1200 miles and still scared....

[Purple Princess]

I have been riding since 8/1/08 since I laid eyes on my "purple princess". I was really sacred in the beginning. Especially when someone when down in my class. He was okay but ...wooooww! So I have some buddies besides my husband to ride with. My friend from work has riden for 30 years.

Well, today on our ride not even 3 mintues from her house she lost control in a hairpin curve climbing down a winding hill here in TN. I had taken this road before when I was following my husband (also veteran 30 year rider). I knew to climb down in second and just take my time. I never expected to hear that awful sound. I heard my friends crash before I made my corner. But I knew to come in slow because God only knew what I would find around the bend. There she was laying in the road her bike on its side . ALL traffic up & down this tiny back road is now at a halt. The steep grade on this road was so steep none of us could get off our bikes to help her. Her turn signal laying in the road. Her jeans torn on her knee. I HATE to see this. I am soooooooooo scared of dropping, crashing ruining my beautiful bike. OR worse getting hurt real bad.

I am a mom of 3 boys , use(need) my hands to cut hair, allready have previous injuries from old car accident.., . So all these things run through my mind.

I was so thankful that my friend got up lifted her bike & removed herself out of the road. What a TROOPER!! We went for a 5 minute drive to see what damage she had to the bike. Its not bad. Somethings not right with her steering though. They will tow the bike to be fixed tomorrow. Her knee seemed to be the only injury. It really ripped the skin off & it swelled so fast & the brusing started within 1 hour.

I hate the saying ," It's not IF but when it happens." I pray I never go down.

Today was a real scare and eye opener. I guess it doesnt matter if you have ridden for 30 years or for 6 weeks. You can never be too careful, or responcible. You can Never get to comfortable or worst over confident. Hopefully I will always be the best and safest motorcycle rider I can be

[follow]

sorry to hear about your friend, I am glad it was minor...you were on the right path for and keeping a good distance and being observant in an area that needed it (more so because of the blind spot) keep up the good work, don't let this detour you use it as a learning experience.
Great job of perception.

[goodies]

Did she know what she had done or what had happened to lose control?

I am glad she is ok.

[MZ33]

Sounds like it was rough to see. I'm glad she wasn't seriously hurt, I'm glad no one else was hurt, and that you took pains to be careful.

Yeah, just yesterday I was cruising down the expressway, enjoying the feel of the road and the wind while simultaneously thinking, "I am out on two wheels at 70 mph. Coming off suddenly would be a disaster. And yet this is so fun! Psychologically, this is a weird place to be. But it is fun! But be careful." Over and over, simultaneously, it's a combination of "Wheeeee!" and "Be careful!" A very strange juxtaposition.

[kawgurl]

Yeah, just yesterday I was cruising down the expressway, enjoying the feel of the road and the wind while simultaneously thinking, "I am out on two wheels at 70 mph. Coming off suddenly would be a disaster. And yet this is so fun! Psychologically, this is a weird place to be. But it is fun! But be careful." Over and over, simultaneously, it's a combination of "Wheeeee!" and "Be careful!" A very strange juxtaposition.

Sorry to hear about your friend's crash, PP - I hope she will be okay.

MZ33 - I'm with you on this one - I can really freak myself out some days when I get to thinking too much about the "what if's" of riding. I think a certain amount of it is healthy - it keeps you alert and at the top of your senses - and I'm glad my mind can get rid of it just as quickly as it enters into it. But - I have been lucky enough to have not crashed, nor witnessed a crash during my 3 year riding career (touch wood).

[mazer]

Sorry your buddy dropped her bike. Hope she gets some armor for her future rides. ATGATT!

[Purple Princess]

Well, Thanks so much for the support in your replies. You guys are great!! To answer the one post, she says she felt oil under her wheel. So I guess thats how the loss of control happened. Me personally, I dont know. I didnt see anything , I mean NOTHING in the road. I am thinking maybe she was going to fast trying to keep up with the jerk in front of her & grabbed the front brake. It was a hairpin curve going down hill. I dont know. I saw her at work today. Her knee is swollen & has a HUGE bruise. The knee is numb and she is now feeling some pulled muscles. She is a tuff chick. She said I was more upset about it than her. I was. She told me about her last fall about 10 years ago. I think theres a part of her that is dangerous. She has played around on our rides a few times this summer. Things like driving hands free, putting her legs behind her on the passenger seat. So maybe it was just something that was bound to happen. I hope I will always remember to treat my bike with respect.

People at work were saying , after this you still wanna ride? Well , Hell Yeah!! I have another friend that was airlifted to a hospital & had her stomach muscle put on the leg she almost lost. I still went & took the course after visiting her in the hospital. I guess these things happen.
Thanks for your support girls!!

[mazer]

Purple, I love your last paragraph - thats the spirit!! We ride motorcycles, and especially in this day and age that is dangerous in and of itself - people dont look, they dont pay attention, they have bad attitudes, their heads are somewhere else, and they leave parts of their load or their trash in the roadway for us to try and navigate around.
We take all of this into consideration and we go out and play anyway.