake Valley. Traffic is very light and I am just slipping along to some appointment or another, I forgot what it was. That is how ordinary the Day, Ride and Appointment were.

I am paying attention but not at the level I would in some spirited twisties, but still paying attention.

I am about 1000 yards from a freeway underpass and I am scanning the road and something catches my eye right smack dab in the middle of the shadow created by the bridge I was going to pass under in a very few short seconds. Almost dismissed it, thought better of it since it was not a large object but not really small either.

On looking again (now I am almost upon it) I see 85% of the entire freeway littered with concrete chunks from the size of a brick, to the size of a basketball. They must have fallen off of a truck really recently and all of them were in the shadow of the bridge. I think "OK now what" Stopping is out of the question, not enough time. I did not panic. I simply prepared to adjust until it came into focus, picked a line that took me between the large chunks, and carried on. I feel sorry for any cage that was behind me. There was not enough room for a cage to negotiate that at any angle.

Just a reminder to all the people who I have met here and have helped me and become my friends. Be careful and pay attention. Even on the seemingly mundane parts of your ride.

As I said, I almost dismissed it and looked ahead again. It couild have been a very different outcome.

Have fun and be safe this weekend

Cdog

 

[2006FJR]

A sobering reality that anything can happen on a ride. Be safe!

 

[Silver Penguin]

A sobering reality that anything can happen on a ride. Be safe!

Gunny.

A valid reminder to be alert at all times, and to practice swerving technique.

Jill

 

[FJRMGM]

yet another reminder to keep the long range scanners on HIGH all the time.

 

[Firedog]

yet another reminder to keep the long range scanners on HIGH all the time.

I had a turkey cross the hwy right in front of me just this morning. It was on a boring stretch of 2 lane slab. You always have to keep scanning ahead. I like killing turkeys...but this particular way might hurt. :glare:

 

[daddysbike]

Glad you made it though o.k.

Reminder #2:

Stay away/far back from 18 wheelers. Those crap re-treads they use will/can/do come apart at any time and you don't want to be behind one when it does.

Steve

 

[Big Sky]

I hit a rock last summer. Fortunately, it was only $600 damage and no injury. Expect the unexpected. Glad you were on high alert and came through okay. Since my mishap, when possible I have taken to pulling over and clearing the hazards/debris for those coming behind me.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

yikes...nice aim Cdog

 

[Cdogman]

I hit a rock last summer. Fortunately, it was only $600 damage and no injury. Expect the unexpected. Glad you were on high alert and came through okay. Since my mishap, when possible I have taken to pulling over and clearing the hazards/debris for those coming behind me.

When possible I would do the same thing. Not that day, I did not have my skidsteer handy

It was not scary becuase I did see it. The spaces were enough to accomodate my bike just fine once it came into focus. Not seeing it I was headed for the pile in lane 2.

I just wanted everyone to remember to be safe. Anything can happen at any time

Oh,

I heard this along time ago and I dont remember where it came from

"Every Motorcycle Rider will die from a fatal crash It is the riders responsibility through training, practice, and education to push that date back to a time that allows old age to kill them first"

That one has kinda stuck with me

 

[Mike-H]

I hit a rock last summer. Fortunately, it was only $600 damage and no injury. Expect the unexpected. Glad you were on high alert and came through okay. Since my mishap, when possible I have taken to pulling over and clearing the hazards/debris for those coming behind me.

When possible I would do the same thing. Not that day, I did not have my skidsteer handy

It was not scary becuase I did see it. The spaces were enough to accomodate my bike just fine once it came into focus. Not seeing it I was headed for the pile in lane 2.

I just wanted everyone to remember to be safe. Anything can happen at any time

Oh,

I heard this along time ago and I dont remember where it came from

"Every Motorcycle Rider will die from a fatal crash It is the riders responsibility through training, practice, and education to push that date back to a time that allows old age to kill them first"

That one has kinda stuck with me

:good: .....I'm with you on that one....

 

[FuzzyRider]

"Every Motorcycle Rider will die from a fatal crash It is the riders responsibility through training, practice, and education to push that date back to a time that allows old age to kill them first"
That one has kinda stuck with me

:good: .....I'm with you on that one....

Gunny!

 

[jesse]

The other day I was running right around the speed limit on I-215, 4 lane superslab that circles the Salt Lake Valley. Traffic is very light and I am just slipping along to some appointment or another, I forgot what it was. That is how ordinary the Day, Ride and Appointment were.
I am paying attention but not at the level I would in some spirited twisties, but still paying attention.

I am about 1000 yards from a freeway underpass and I am scanning the road and something catches my eye right smack dab in the middle of the shadow created by the bridge I was going to pass under in a very few short seconds. Almost dismissed it, thought better of it since it was not a large object but not really small either.

On looking again (now I am almost upon it) I see 85% of the entire freeway littered with concrete chunks from the size of a brick, to the size of a basketball. They must have fallen off of a truck really recently and all of them were in the shadow of the bridge. I think "OK now what" Stopping is out of the question, not enough time. I did not panic. I simply prepared to adjust until it came into focus, picked a line that took me between the large chunks, and carried on. I feel sorry for any cage that was behind me. There was not enough room for a cage to negotiate that at any angle.

