How to do a stoppie

[jambo]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

But while I don't BLAME myself, I do take responsibility for it happening

A very healthy attitude to take Just because someone is clearly at fault and driving like a fool, doesn't mean you couldn't have done something not to be in their path when it happened. Some accidents are just going to happen. Sometimes there genuinely is almost nothing you can do, but most of the time if you look at it there was something you could have done to avoid the consequences of their actions.

Originally Posted by jambo

A very healthy attitude to take Just because someone is clearly at fault and driving like a fool, doesn't mean you couldn't have done something not to be in their path when it happened. Some accidents are just going to happen. Sometimes there genuinely is almost nothing you can do, but most of the time if you look at it there was something you could have done to avoid the consequences of their actions.

Couldn't agree more. With my one, it falls in the "nothing I could do" category. I was travelling at maybe 15mph (nice and slow filtering) and she pulled out about 10ft in front of me. Fortunately not hurt but bike was a wreck as it flipped up into the air, vertically standing on its front wheel, then dropped down onto its side, breaking just about every component, panel and sticky-out bit on the LHS. Although it was probably easily repairable, the cost of all the parts alone pushed it into the write-off zone.

Originally Posted by mastiffmat

Couldn't agree more. With my one, it falls in the "nothing I could do" category. I was travelling at maybe 15mph (nice and slow filtering) and she pulled out about 10ft in front of me. Fortunately not hurt but bike was a wreck as it flipped up into the air, vertically standing on its front wheel, then dropped down onto its side, breaking just about every component, panel and sticky-out bit on the LHS. Although it was probably easily repairable, the cost of all the parts alone pushed it into the write-off zone.

sounds like the makings of a track bike to me!

Originally Posted by downneck

sounds like the makings of a track bike to me!

Sadly the insurance company refused to let me keep it. Most annoying as I'm a bit of a spanner-twirler so could happily have got it back into shape.

I had one of my closest moments the other day. Yellow van (just to be different) decided to stop, turn right, stop, indicate... leaving me braking like a t**t.

I was seriously waying off how much the back of the van was gonna hurt, and if my neck would snap first or if I would get trapped underneath it. Anyway, after a lot of noisey skidding I stopped, sideways. I can honestly say I s**t myself.

Although I wasnt riding really up his ar*e I now realise that my stopping distance isnt that great. I was originally pleased with my ability to keep the bike upright but I have ridden like a new born kitten ever since. I am hoping I will get my confidence back soon as I am feeling more of a liability now then when I first passed my test..... 8 year ago!

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Although I wasnt riding really up his ar*e I now realise that my stopping distance isnt that great. I was originally pleased with my ability to keep the bike upright but I have ridden like a new born kitten ever since. I am hoping I will get my confidence back soon as I am feeling more of a liability now then when I first passed my test..... 8 year ago!

Scary... What I don't understand is why stopping distances are always quoted in terms of distance. My advanced instructor said it was stupid and offered a much better rule - 2 seconds "space" in dry conditions, 3 seconds in wet. Works at any speed and much easier to work out since you just count in your head when the car in front goes past a given point until when you pass the same point. Works every time.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Tomcat

I am hoping I will get my confidence back soon as I am feeling more of a liability now then when I first passed my test..... 8 year ago!

From experience (2 weeks/600 miles) I can say this.

Use this as a wake-up call to look at your riding.

Identify what you don't like or fear and go find somewhere quiet to practise.

For me it was Left turns and U-turns, did the U-Turns in a car park I happened to find myself in while looking at a house, the left turns was also to do with an uncertainty on how far I can lean on the SV - was trying to keep her too upright, forcing me wide (tho I did take the 1st major left turn from the pub on the way home from the SELKENT meet on Wednesday night like a TOTAL TW@ - thought I was going to hit the OPPOSITE kerb (I know why I did it tho - I have a nasty habit (that I thought I had broke) of absent-mindedly changing up gears - so I tried to do it in 6th )

Analysing both of my offs of the week, my observation rather than riding was at fault, so I am confident in my riding, and have stepped up my paranoia.

Might be worth doing a refresher day's training - some training places do a "back to biking" course which might be of use to you as a "I want to break bad habits" refresher even tho its really aimed at people who "used to ride, then had kids and stopped riding, but now that the kids ave left home and they are divorced they want to live through their mid-life crisis on a bike and pull young ladies again" (erm that went on a bit didn't it - brings to mind that old saying, why use 2 words when you can use 36 - the 2 words being Henry and Peter - tho not necessarily in that order :P )

Or there is IAM and/or Bikesafe

David

I like your more words then neccessary soulkiss, makes me laugh. Good advice. Just shaken me, in truth miles, miles, miles is always good for rebuilding it confidence as well.

Like the stoppping distance in time instead of .... distance (!) gonna use that from now on



Just thought I'd stick a pic of my bike in (because I have just learnt how to!) hope you like

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Tomcat

I like your more words then neccessary soulkiss

Laughter is always good

I see you got a bike in the second fastest colour - well never mind :P

David - stirring up THAT old discussion again - well its beenabout 3 days :P

its about style, dignity, class ...... black every time