Happened a while ago but...

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by DanAbnormal

I just didn't have the heart to say I'd failed again.

Ya daft bugger

[dizzyblonde]

Dan, crap happens. I've had a couple of near misses, one of them particularly early on in my biking career. I can still see the eyes of the woman in the car, that the green BMW over took and tried to wipe me out in the process, I can still feel the almost there feeling of the car on my knee, and my mirror wobbling.......thats four years on!

Take your own time and if you have to ride like Miss Daisy then do so. Its only natural for you feel like your nerves are shot, mine are just coming back after Septembers little bike/helmet/tarmac interface. All in good time my friend

i was involved in exacttlt the same scenario in may this year, travelling down the snake pass, approaching a tight right hand bend, an audi quattro came round the corner sideways in our lane, having just overtook 3 cars on the bend at speeds in excess of 100 mph, he forced us into the crash barriers, where my wife suffered lacerations and torn ligaments and i had to have knee surgery......this was my 1st accident in 26 years....the car driver drove off, but the 3 cars stopped and helped loads,...to cut it short...the police caught the driver an hour later, and are now prosecuting at the crown court!!!...my bike was written off, £1500 of clothing damaged...4 months of physio and a non existant life and ive just started riding again albeit against my docs advice...i can honestly sympathise with you m8, i too have wondered wether i should hang up the leathers,..yesterday i did 300 miles in wales, and every bend i was having panic flashbacks of a speeding red audi!!!...only u can decide whats best for you

dan all i will say is goodluck with whichever choice you make a near miss can bangle your head more than an off sometimes, i know this myself and have also asked the same questions, do whats right for you and be happy with your own choice
goodluck

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Sorry mate but I don't accept they are as inevitable as you make out. The third type of rider are those that use skill and knowledge to avoid being in a vulnerable situation in the first place. You didn't have to ride into a wall of spray without first being in a position to be sure there wasn't something on the other side, you took a chance and the dice didn't roll for you. Personally I'd rather not rely on luck to stay alive. I've spent the best part of the last twenty years picking people out of the road after their luck ran out, and only in an incredibly small minority of cases have a walked away thinking there was nothing they could have done to have avoided it happening. Yes I accept that can happen, and the OP is one of those potentially as something oncoming on a blind bend is everyones worst scenario, but don't please lie back and accept that **** happens.

Well I am not psychic and who said about blindly accepting whatever is coming at us and I didn't say or don't accept that sh.. happens. I was looking for a hazard in that wall of spray and was already tucked over to the left. Dan, Dizzy and Lee have seen the blind bend scenario, and there have been many other examples of near misses in these forums. Is there something else that they could have done other than to be somewhere else that day.
Sure we minimise our exposure to risk, but there are always going to be situations that despite our best intentions that are initially beyond our control <- ie the inevitable. It is what we do about it that set us apart and determines whether we live or die.

Dan, glad your okay matey, it's good that you feel you can get it off your chest here. I hadn't stepped on a big bike for 2 months until I got on a Blade on my Birthday for a test ride. Got back into the groove pretty quickly and was cornering how I used to, until I exited a bend and was met with a muddy NSL road, slippy as you like on the drive of the bike, nothing major, just an uncomfortable feeling. However much I enjoyed riding the bike that ride, it's not hard to admit, I realised why I really haven't been all that bothered about getting back on a bike.

Originally Posted by DanAbnormal

Nope, failed. AGAIN. I just didn't have the heart to say I'd failed again. Not sure I'll ever pass my car test. I'd probably get e helicopter licence before!!

It is not a nice experience that you went through and it does make you think about everything, what is most important to you. You are back on your bike now and you can keep trying for your car licence Dan, you will pass. What did you fail on before?

[DSGMATT]

Hi Dan,

just read this thread and can totally feel for your situation and why you took the time out. As a new rider myself one thing from your description stands out and possibly explains why you came out in one piece. You anticipated the road ahead and used your forward planning before you came into the incident. The outcome may have been much worse with our without the planning - but it sounds like you have been trained well and know how to ride safely and smoothly. As per the other comments if yout time is up - then that is what will happen - not to be flippant about the value of human existance but that is what surrounds us as a daily reminder that we are fragile creatures in a dangerous enviroment - roads or otherwise. As per my recent thread on losing a fellow biker friend - that has given me a sobre reminder to appreciate my other half and give 100% with my 11month old son - no matter how tired I am, how grouchy he is and how ****ed off with work I get!

Anyhow - glad to hear that you have got back in the saddle and that the experience will 'hone' your skills for the future.

Be Safe - Matt

Yep, there was a time where I would have gone round that bend (and have) with my knee on the deck at about 60. I guess being a little older and wiser has made me think that blind bends are not the place to be gambling with your life as you just never know what is around that corner. I failed because the instructor 'felt' that I wasn't ready!! WTF does that even mean. 8 minors and no major faults. I appealed but it was overruled as I had the chief examiner. Winkers!

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by MattCo

Well I am not psychic and who said about blindly accepting whatever is coming at us and I didn't say or don't accept that sh.. happens. I was looking for a hazard in that wall of spray and was already tucked over to the left. Dan, Dizzy and Lee have seen the blind bend scenario, and there have been many other examples of near misses in these forums. Is there something else that they could have done other than to be somewhere else that day.
Sure we minimise our exposure to risk, but there are always going to be situations that despite our best intentions that are initially beyond our control <- ie the inevitable. It is what we do about it that set us apart and determines whether we live or die.

I think I owe you a bit of an apology. Have just re read your original post and sussed that you were taking about two oncoming lorries where I had thought you were overtaking one, so SORRY mate.