Very true, the worst injuries I have sustained from motorcycle accidents have been in the low speed ones, busted my knee (got me kicked out of the Army) and busted two ribs.

I bought a bike this summer and I have to admit I was tense on the thing all summer. I've never wrecked but my first husband was killed on a bike, and I think I have a real fear of something happening to me. Funny thing is I am not scared of my new husband riding..wierd huh?

Any ideas to get over it?

Sorry for your previous loss, it appears that you are in fact on the right path, after such a tragic event, being able to get back on a bike is a MAJOR feat, just easing back into things, short rides to begin with, in less populated areas. Being alert is an understatement, but being afraid can be potentially hazardous for you

Keep riding.

Meh, not for me. If I can plot my trajectory, and know I'm not gonna hit anything, then it's just really tedium as I try not to sit on one spot for too long, as I'm sliding (when it gets too hot, move around a little).

My heart never races until after. I'm pretty graceful under pressure.

I would hope so, cause you ain't graceful any other time.

:lol

Twice ...

The first one a constant struggle in my head.

Could I have hit the throttle harder bumped over to the middle lane in front of the car next to me to avoid the cruiser coming out of the median at me?

Should I have had better braking skills? Would I have had a enough room to come to a stop without planting on the hood?

Would he have backed up had a I not pulled a street luge?

I chose to grab a handful of brake as a police cruiser came out of a median break. 3 lanes of traffic on the opposite side 3 lanes on my side. I'm in the left lane an my gf about 2 -3 car lengths ahead of me. She shifted to the right side of the left land and hit the throttle. I saw the car closing in and I grabbed the brakes not to hard but as I closed in on the car I hit the rear harder. I felt the rear end start to come out and I closed my eyes and let go. As I hit the pavement I picked up my head and tucked my hands and feet as I heard my helmet skidding. I looked down the street in front of me and the cruiser was backing back into the center of the median. I stood up and chased my bike down the street.

I managed to make it to my bike the officer and his "ride along" helped block traffic for us to get our bikes to a parking lot and told us they had to answer a shots fired call and left me. No accident report. No call to the supervisor to send another squad.

I broke a critical rule I knew nothing about. After the crash if you are sliding and you think you have stopped count to at least 30 before you stand up. My knee is still suspect I tore my meniscus.


I also bit it in deals gap less than 3 weeks later wearing a knee brace riding way above my skill level. I came into a corner too hot in the rain and hit the paint. Chose the side rather than going over and dislocated my shoulder...(hey I rode down the mountain in the rain :) lol)

In my head I will always be a beginner. There are times I still catch my breath and hold. I ride with great people who are very understanding and they just wait at the turns while I take my time. I can't say enough for placing yourself in this type of support group...or living in FL its easier to ride straight and flat with no elevation change :)

Don't even ask about me flipping my quad off the mountain ;)

I hate paint


I'm curious how many folks get the time slowdown effect and if they can successfully use it to save themselves from crashing.

I crashed once, but it wasn't my fault. I only had 350 miles on my tires, so they weren't scrubbed in. Remember folks, an hour or so with fine grit sandpaper goes a long way in crash prevention!

Also gravel. ALWAYS watch for gravel.

Ditto on gravel