Brown trousers moment

I did a very similar thing, while practising emergency stops a few minutes
before my test. Going slightly downhill, wet road, front locks up and slides
sideways. As you did, I stamped my right foot down, and somehow managed to
kick the bike back to vertical. If I'd dropped it, I'd probably have at
least shattered a mirror, and not been able to do the test.

As it was, I calmed down, rode to the test centre, and passed. Had a huge
bruise on my toe though, so the whole test ride was a very painful
experience.

 

Ice would be my thought.

 

I had one off on something that must have either been diesel or a ball
bearing spill. Going round a roundabout (by a petrol station) at about
20mph, and suddenly it felt like I was riding on ice. No braking, not much
lean, and the whole outfit went down like someone had pulled a carpet from
underneath it.

 

<checks juicy-looking worm for a hook>

Pah! I've hit a patch of diesel on a roundabout, the bike wiggled a bit
but I kept it from going over. Mind, it was on a 535 Virago and they
have such a low centre of gravity they hardly need sidestands. Feckin
weebles they are.

--
FZS600 - silver/black
GS125 - black/rust
'81 Bobtail - vaguely green
CAAD7 - black
LTS2 - blue, not black
OE6 + Quotefix

 

I'm glad you said (okay, wrote) that; I've personally not had any diesel
related "fun" on two wheels but recall an ex-police bike instructor
recounting a tale of watching a colleague lob a shiny new Pan across a
roundabout for no apparant reason which, upon investigation, had a small
lake of diesel on it.

I /have/, however, encountered the stuff whilst driving the car and it's
/fucking/ treacherous stuff -- like driving on ice.

If any of the nay-sayers have any doubts, just find yourselves a petrol
station forecourt, preferably one of the HGV lanes at a motorway services
and go for a walk across it when it's raining. Enjoy!
--
| Wik -UKRMHRC#10- 2003 R1150GSA -DC#1 -'FOT#0 'FOF #39 - BOD#12 BOB#12
|# You don't believe me | "Experience is the worst teacher.
|That the scenery | It always gives the test first
|Could be a cold-blooded killer. | and the instruction afterward."
***** human response from wik at blueyonder dot co dot uk *****

 

Wik wrote

Or:-

The first 50 yards out of the Dartford Tunnel toll booths.

 

I do.

I see you know as well.

 

Or at the actual pay windows... only just caught my bike from falling on me
there when my foot slipped.
The bloke in the booth looked at me like I was mentally retarded.

 

Prolly thought you wanted to give him money ;-)

 

Er, was that a sweeping generalisation or a joke... or have I been whooshed?

 

I'm possibly being whooshed, but this was before it was free for bikes.

 

Oh, OK, as you were then.

 

Well, I don't know about elsewhere but I'd say that in this (Bristol)
area this year the road salt has either been specially chosen for its
slippiness or it's holding an awful lot of general oil and rubber shit
from the roads in it when it deliquesces.

I've always been an all weather biker, this is my fourth winter on this
bike and I really don't recall it being this bad usually.

Either that or my rear shock needs replacing ;-)

Cheers,

 

And when did Bear *not* make up a story ?

 

Coming up the M5 about two weeks ago the salt seemed to be spraying up
more like water. Continual hammering noises, felt like I was in a
hailstorm.

Then I had the misfortune to encounter the spreader. Even in the
outside lane, as far away from it as possible, the size, height and
velocity of the rocks it was chucking out was quite incredible. I am
surprised nothing got smashed.

 

I've thought this winter is worse than I remember. Then again my rear
tyre is fucked.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

"Eeh, when I were a lad, we 'ad *proper* winters, not like the ones yer
get terday...".

You've been hanging around with Champ for too long.

 

Yes.

HTH.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip

Heh. mb, if you're Dutch, it's cool, everything's normal (normaal?),
carry on.

If you're not, come home. You've been there too long.

 

Ah, thought so.