stevehaskew down :(

Well, I guess having not dropped the bike at all since I started in July, it was about time. I was riding home through Reading tonight, turning right at a largish roundabout (for those who know the area, I was coming East along Vastern Road and turning right underneath the main railway bridge) with two-lane exit. A bunch of pedestrians were crossing the exit, and they saw me in plenty of time, stopped crossing, leaving me a clear way...
Unfortunately, hidden behind the guys who were just finishing crossing, was a cyclist, with no lights, riding a diagonal line into my path. Bang.

Anyway, so I'm not sure what happened, whether I even had time to brake, but I dropped the bike. Magically I managed to stay on my feet, it seems. Can't really remember the exact details but I have no marks on my leathers, lid or gloves but my ankle hurts Hopefully just twisted or bruised. I guess I'll see in the morning.

As regards the bike, the right mirror and front indicator broke, plenty of fairing scuffs, and the bracket for the right footpeg and brake cylinder etc bent enough to shear the lower member. Managed to ride it home, but it felt a bit weird.

The oddest thing of all though... After all the friendly passers-by had helped me to get the bike out of the road, I noticed that the key wasn't in the ignition... Now I remember that when I came off, the dash lights were on.. Neutral, somehow, and oil warning because the engine had stopped. After checking and re-checking all my pockets, searching around etc, I concluded that someone nicked it whilst I was distracted! If I'd been with-it enough to turn the ignition off and take out the key, I would have put it in my pocket!
Thankfully my mate came out and then went and got me my spare key so I could ride home.

By the time the Police turned up, the cyclist had vanished, but some of the passers-by had stayed. Spent a while searching for my key, but nothing.

So overall, I'm annoyed with myself for not seeing the cyclist, the cyclist for not having lights and taking such a stupid shortcut, and whichever thieving scumbag took my key! I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow. I think I should probably get some sleep!

/

Sorry to hear this mate. I live a couple of miles away from there. I bet they are polish. No before anyone starts i'm not being racist. Hope everything gets sorted. So how come the cyclist rode off? Strange.

That's freaky... How did you know they were Polish? Not even joking, he really was! I think he was dazed... there's quite a possibility that I nutted him with my lid. He wouldn't have any insurance anyway, so there's no huge loss in not catching the guy. Plus the other guys said his front wheel was badly buckled, so not as if he got away undamaged either.

Come on you know how many of them there is in Readinski. Still he may have no insurance, but.... where there is blame, there is a claim. Dont get me wrong most of them are honsest hard working people but others just do not have a clue!

Originally Posted by stevehaskew

Well, I guess having not dropped the bike at all since I started in July, it was about time. I was riding home through Reading tonight, turning right at a largish roundabout (for those who know the area, I was coming East along Vastern Road and turning right underneath the main railway bridge) with two-lane exit. A bunch of pedestrians were crossing the exit, and they saw me in plenty of time, stopped crossing, leaving me a clear way...
Unfortunately, hidden behind the guys who were just finishing crossing, was a cyclist, with no lights, riding a diagonal line into my path. Bang.

Anyway, so I'm not sure what happened, whether I even had time to brake, but I dropped the bike. Magically I managed to stay on my feet, it seems. Can't really remember the exact details but I have no marks on my leathers, lid or gloves but my ankle hurts Hopefully just twisted or bruised. I guess I'll see in the morning.

As regards the bike, the right mirror and front indicator broke, plenty of fairing scuffs, and the bracket for the right footpeg and brake cylinder etc bent enough to shear the lower member. Managed to ride it home, but it felt a bit weird.

The oddest thing of all though... After all the friendly passers-by had helped me to get the bike out of the road, I noticed that the key wasn't in the ignition... Now I remember that when I came off, the dash lights were on.. Neutral, somehow, and oil warning because the engine had stopped. After checking and re-checking all my pockets, searching around etc, I concluded that someone nicked it whilst I was distracted! If I'd been with-it enough to turn the ignition off and take out the key, I would have put it in my pocket!
Thankfully my mate came out and then went and got me my spare key so I could ride home.

By the time the Police turned up, the cyclist had vanished, but some of the passers-by had stayed. Spent a while searching for my key, but nothing.

So overall, I'm annoyed with myself for not seeing the cyclist, the cyclist for not having lights and taking such a stupid shortcut, and whichever thieving scumbag took my key! I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow. I think I should probably get some sleep!

/

I might be able to sort you out on that one. Will have to go check in the pile of bits and pieces.

Sorry to hear about this, hope your ankle is ok.

sorry to hear about that, hope you get it all fixed up again soon!

Ow! Sorry to hear fella

Photo time...

Damaged hanger:



And the indicator and mirror:



Although the mirror itself is still intact. I tried to get photos of the scratches on my fairing, but the sun was in the wrong place so you couldn't see scratches, you could just see reflections of me. Some T-cut did wonders, though, and only the major scuffs are still there. And it's cracked around the indicator (some of which were there when I got it).

Well it could have been a lot worse. Alteast the bits that are damaged are fairly cheap. Although in my books that is a good excuse to buy some race rearsets....