2 Things really

[The Mass]

Hi All,


Firstly, I really shouldn't be here today. At about 16:15pm yesterday I was trondling on my way home down the M4, and only the second time I have used the Blue Cow since having her new engine, when a really nice Mercedes SLK is flashing it lights at me and desperately trying to get my attentiion.
As I pull over, the lady driver is screaming at me and pointing at the hard shoulder, her window by this time wound right down, and she is literally hanging out of the car screaming at me to pull over, to which I did immediately.
She pulls in front of me, dives out of her, at this point I'm ready to either be punched in the mouth ro sworn at!
But NO, she grabs the back of my jacket and pulls at the illuminous waistcoat thing, that I thought I had put on over my jacket.
To my amazement I thought I had put this on properly when I left work, but no, one side of this bloody thing had been dangling on the left hand side of the bike, right next to the chain :shock: :shock:
In fact it had been caught by the chain a few times, as I discovered when I got home to show the wife. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
It had oil on it from where it had been lingering around the chain and sprocket, and quite a few little holes in the cloth where it had obviousley been trying its best to wrap itself around the chain and sprocket.

Lesson learnt, I am at peace with the world, and gave Mis SLK a huge hug, to which she replied that she was a biker, and it was exactly how her friend came of his bike.
She had literally got back from a long stay in South Africa and had not had a good day, and said that me coming off in front of her would have put the top on it.
I am so glad to be here today folks, I gave my kids and wife a huge hug when I got home.
The unfortunate part is I didn't manage to get this lady's name or address, to which I am forever greatful, as I could have quite easily died yesterday, as I could see myself on the opposite carriageway of the M4 - in bits.
As she went to get back into her car, it wouldn't start, she had no phone either, so she used mine.
I have since contacted whoever it was that she phoned on that number, and have arranged for a lovely bunch of flowers to be sent :thumbsup:

The illuminous jacket thing was thrown in the bin, a huge lesson learnt. It may be worth checking with someone before you take off that all your **** is together, and bits are not hanging off you.

And as most of you know, my luck recently has not been of the better kind. I am just hoping that this is the turning point.
So if you read this MOGS (Kev) then that 100mill that's sitting in some bank in Europe is mine this weekend :lol:

Sorry about the longevitiy of ths one folks, had to get the point across.

Mass

[Scoobs]

Phew!

[jonboy]

Well aren't you lucky! So glad you were stopped and a wonderfully magnanimous gesture viz the flowers.

Oh and what a pillock you are :lol: :wink: .


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[The Mass]

Well aren't you lucky! So glad you were stopped and a wonderfully magnanimous jesture viz the flowers.

Oh and what a pillock you are :lol: :wink: .


.

Cheers Jonboy

And I second that :roll: :roll:

[thor]

This thread has restored my faith in humanity somewhat!

Glad you are still here mate!

[wyrdness]

It must have been your luck day. I'm just relieved that we're reading a story with a happy ending.

[Halonic]

Its proof that, whilst fate currently wants to £*&% with your life, it doesnt actually want you dead.

Reassuring I suppose

[The Mass]

Very scarey thought!

You know, you get to think of the scenario that may have been.
And I was thinking, well...

One half of the waistcoat thing, was on me and under my Knox bag, so if it had managed to get onto the chain, it would have pulled me off the back and me and Blue Cow would have been sent down the M4 together.

Sorry folks..just thinking out loud..sorry!

Hey ho! still here...
:shock:

[hall13uk]

well done that cager lady 8)

[Balky001]

Scarey moments there Mass. Thanks goodness this lady was there to save you. I thought sending the flowers was a nice jesture - just one thing - did you leave her on the hard shoulder all alone after she'd used your phone :shock: :lol: Nice - only pulling your leg mate. :wink:

[Peter Henry]

Phew...You lucky SOB! BTW was she a bit of a looker mate? :wink:

[Balky001]

Phew...You lucky SOB! BTW was she a bit of a looker mate? :wink:

She had a Merc and rode a bike and just come back from South Africa so likely to have a tan. MAss, you sure you didn't do this on purpose :wink:

[rwoodcock01]

The Force was strong with you my friend! :wink:

Glad your ok and looks like a wee angel was keeping an eye on you.

The things we do to pull a lass :wink: :D :D

Cheers

Rich

[embee]

phew, close call and well done that lady!

I use long sleeved hi-vis so it stays on the jacket and it's obvious when you're riding that your sleeves are bright! :shock:

I remember reading reports of people having luggage and straps getting caught in the rear wheel and chain. I'm always very careful with bungees and prefer to have them attached to either the luggage or to each other so if one comes unhooked it can't fall into the wheel. :idea:

[chunkytfg]

What you went through is the exact reason that you should only wear railway approved hi vis vests. they have velcro rip tabs on the shoulder and sides so if it does get caught on something it will simply rip off.

