I was going to post this in the “PA sleds” thread but I don’t want to hijack that thread (I’m enjoying seeing everybody’s pics) so I’ll just share this here.

Hearing polxc5 talk about the guy smacking into the pressure ridge made me think back to when I had my Ninja. I had so many brushes with death on that thing that I began to rehearse collision scenarios in my head. I would picture exactly what I would do in a variety of situations just so I could react quicker if anything ever actually happened. I attribute this to why I am still alive today.

When I was in center city Allentown riding down a busy street doing about 50mph a woman in a minivan in the oncoming lane turned into my lane DIRECTLY in front of me (she later said that she never saw me). I had ZERO time to think but because I had played this scenario over in my head many times before I knew exactly what to do. Just as the bike impacted the front of the minivan I jumped (exactly as I had pictured in my mind), my forward momentum caused my legs to clip the windshield and started me somersaulting thru the air. After a looong flight I smacked the ground (I can still hear the crack my helmet made when my head hit the ground), tumbled a few times and immediately sprung to my feet and started cursing LOUDLY (adrenaline I guess) until some people made me lay down until the ambulance got there.

Totaled the bike but I only ended up with a screwed up knee and some scrapes and bruises. I can say with a great deal of certainty that had I not previously pictured this in my head that I would have just grabbed the brakes and met my maker.

The most useful application I have found for this while sledding is for going around blind corners. While going around a blind corner I always picture a sled rippin around the corner from the other direction (usually in the middle of the trail). This always keeps me way over on my side, very alert and ready to react!

Been there... done that! I wreck my R6 three summers ago. A lady tried to cross an intersection where she couldn't cross (she said she didn't see me). I had enough time to think this is how i'm going to die. It happened so fast that i couldn't react. I had a female on the back. It was nasty. I threw my shoulder into the back of the van and when i came to a stop I made sure my passenger was okay, luckly, she just had some pretty bad road rash. Next thing you know, a guy asks me if i want to put my bike out... it was blazin! Joe Rocket and Shoei saved my life. If i didn't have the kevlar gloves on I wouldn't have any hands and would be missing my face without the helmet. When I look back at the stupid things we did on our bikes I pray to god everday for being alive.

I've been wanting a bike for a while now. I know so many people that have got hurt or killed on bikes, I honestly don't know if it's worth it. Yeah some of them had brought it on themsleves by messing around and riding wrecklessly, but most of them were just minding their own business when a car or anther bike hit them. I always ride safe and I do know my limitations when I do get the urge to act up a little, but I still don't know if is worth riding a bike. A guy I work with just last week had a car pull out in front of him. He almost fell off and spun the bike out.

I know what you mean about the sleds on the wrong side of the trail. I always stay as far over as I can when going around corners and over hills. I've personally had a few close calls. I don't think we've ever had a day of riding when someone in our group said they almost got drilled by someone coming the other way that wasn't on the right side of the trail.

I've never had any close calls on the wheeler with other people yet, but we harldy see anyone where we ride.

I had bikes all my untill around the time I hit 20. One of my best friends was killed in about the same way these guys are talking about. He was just riding along and a woman in a van turned in front of him and wham, game over. He laid in the hospital for about a week until he passed away but his head injuries were to severe. I keep thinking about getting another one, I keep telling myself that I'm older and wiser now and won't ride like a fool but it's not so much what I do it's the idiots coming the other way.

yup no riding for me.
and I'm young, lol.

if the car that pulls out in front of you is speeding or blowing a stop sign you wouldn't always have the time to jump into the air avoiding the full impact...

I have ridden motorcycles for sometime now. This year I logged about 4500 miles and made no overnight trips. I just have come to the conclusion that many drivers out there just don't pay attention. I am in a vehicle about 35,000 miles and its amazing the idiots behind the wheel. I would say that I have more of a chance of being in a car accident than I do a motorcycle accident based soley on where I spend my time. I can recall many times where someone in a cage cut me off, pulled in front of me, etc. but for me riding a motorcycle is what I like to do and the risk of injury is reduced with the protective gear that I wear.

First question. WTF were you doing in Allentown. It's amazing you didn't have your wallet stolen when you were laying on the ground. I work in center city Allentown and I don't hang around long enough for anything to happen. Shootings occur daily !!!

I hear ya about the Kevlar gloves and the good helmet. Those were the only two pieces of protective gear I was wearing and I am REALLY glad I was.



I would never tell anyone they should or shouldn’t get a bike. It’s kinda like smoking, some people do it all their lives and get away with it and some people don’t. It’s a personal decision. Anything that’s that much fun usually has some risk/danger involved.



Right after high school a good friend of mine was killed when a car pulled out in front of him. It sucks! I am starting to wonder about these women in minivans?!?!?!



Wise choice, if you ride other stuff then you ain’t missin much.



Your right about the protective gear, it makes a big difference in your chances for survival and reducing injury.



I grew up in Macungie, which is right outside of Allentown. After high school I had two different apartments in town…VERY different actually. One was a brand new construction with cathedral ceilings, hot tub, fireplace, etc. The other was in center city on 7th street right in the center of town. I used to watch drug deals on the corner across the street almost every night…neat! Yeah, some parts of town are pretty scary. It wasn’t always like that. One of my brothers and one of my sisters each had apartments in town when I was still in grade school. I have some pretty fond memories of spending time at their places and the surrounding areas. I probably would not get out of my car in those same areas today…sad.