Don't ride tired...

[sharpmagna]

Well yesterday (Saturday), I spent 14 hours at work doing a migration that should have taken 4 hours. We got out around 2130 and my buddy was following me out to the highway. I stopped at the red light to make a left turn. Light turns green and I start making my left turn. I see the car stopped on the cross street start to go too so I ease off on the throttle and give it the horn since I have the green light. I hear a couple blasts of a horn behind me.

Well, all that is what I thought happened in my tired daze. What actually happened is that both directions had red lights. The cross street got the green light and I ran my red light. The horns I heard was my buddy behind me trying to warn me about the car and baffled on what the heck I was doing.

Well I'm all pumped up after I realized I could have been a pancake that night. I figure I'm wide awake at this point. I get home without any other incident and pull into the driveway. I set my bike down on the kickstand, and suddenly realize that I haven't put down the kickstand. Once leaned over too much, it ain't coming back up. So down it goes. Luckily I have engine guards or highway bars however you want to think about it. The guards also have highway pegs sticking out and I was able to slow down the fall to set it on the highway pegs. I got the bike up and on the kickstand, lock things up and call it a night. I check my phone and noticed I got 3 missed calls and a voicemail waiting. I guess my buddy got freaked out and just wanted to make sure I got home ok. I called him up and I have a good laugh and told him what I thought happened.

I just checked the bike out and I couldn't see any damage from the fall. Well I felt like a tool for those too stupid mistakes. I lucked out on both but the first one could have turned out REAL badly. I didn't think I was that tired, but obviously I was more tired than I thought I was.

[Veda]

Yikes! Glad you are okay. It's funny how our minds can play tricks on us.

[asiantay]

Jeez that's scary. Glad you made it out OK.

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

damn...glad you were spared, sorry to hear about the kickstand incident it's been known to happen.

[jstark47]

I've found the combo of tired and darkness don't work for me. Couple of weeks ago I didn't get much sleep, then did 12 hours at work in front of the computer (eye fatigue), then rode home after dark. Most of the ride home my equilibrium was trying to tell me the bike was doing slow rotations around its long axis, 'tho my eyes kept telling me the bike was upright - i.e. whenever there was a visible horizon.

[Shorts]

Gosh, glad you're ok. Being too tired pretty much leaves you the same condition as if you've had a couple drinks as far as hurting your reaction time and clear thinking.

Definitely an eye opener. Take care

[sharpmagna]

Yeah I remember a Mythbuster episode where they compared driving drunk and driving while tired and I think it was equally bad.

The 14 hours I spent were sitting in front of a computer with maybe a 30 minute break near the end of it all. It wasn't physically demanding, but the work fried my noodle pretty good. I had at least 4 cups of coffee during the whole thing so I was pretty jazzed up.

[CHVYPWR]

I ride tired alot working a swing shift. 12 or 16 hour shifts, then riding home in the morning darkness. After doing it for 6 years though, you learn to become aware of the fatigue and adjust to it.

[ofblong]

thus for me, since I work 3rd, if I am tired before I go to work I drive my cage. But so far I have only been tired 1x to where I didnt think I would be safe riding. I drove my cage tonight cause 50 degree weather coupled by 40 degree rain doesnt make for a fun ride. I like to ride cause its fun not to get drenched in freezing rain lol.

[cherokeepati]

My husband and I rode in our first group ride yesterday (for charity). We were all pumped and ready to go for the first three stops (poker ride) and rode through some wild mountain curves that took alot out of us. By the time we reached the top of Stone Mountain Park it started raining. We rode with the group of 35+ bikes back down the mountain and we broke off and headed home (another 1/2 hour ride). My husband on his Aero with the Voyager kit and full windshield fared well with the exception of his boots. Even our little Jack Russell stayed dry in the downpour. I rode my new C50C Suzuki (2nd time out on it) with a full face helmet and NO windshield in a nylon jacket. If I had put my windbreaker on under my jacket I could have saved myself alot of aggrevation. I found myself literally shaking in the arms from the cold and blowing rain. The wind was gusting really hard and there were no underpasses on those country backroads so... no time or place to stop.
After a warm shower and belly warming beverages we both agreed it was a great experience...but next time we see dark clouds and lightning put on rain gear! Total miles 105...not a lot, but it's a start.

Sharpmagna, glad you are o.k! Glad the lesson learned was not the hard way!!