getting knocked out of your limits

I've been riding my big R1100GS for about nine years now. I've tried to
ride conservatively, but I've also practiced fast maneuvers with things
like making snappy lane changes on otherwise empty roads. Years ago I
took one of HWMNBN's dirt riding classes, and that did add something to
my traction-control skills. About a year ago I replaced the shocks on my
bike, and then rode a similar loaner with flabby stockers and I could
tell the difference, which says something about how well I sense what
the bike does.

And while not riding, I've thought about riding and discussed it
occasionally on these newsgroups. (There's also that FAQ thing I
maintain.) I'm not an expert, but I'm ... pretty good, maybe. Much of
the discussion is about riding within your limits. Tonight I got pushed
past my limits, and I live to tell the tale.

For the past month or so I've been riding a long commute to work on that
road from hell, 101 in the SF Bay Area, and getting a lot of
lanesplitting practice in. Yesterday was a weird day: headwinds the
whole way and plenty of people doing maybe 60 in the left lane,
oblivious to the traffic they're blocking. Today was weird, too; more
than the usual number of people not permitting lanesplitters.

One car had been signalling to change lanes right from 1 to 2, but there
was no place to go, so I passed anyway. Did I sense the car steering
toward me? I dunno; maybe I accelerated, but it ended up trying to do
that cop maneuver on me: hit my left saddlebag, pushing me into the #2
lane. Unfortunately, the front of the bike kissed a pickup truck in the
#2 lane, which pushed my front wheel to the left. So my bike was going
in all kinds of directions; I don't remember the details. I was way the
hell out of my comfortable limits. I felt out of control, but I managed
to keep it upright. It was one of those Zen moments like when I'm
playing hockey and exactly the right movement happens without conscious
thought and I make the save. I made the save on this one...

I signalled left, pulled into the breakdown lane, and put the bike on
its side stand. The offending car followed me and parked. No one was
hurt and we agreed to exchange information. I'll inspect the bike fully
in daylight tomorrow.

I was taught that a turn signal is a request for permission to change
lanes. In this case it was a signal of intent to change lanes, so get
out of the way! Do I allow someone who's got their signal on for a while
to prevent me passing? Probably a toot of the horn or a flash of the
brights would have been appropriate.

But the fact remains that the car hit the back end of my bike with its
front fender. Clearly she did not look when making the change. Sigh.
Gotta watch out for the idiots.

(It will be interesting to read the responses from the "Skill alone will
save me from unforeseen events" crowd. I do not consider myself a highly
skilled rider. I'm pretty good ... maybe.)

 

Your years of experience and training obviously paid off. There's no
other way to explain it when unconscious acitvities take over and save
your axx, unless of course, your a bible-believing man and would care
to join the discussion on abortion in that other thread -

Living where lane splitting brings a reckless driving charge, I'd
probably have been a statistic if I were in your shoes.

Anyway, good post to remind us of the importance of practice for those
times when there's no time for conscious thought and the only thing
that matters is reflexes.

Greg

 

Oh yeah, I just wanted to add... I'll bet you just increased your
limit tonight.

Greg

 

Heh. Well, maybe I know now that my limit is further out than I thought
it was, which is a good thing... but but the cop fender-push maneuver is
still outside my limits. Safeword! Safeword! Where's the DM?! Safeword!
}: ) ;-)

 

I just tell them I'm gay and then they change their mind about
abortions ... retroactive ones, anyway.

Well, maybe not. The same thing coulda happened to a bike not
lanesplitting if some doof made a very bad lane change.

Yep ... and that mindfulness on the task at hand matters in setting up
for those kinds of situations. I shoudla...

 

Glad you and the "adventure" bike made it out relatively unscathed.
Adventure comes in all forms on all roads.

From what you've stated, she thought she had the right to put on the
signal and force the turn. However, if that was the case, she could
have waited until you were clear at least....I'm guessing she thought
you were a "clear space" in traffic and never saw you.