[Biker Biggles]

You'll never be a fashion icon wearing all that Sam Browne stuff.It was the Fashion Police trying to tell you something. :D

[madmal]

bit of an extreme way to pull a young lady bro :D seriously though, glad you are ok. starfish tighter than a nats sphincter i bet :shock:

[ophic]

is there any way to recreate the appearance safely? 8)

[northwind]

What you went through is the exact reason that you should only wear railway approved hi vis vests. they have velcro rip tabs on the shoulder and sides so if it does get caught on something it will simply rip off.

This is true. Though the alternative is to put normal gear on right ;) Railway gear tends to be in orange, which is less visible on the road though.

[busasean]

This is true. Though the alternative is to put normal gear on right ;) Railway gear tends to be in orange, which is less visible on the road though.

but its ok cos trains just bounce off you when you're wearing them !

[Mogs]

So if you read this MOGS (Kev) then that 100mill that's sitting in some bank in Europe is mine this weekend :lol:

Your either the unluckiest guy I know - 'cause incidents keep happening to you or the luckiest - as you always scape through.

Hope you win mate.

[northwind]

but its ok cos trains just bounce off you when you're wearing them !

Nah, that's the hard hats that do that.

[chunkytfg]

What you went through is the exact reason that you should only wear railway approved hi vis vests. they have velcro rip tabs on the shoulder and sides so if it does get caught on something it will simply rip off.

This is true. Though the alternative is to put normal gear on right ;) Railway gear tends to be in orange, which is less visible on the road though.

Agreed but if you put it on correctly then have an accident and it gets caught on something ans you slide and breaks both your shoudlers as it rips off you'll have wished you'd got a set in orange with rip tabs :wink:

[northwind]

Show me an over the counter vest that'll damage a human in a slide... Especially a tabard type. Rip off's neccesary for workers around machines (ie, trains) because you get pulled into the big fast engine'o'death, not because the gear itself does you damage. They'll rip through in a moment, but a moment's enough to overbalance you under wheels or into a bit of plant- not enough to bother you if it snags while you're sliding.

Still, if you can find tear-off, yellow-and-flouro gear, that's going to be the absolute ideal.

[chunkytfg]

Show me an over the counter vest that'll damage a human in a slide... Especially a tabard type. Rip off's neccesary for workers around machines (ie, trains) because you get pulled into the big fast engine'o'death, not because the gear itself does you damage. They'll rip through in a moment, but a moment's enough to overbalance you under wheels or into a bit of plant- not enough to bother you if it snags while you're sliding.

Still, if you can find tear-off, yellow-and-flouro gear, that's going to be the absolute ideal.

okay fair enough i take your point but i have to ask...why is it you think that you have to have yellow hi viz and not orange? surely if yellow is so much easier to see then i would have yellow hivis stuff when working around trains?

[northwind]

I rarely wear either :) the reason railway use specifies orange is that orange gives much better visibility against neutral colours- trees, walls, rolling stock, gravel. (also used in the oil industry for the same reason)

Yellow gives better visibility in a more varied environment where you have brighter colours- orange hi vis isn't so hi viz if you're standing in front of a post office van. It also gives better visibility under direct electrical light than orange. Plus, studies show yellow has less camoflaguing effect while moving. (hi viz gear can disrupt edges, causing a camouflaging effect- the outlines are broken up and so the brain sees some bright colours, not a person with a jacket on)

[chunkytfg]

I rarely wear either :) the reason railway use specifies orange is that orange gives much better visibility against neutral colours- trees, walls, rolling stock, gravel. (also used in the oil industry for the same reason)

Yellow gives better visibility in a more varied environment where you have brighter colours- orange hi vis isn't so hi viz if you're standing in front of a post office van. It also gives better visibility under direct electrical light than orange. Plus, studies show yellow has less camoflaguing effect while moving. (hi viz gear can disrupt edges, causing a camouflaging effect- the outlines are broken up and so the brain sees some bright colours, not a person with a jacket on)

oh right!!...learn something new every day then

[northwind]

Tell me about it... My brother's a health and safety and it rubs off :roll: :D Still, at least that's information I can use, usually it's fascinating facts about fall arrest gear, working at heights... How the whole system's gone mad, basically. Someday I'll kill him for it...

[Ceri JC]

Next time someone nags me about not wearing hi-vis I'll cite your story as an "against" factor of wearing them. :wink:

Glad you're alright mate! :)