| Author | Message | ||
     Fltwistygirl |
Was just enjoying running errands on the XT on this fine Colorado autumn day when I had an encounter with an RV that shot my blood pressure into the stratosphere. The set up: I was on my way back to the house riding on a two way highway that is frequently patrolled by CSP for aggressive driving. There are no turn lanes on this stretch of road, very small paved shoulder areas that become gravel shoulders, and a handful of Monday-Friday small businesses that are separated from the road by deep ditches. Some of these ditches have barbed wire fences in them. We've seen enough bad driving behavior on this road that we have forbidden our son from riding his bicycle on it...period. Anyway, I was following a northbound pickup truck at speed until I noticed brake lights and a left turn signal. Because of southbound traffic, he came to a complete stop. I immediately started flashing my brake lights and slowed to about five mph, keeping my eye on the mirrors which showed an RV pulling a trailer with a canoe that I had passed coming waaaaaaayy too fast behind me. I looked for my escape routes...the shoulder or the ditch....and took a deep breath. No sooner did I breathe before the RV started honking and honking. The jerk pilot was obviously not paying attention to the traffic in front of him. At that moment the pickup turned left and I got on the throttle. The RV was still honking but I was on my way and out of his. I got to the next light, which was amber, and stopped in the right turn lane. I gathered my heart from my throat and thought about giving him a new york hello, as he flew thru the then turned red light...but didn't. I was just glad Mr. twisty didn't have to come pull me and the bike out of the ditch...or worse. Be careful out there and pay attention because chances are others are not. B. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Yeow. Glad you survived that encounter. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Yeow. Glad you survived that encounter." Yea, no doubt, Hugh. I usually take a different route home because I feel the other route is safer but I chose today's route only because I had already been caught in stop and go traffic and I did not want to wait through another set of stop lights for my usual route. It was already getting warmer outside than I care to ride in. Rewind a couple years (back in that sauna known as Florida)and I would have been chomping at the bit for riding in 80 degree weather at 50% humidity in September. Go figure! Next time I will make a different route choice. I do regret not getting that guys tag number because I think him not paying attention and having to brake that hard because of inappropriate speed in that traffic definitely classifies as aggressive driving. And the red light running was the icing on the bad driving behavior cake. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I do regret not getting that guys tag number because I think him not paying attention and having to brake that hard because of inappropriate speed in that traffic definitely classifies as aggressive driving. And the red light running was the icing on the bad driving behavior cake. You've really got to wonder about the guy. I think most people would think "Holy crap- I almost killed somebody; I better slow down" but apparently he put the pedal right back on the floor and said "Ahh, screw that red light; I can get through before anybody hits me". WTF is wrong with people? | ||
| Smac |
Great save...glad you are safe & sound! Always keeping an eye on your rearview mirrors is great advice! | ||
| Motorbike |
Wow, that was close! Glad to hear you are alright. You certainly did all the right things, including having your bike in gear at the stop so you were ready to move at a moment's notice. I'm guessing that is something you have taught others to do as well. Take care. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
I do practice what I preach. Like other posts I have put up here- this was another textbook msf suggestion that was put into practice-and worked. May not work for everyone each time but my family and I are able to enjoy another dinner together tonight and for that I am grateful. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Food for thought, from an RV salesman (4 years and counting): There is NO licensing requirement for RV's. I'll let that sink in, as you think about the geriatrics who stagger up the steps and get behind the wheel of these 25,999 lb monsters. There is a "Class B" CDL that is *supposed* to be carried for anyone with a diesel with air brakes...but there's no enforcement. Not all RVers are ancient geriatrics who shouldn't even drive a Prius...but there's a large demographic out there. Some RVers are able-bodied, attentive, and (dare I say it) competent. But as a rule? Give them a wide berth, motorhomes and trailers alike. Physics is physics, and many drivers don't compute "I'm heavier so it will take me longer to...." when they're driving/towing. Many OTHER drivers also don't do that math - I had to tow a ton of campers last week to and from an industry show, behind my Dodge 2500. It never ceases to amaze me how many asshats will cut off an 8000 lb truck, towing a 10,000 lb trailer, then slam on the brakes. Good work on knowing your surroundings, though, and keeping your escape options open. I've found on the bike that gradual braking is key, giving room to accelerate back up before closing on the vehicle in front of me. I also have one of these permanently wired into ALL my bike's brake light circuits: http://www.able2products.com/update/11_1005_v1.htm | ||
| Etennuly |
To add a bit to what Ratbuell has stated, I recently joined the 'blue hair' bus drivers. I drive big trucks as a part of my business, so handling class A trucks has been in my resume for over twenty years. I have also transported many campers and driven literally thousands of box trucks. Now I have a class A motorhome. I have had a few fifth wheel campers and utility trailers, as well as a couple tow behind campers. I currently have a 5500 series truck for towing stuff. Having said that I can say, I have driven few vehicles that handle and brake as poorly as this class A motorhome(I feel that way about all but those on a real bus chassis). It only has 28,000 miles on it and the mechanicals are as good as new, with brand new Michelin tires even. It has a beautiful smooth ride, but don't toss it into a corner(in case of an emergency just go straight and hit something as slow as possible). The damn thing is 35 feet long, weighs in at about 16,000 pounds. It easily takes 20% longer to stop than my big truck(with a loaded trailer even). Most of these class A's have a one ton truck chassis under them with 16" tires and barely capable brakes. My point is that unless someone is driving wrecklessly, as B. has stated, these things can make a professional driver look and be sloppy while driving carefully. So don't complain if one of these things is driving five miles per hour under the speed limit and you are stuck behind them for a while. That probably just means someone knows what they are driving.  B., I'm glad to hear you were able to make him miss you. They really should have a safety course for driving motorhomes. I doubt most people read the manual for safe operation that comes with them!  | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
well heck maybe he didn't see you cause he was texting or reading a map on the iphone.. glad your still with us.. | ||
| Ourdee |
May have been a serial killer with a trailer full of bodies. You never know who you are about to salute/invite home. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Ourdee, you been watching to much of the bridge and sons of anarchy again! |