Just a reminder to all the people who I have met here and have helped me and become my friends. Be careful and pay attention. Even on the seemingly mundane parts of your ride.

As I said, I almost dismissed it and looked ahead again. It couild have been a very different outcome.

Have fun and be safe this weekend

Cdog

I spend a lot of time riding around Atlanta and you would be amazed at how many lanes have the shredded semi tractor trailor tires all around. Because of that, I try to avoid night time riding on I-75, and when on it during the day I give myself plenty of room between me and the car in front of me so that I can adjust. I think the term for them is "rubber aligators" Ride safe everyone. Jesse

 

[Orient_Express]

yet another reminder to keep the long range scanners on HIGH all the time.

I had a turkey cross the hwy right in front of me just this morning. It was on a boring stretch of 2 lane slab. You always have to keep scanning ahead. I like killing turkeys...but this particular way might hurt. :glare:

My obstacle this morning at daybreak was a fawn with spots - didn't know what to do or where to go so just laid down in the road right in front of me. Mama standing about 10yds off to the right just inside the treeline. Guess they were in the process of crossing and mom bailed for the woods at the sound of the motorycle. The fawn still has a lot to learn!!

Good advice Cdogman!!

 

[fjrchik]

Lemme throw my 2 cents in. I commute to work 90 miles round trip a day (hence the urban rider title). I don't always take the bike, but as much as I can. I have seen some ****, lemme clue ya. This spring I saw 3 semis have a tire blow up, all within a quarter mile of me or less and all within the same week on the way to work! Needless to say, I parked the bike the rest of the week and drove the car.

Then a few weeks ago, a mattress flew off the back of some pickup truck. Thank god I was in the car!! I could have been killed by a pillowtop queen size mattress! It damaged my car which is now being fixed. This same thing did actually happen to a motorcyclist in Dallas a little bit earlier this year. Mattress flew off a truck and hit him and killed him. Its just blows my mind how stupid people are.

I've also learned to back off and give myself more space from the vehicle in front of me. They can run over stuff I can't. Case in point, on the way to Dallas one day back in April, there was a long piece of metal on the road, laying there at an angle. The cars just drove over it. And if there hadn't been a slight hill, I wouldn't have been up high enough to see it in front of the car in front of me. I was able to swerve in time to avoid the wheels hitting it, but it still hit my ankle. Stung! Lesson learned. Back off so i can see what's on the road surface.

Oh! there was also the day this spring when I was almost taken out by another motorcyclist. Rolling down the freeway, kinda alone, I decide to move to the left lane (from the middle) due to an upcoming semi. I had a little time before the semi, so i took my time moving over. Checked the mirrors, did the head check over the left shoulder, although i already knew no one was there. Moved over, and then out of no where, some ***** on a Busa passes me on the left shoulder going extremely fast! Then he no more than gets past me, and he has to do a hard lean to the right because there is crap on the shoulder and he's about to hit it! Great! He coulda gone down and then taken me out too. All cause he wanted to fly up the freeway. I really don't know what I coulda done differently because he came out of no where (I'm guessing the far right lane) and I had no warning. But it just goes to show, expect the unexpected out there!

 

[OlyFJR]

I recently read an article about picking a lane when avoiding an obstacle vs. target fixation and have been practicing it when I ride. This is a great strategy and I'm glad to hear that someone has used it successfully. Thanks for the heads up post.

 

[pickax]

Seems like the urban (man made) hazards are an every day occurance for lots of folks. I worry about deer at night the most.

 

[Big Sky]

Got my first lesson dodging crap in about 1982 aboard my 750 Sabre. A truck in front was hauling a load of tree trimmings and a big branch fell off. I was probably doing 70 and had a big sphincter clench. Ever since I have always, always been very wary of trucks carrying loads. Given that, last year I was hauling an old recliner to our cabin on the river along a local two-lane. I heard a whump from behind me, looked in the rearview and saw that chair tumbling down the road. How 'n hell that came out of the back of my pickup I'll never figure out - was only doing about 60. But I was one very grateful dude that no one was coming behind me or even approaching from the other direction, God forbid a motorcyclist! Boy, I felt stupid hustling back to get that chair off the road. And I still hate to think what a potentially lethal hazard I created that day...

 

[fjrchik]

at least you cared Big Sky! the dumb broad who lost the mattress in my story had no idea this could happen. duh! she wanted her son to ride on top of the mattress, which was already on top of a big pile of stuff, which is how it got airborne in the first place. the police just shook their heads. mattress and son woulda both went flying. i made sure she got a ticket and they wouldn't let her leave til she secured it down.

 

[Big Sky]

I always carry tie-downs in the truck and am pretty careful about securing loads. I often haul kayaks, camping gear, lawn equipment and garden tools, garbage cans etc. between town and our river property. I just could not imagine that chair leaving the truck. I will never, ever make that assumption again.

Good thing you were in your cage the day the mattress took flight, and good thing Little Johny or Little Jane didn't go for a ride...under your wheels.