Interesting ride home (well, not that interesting really)

[stinkwheel]

I decided to leave my girlfriends house in York during daylight today for a change. Mainly because it was forecast to freeze and if you don't have to risk riding on ice, it's best not to.

Heading up the A1, all going great until we hit some of what I would call patchy light mist. Cue foglights all over the shop despite the better than 1 mile visability and everyones driving skills going out of the window.

Random dabbing of brakes by various people lead to the inevitable standing traffic. 15 miles of which I successfully filtered through despite the A2 sized photo frame strapped across the back seat.

About 30 miles from home, having just nearly come off on an even inches depth of mud strewn across the road (I was at the point of contemplating calling it in because it was beyond a joke) I saw some guy standing in the road flapping his arms about.

As I got closer I noticed a car in the ditch near him, and another one, and another one.

I stopped and got off the bike. Big car crash, six cars littering the sides of the road and the guy was trying to slow down any approaching traffic.

He seemed to be doing a good job so I parked the bike across the lane and gave him my reflective vest to wear.

I don't know what the hell they'd been up to because it is a straight bit of road but there were at least four cars with serious frontal damage, airbags deployed.

Went and checked all the cars. Two people were trapped in one of them but they were concious and talking coherantly with no apparent blood. Checked the emergency services had been called and checked everyone out of the others was more or less ok (they all said they were which is good enough for me).

I decided there were more than enough people milling and noone was in immediate need of first aid (that wasn't already being supplied such as hand-holding and reassurance) so in the interest of not adding the the melee I headed on my way.

Got about four miles down the road and the rear-end of the bike stepped out going round a corner at about 80mph. A total "fuckfuckfuckfuck!" moment with the whole thing crossed-up. Managed to pull the back end back in by biting the saddle firmly with my arse.

Couldn't see any signs of ice on the road, a quick shoogle of the bars confirmed that the back tyre was hell of a flat. It now being dark, I kept some speed up so I could make it to a nearby phone box (and therefore some light). I always find it amazing how well a modern bike tyre will stay up providing you keep it turning at a reasonable rate. Just don't try to lean round corners.

Well, big hole punched in the tyre, presumably from some of the debris off the crash (which was considerable in quantity).

Well I keep one of those stab-through bung sets under my seat and I was back on my way after 15 minutes. I can highly recommend them but three of the air cannisters only puts about 25psi into a sportsbike rear tyre.

Why post about it? Well I'm bored and I was interested in how a 2 hour journey managed to turn into a 5 hour one.

Oh aye, I think karma can go fuck itself. I stopped and checked everyone at that bloody accident, which I don't mind saying took a fair old walk because the cars were spread over a long distance.

Can anyone recommend a cheap flourescent vest that won't flap open at three figure speeds and isn't a Sam Browne belt?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ariel Badger]

Epics tend to develop like that, a butterfly flaps its wings in China and the world goes tits up.
Glad you played your part and lived.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[nick606]

I know there are some high vis jackets in jjb that have zips on. Only light, thin stuff as i guess its really for joggers. But i think there £15.

Well done for stopping and not crashing lol.

[Ichy]

Send me your address and size and a good old fashioned thin one with velcro is on its way, once England opens on the 3rd of Jan obviously.

[stinkwheel]

Thanks for the offer. It weas a velcro one I had, trouble is it just undoes and flaps about.

Ideally something zip or button up. I don't mind paying but I'm not paying a lot, they have a very finite lifetime when they're used on the back of a bike. Then they land up covered in an even layer of grime with the scotchbrite peeling off which kind of defeats the purpose of having one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[olionel]

ICON do some zippy tight fitty vests which I came across on the net.. they look rather ghay and are like £40 or something stupid..
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[CaNsA_old]

Stinky, I bought this from the market today. The bloke said to pick up the thin cheap one that i gave him 3quid for but i cunningly got the fleece lined, zip up one with pockets. They bloke had about 60quid off me for the rest of the gear.
If u want one let me know and ill ship it to u after chrimbo

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=54445
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Everyone is entitled to MY opinion

[st3v3]

Where abouts in york where ya?
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[stinkwheel]

[truslack]