| Author | Message | ||
     Buewulf |
Being in a busy city like Houston, it is not rare for me to find myself unintentionally splitting a lane at 80mph in order to avoid being sideswiped by cars coming into my lane, and I've had to take to the emergency lane once to avoid getting sodomized by a large SUV whose driver failed to realize traffic had come to a halt and screeched literally within a quarter's width of the truck that I was previously stopped behind. (Don't forget to check your six!) However, the closest I have come to really biting it was this weekend while riding off-road on the Uly. I was sampling some newly found trails near a river close to where I live and enjoying the hell out of it. Beautiful day, no one else around... well, almost no one else around. I came up on an intersection with another trail as I rounded a corner, and any view to either side of the crossing trail was completely blocked by thick trees. I got that ominous feeling you sometimes get and braked pretty hard as I dared to on the silty surface as I came up to the crossroad, and I am very fortunate for that precaution. Right as I came to the intersection, a guy on a 4-wheeler comes flying about two feet OVER the front tire of the Uly.  I could have touched him. He was probably going 50mph or so. The guy looked to be focused on his landing, and his face gave no hint (I could see it VERY well) that he ever even saw me. The intersecting trail has a nice dip right before the intersection, and the rider clearly was aware of it and the flight it afforded to one willing to hit it balls to wall. He was the only person I had seen and would see all day out there. The odds of us both coming to that intersection at the same time must have been pretty astronomical. It is a testament that the odds are just that - odds. You never know when you have the winning (or losing) number. It is also a testament that four wheels makes you dumber no matter where you are driving.  | ||
| Portero72 |
I concur with the final sentence in your story. Glad you are ok! | ||
| Buellerxt |
Glad you are okay, Buewulf, and thanks for posting that. I've sent it around to my off-road motorcycle AND mountain bike family/friends. It is a good reminder to stay alert and use good judgment no matter where you are. Thanks. | ||
| Tootal |
 I hate ATV'S!! | ||
| Etennuly |
I have also been saved from possible serious injuries by that little voice that pops up now and again, for seemingly no reason, that has said "stop now", "turn now", and "get off-just let the bike go". I don't know where it comes from.....but it is good to have  . | ||
| Caddypat |
one should learn to always trust that little voice or feeling.it has saved my bacon many times. also it costs very little if its wrong. pat | ||
| Buewulf |
It is a good reminder to stay alert and use good judgment no matter where you are. True indeed. One stupid thing I did was leave my ear plugs in after leaving the slab. I should have taken the time to remove them, but I got lazy. When I find these little trails, they usually don't really lead anywhere, so most of the time I end up turning around to get back on the road within 5 minutes. I had just gotten into the habit of leaving them in with the presumption that I wasn't going to be in the dirt for long. I don't know if removing the ear plugs would have allowed me to hear the ATV over the thump of the Uly or not. Since we were approaching at 90 degrees, maybe. (I don't think I've ever heard an approach on angles much wider than that unless I was moving pretty slowly.) Regardless, I should have still had all my senses on full alert. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I hate ATV'S!! Anyone ever read "Monkey Butt?" Good discussion in there of why the ATV spelled doom for dirt bikes. Don't like 'em much myself, either... --Doc | ||
| Tootal |
Nothing against the ladies but most women believe their little angels are safer on four wheels and that is so not true. You can throw that two wheeler away but atv's will crush you! And yes, that little voice has told me to "Get away from the motorcycle!!" I've thrown my dirt bikes away several times. Almost threw an Electra Glide away in the rain when my front wheel locked up at 50 mph. Right as I was ready to throw it the wheel finally grabbed and the bike stood up! Whew!  | ||
| Buewulf |
Anyone ever read "Monkey Butt?" Good discussion in there of why the ATV spelled doom for dirt bikes. So what is the conclusion? I have not heard of "Monkey Butt", at least not in any form that can be read. |