Maybe you should uncork that exhaust. ;^)

 

Heh, reminds me of a similar thing in downtown SD. Guy merged into my
lane without looking, so I hit the horn and he swerved back. At the
light, he yelled, "You didn't have to honk at me, I didn't SEE you!"

Which makes me wonder what he thinks horns are for...an audio flipoff?

--
barb
Chaplain, ARSCCwdne

buy my book!
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1198812

read my page! (thanks, R. Hill!)
http://www.xenu-directory.net/critics/graham1.html

 

Several things bother me about this story (some of my assumptions may not
be correct).

Lane splitting at 60 mph ??? Maybe legal but not wise or safe.

Following too close at 60 mph??? Not legal OR safe. Should have been at
least 3 car lengths in front of you.

Not "allowing" someone to change lanes in front of you ???? Stupid. What
are you going to gain by NOT "allowing" it.

Bottom line is: wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong attitude. Only
by the Grace of God are you alive today.

If you seriously think you are completely without fault in this story AND
you think your riding skill is what saved you, you'd better be sure your
affairs are in order 'cause you are going to end up being bug-splat sooner
or later.

 

There was half a mile or a mile of empty highway in front of these
clumps of cars and traffic was packed up behind them. Yes, they were
blocking traffic. Slower traffic is supposed to keep right; people
aren't supposed to impede the flow of traffic.

I did not make it clear that "Highway speeds" in this case meant 20 mph.
I don't split at 60. If I see some biker coming up behind me splitting
at that speed, I move over so he can pass.

Maybe you can explain how to slow down from 25 to 60.

Smartass.

 

I'm going to have to amend my post. This was at night. But all three of
my bike's headlights were on (low beams).

I've done that ... but it only works if they see you and pay attention.

 

Yep. That's where I erred. }: (

Thanks. :whew:

Her husband did most of the talking.

 

The driver said she'd been signaling the turn; I pointed out that she
should have looked and that since there was no room for her to change
lanes into, she should not have tried.

The learned wisdom is to watch out for empty spaces for people will try
to get into them. I'll emphasize watching out for people who have been
signaling.

 

I sometimes beep the horn while passing those who have obviously overlooked
leaving their turn signal flashing and have wished for a universally
understood hand sign I could use instead. I will begin using the one you
describe and hope that others will, too. Thanks!

 

No. I was not clear in my description. Traffic was moving at ~20 MPH; I
was doing ~25 mph. I do not lanesplit faster than ~40.

You misread my question. Let's say it's dense traffic moving at ~20 MPH
and I'm splitting at ~25. There's a car that wants to get over, but
there's no gap for it to get into. Should I wait for it to make the lane
change ... effectively riding between lanes at the same speed as the
traffic?

I don't fully agree with you assessment.

 

I've used it for years, but I'd guess that it has worked in less than
10% of the cases.

Rich, Urban Biker

 

IIRC, someone else said the California statute regarding lane splitting
reads something like "when safe to do so". IMHO, any speed above about 5
mph should be considered unsafe and I've heard that some CHIPs agree and
ticket for same. Haven't heard if they stick or not.

As opposed to what? Running up beside them, as you did, and getting KILLED
???
Not a prudent choice in my book.

No surprise there.

 

I don't think they have DSL in the Undiscovered Country.

 

MAN, were you lucky.

BEST!

Thumper

 

First and most important I am glad you are ok. From the sounds of it,
it could have been much worse.

I have no experience with lane splitting. It's not legal here, nor is
it a common practice. I do know if there is a vehicle in the adjacent
lane I am riding in, signaling an intent to change lanes, I give them
a pretty wide berth. Without an escape lane or route I wouldn't be
passing them.

That said it's too easy to second guess this kind of stuff. I am glad
you were able to keep it upright and didn't get hurt.

 

There's a lot this stupid redneck doesn't understand, like the
difference between "yesterday" and "today". I wonder who pissed in his
Cheerios yesterday and today; he's been unusually vindictive in his
posts. Maybe he's mad because he's not allowed to lanesplit.