Scab, we're all glad you're basically OK.
I've read through this thread and, because of my instincts for survival ("I may be a motorcyclist but I'm not positively suicidal"), I'd like to make a few comments. Flame me if you will.
Yes, I bit the dust today.
Brave admission. Shows you will learn from your experience. (And allow us to learn as well).
FIXATED on the ditch dead ahead
We all know how easy that is. I practise looking at, then away from, imaginary hazards hopefully so that if I'm ever in a situation like yours I will cope. This has helped me survive one corner, entered it too quickly on a wet road. Saw the ditch, had to consciously think (I may have said it out loud) "Look where you want to go, trust your bike", followed my own advice, and managed to stay on the road. (That was the most lean I've ever had on a wet road.)
Speaking of tires... DAMN NEAR 60 PSI IN REAR! WTF? Is this due to it being about 20 degrees
No way the temperature. Definitely operator error or bad gauge. Most likely the gauge since both tyres were high pressure.
I don't know what road it was. I was just following the group and enjoying not having to keep track of the roads. I wish I could blame it on some loose stuff, but no. And really, there was no pressure to keep up except from myself. Sometimes it can be a good thing to push the envelope and better your skills. At least, it has worked before. Today just wasn't that day. "Ride your ride" is all well and good advice, but I made the decision to try to change "my ride". I got bit. I am not trying to make light of any safety advice, but some of this is inevitably the nature of the beast. I have been on rides where I just spoke up and said; "This is the best I can do." I am not afraid to stand out. So, no pressure. These guys are great. It was just me making a bad decision. Plain and simple. Truth be known, I have been doing this alot lately. (pushing myself) Mostly alone, but with the luxury of knowing the road. What I shouldn't have done today was do this on an unknown road. (well that, and other stuff I am sure) But ultimately, no one bears any share of this responsibility but me.
All very sensible. It's all too easy to allow yourself to push too hard particularly when you are with others, either in a group you are with, or coming up to (or even, dare I say, being caught up by) other riders. The macho part of our mentality never likes to be outdone by another rider, and we feel proud of ourselves when we can later brag about our prowess.
Whatever cold tire pressures you run in the summer, you should use 10-15 percent less in the winter.
I can't agree. Whilst I accept the logic (less pressure = more warming), to maintain the summer temperature in winter you must be putting more heat into the tyre (heat into tyre must = heat lost from tyre, more heat loss in winter temperatures, so tyre is squirming more to generate that heat. Squirming tyre is not gripping as well as non-squirming tyre. Accept the cooler temperature, ride knowing you have less grip, it can be just as satisfying. You are not in a race (are you?), just enjoying the ride.In any case, what would happen if you had an "off", possibly hurt someone, the police check your vehicle to find your tyre pressures are below manufacturer's recommendation?
"Well, officer, I deliberately run with low pressure in winter. I've got this theory...".
Right or wrong, you won't get any sympathy in a court.
PV=nRT... Mechanical engineer in me kicking in here. V,n,R about constant => P1/P2= T1/T2.
56.7psi/74.7psi = .759 = 265K/T2 => Would require operating temp of ~350K or ~170F IIRC how this goes. So unless you were doing burnouts, definitely a gauge/operator problem.
I absolutely agree. Just a reminder for those not used to physics, temperature in the PV=nRT equation has T in absolute measure (Kelvin in this example). So twice 40F is NOT 80F, in spite of what a lot of weather forecasters say.
Things I'll try to remember from reading this thread:* Ride my own ride.
* Get a good tire gauge and use it often.
* Experiment with lowering tire pressure a few pounds before the twisties.
OC_Ed
I agree with the 1 and 2, not with 3.
A thought on the tire pressure, lf you checked them cold at 20 degrees last night and the ambient temp was ~ 45 degrees when you fell tire temp would have been ~ 85-90 degrees? (A guess). What difference in pressure would that make?
Absolute zero F is about -460F, so 20F is 480 absF, 85F is 545 absF, pressure will be up by 545/480. Start at (say) 40PSI cold, gives 45.4PSI hot.
You left a pretty good skidmark on the road.
Get yourself an ABS bike. It might just save your life.
Just my 2p (or 2c)'s worth -
Ride your own ride.
Make sure you can stop within the road you can see to be clear. I don't care how well you know the road, you don't know what's just round the corner. Practise "vanishing point" riding (but keep an eye on your speedo, it's too easy to go too fast for the law).
Anyone come up behind you - wave them by immediately. Otherwise youe find yuo don't want to give way later. Watch them in front of you, you may learn somethimg (good or bad).
Come up behind another rider - hang back until you get a clear opportunity to overtake. Never let them think you are racing. Use a classic "drop two gears, flash headlights, indicate and go". Give them a wave (NOT a finger).
Phew. Anyone who's read this far, congrats! Start the flames ...
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: 
