there are only two kinds of riders

is how the saying goes; those who are going to crash and those who are
going to crash again.

yesterday i got to be the second kind again. It seems that every now
and then when i get a bit too smart for my own good nature finds a way
of gently putting me back in my place. ive been riding for about 12
years now on all kinds of different bikes, the last 6 years spent
riding around different countries and just got back to aus last year.
It had been quite a while since my last little accident, about 4 years
ago and more than 200,000kms. i like to think that ive stayed sunny
side up due to a mix of practice and dumb luck. Ive done a couple of
defensive riding courses and i stay sharp by getting out once a month
and doing low speed turns, tight cone weaves and emergency stops. Im
not sure how the dumb luck works except to say that id rather remain
dumb about it ;-)

yesterday i was on my way home after picking my gf up from work, it was
a hot enough day, but she was wearing jeans, riding jacket and good
shoes, no gloves. i was stupidly wearing boots, shorts and a t-shirt.
There's some backwards part of my brain that seems to think a trip to
the local shops is less dangerous than riding syd-melbourne. i came up
to a crossroads which had a turn left at any time lane, nice little
bend with no need to stop. eased on through it with just the littlest
bit of lean, and before i could even think a naughty word we were
tumbling on the asphalt.

there was a wide and long diesel spill starting from some ways back and
continuing for the next kilometer or so. i made sure my gf was ok (not
even a scratch) then picked up my bike and moved it off the road.
while we were there quite a few cars lost grip coming round the same
corner. i lost a bit of bark on the knee and elbows, but nothing
serious. The bike recovered ok. what makes it all the worse is
knowing that if id had my gear on i would have walked away unmarked.

We all know that the nature of accidents says you cant see them until
its too late, but most of us get a bit laid back eventually, especially
when mile roll by without event. i took off looking after the truck
that spilled the diesel, hoping to find him before my senses overtook
my rage, but there was an end to the trail, and no truck sitting there.
i'll be wearing my gloves/full jacket and jeans from now on like a
good boy, and i'll be getting a good pair of gloves for my gf too.
like a lot of you out there, ive seen plenty of other riders go down,
some never got up again.

id like to take this as a heads up from nature... i want to continue
being the second kind of rider.

 

You plan on crashing again??

Aido. >

 

Great to hear of your good fortune under the circumstances. Yeh, it's a
worry; I often wonder what it is that keeps me doing it.. some sort of
addiction.
Rockit

 

crashing is inevitable if you keep riding... the ones who dont crash
again are the ones who died. given those two choices i'd say that yes
Id rather be the second kind of rider and yes im planning on crashing
again. You're not planning on crashing?

shaun

 

Since you say that think crashing is inevitable you are extra stupid.

Anyone who not only rides without protective gear themselves but allows
someone they supposedly care about to travel pillion without adequate
protective gear needs their head read.

Moron.
Hope she ditches you.

 

Eh? Why do you have to wear protective gear if crashing isn't inevitable?

 

Cos it looks cool? Seriously who doesn't look good in leather?

 

Jimmy Barnes!

 

Jeans and Ugg boots are all you need, right Clem!

Boxer

 

Bloody born-again safety nazis...

 

No, hes just honest.

 

No; your "protection" needs to wear jeans and Uggs John!

 

Eh?
Not me mate! I was just playing Devil's avocado.
I'm still a shirtsleeves and sandshoes man, myself!

 

Yeah, a condom'll save ya !

JL
(as long as you don't ride bareback you'll be fine)

 

It wasn't aimed at you Clem. I think the safety nazis have wanted posters
with your picture on them...

 

I think that you can place me in the second group after writing off a
Katana a few years ago...no damage to me as I saw it coming but tried to
be too smart and paid the price...
Not sure about the second crash as I cant remember what happened but
have a bit of an idea...anyways, I am glad that I am one who likes to
'suit up' every time regardless of the distance...I was riding to work
one day and then two or three weeks later woke up in hospital with some
metal work...

cheers

col

 

Not to mention the fashion police for the Hawaiian shirts...

JL

 

Just because it's not inevitable doesn't mean it wont happen to you.
Crashing is not compulsory but not inevitable.

Theo

 

Not THAT poster, please.

Theo

 

I ditched my last Hawaian shirt in 1963. Later that decade I grew my hair
below my shoulders, got me some checked flares, some shirts with really long
collars, a pair of two-tone platform shoes, and a tie eight inches wide with
pictures of motorbikes on it.

Damn I was cool. Ma, Ma, Ma, My generation, yeah.

Theo