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2001Wednesday, July 11Dear VTwin Mama, My husband and I were riding down a rural road in our home area of Wisconsin on the 4th of July at 5pm, which is DAY light hours. And out of the tall (very tall) grass came a deer and jumped over my husbands bike. He slammed on the brakes, skidded about 35 feet and stopped. He was very lucky as this was about a 3 year old doe and she probably weighed 170 pounds. She leaped over the front of his bike, denting the front fender. He was able to straighten the fender and we continued our ride. Now to fix the bike is another story, $500.00 not too bad considering it could have been a lot worse. Someone was watching over us that day. I want to know how as a group of riders united, we can urge our local government to cut the grass on the sides of the roadways. We were at our Harley shop, they said it is horrible everywhere. They have complained too. Could you help us here in Wisconsin? Do you have any ins with politicians? Maybe insurance companies would be helpful. I want to know how as a group of riders united, we can urge our local government to cut the grass on the sides of the road ways. We were at our Harley shop, they said it is horrible every where. They have complained too. Please, if you have some way to help us here in Wisconsin, please do. Any help is appreciated. – Jo Ann Falash, VTwin Sister
Dear VTwin Sister, One interesting website that I found was AMA's State Watch page (http://www.ama-cycle.org/index.asp) where you can click on your state, see some basic info on the legislative session in your area, maybe get some pending bike business updates, but then you can click on your legislative site, find your reps and start making phone calls! If anyone reading this knows of what city, county or state department would handle dangerous road conditions and hazards, please let us know and please include a website address if you have one! – Mama Thursday, July 12Dear VTwin Mama, IN THE WIND........RIDE HARD & DIE FREE – Bo
Dear Bo, By the by, you can find your state ABATE site by going to http://www.abate.com and the Wisconsin chapter is at http://www.abatewis.org. – Mama Thursday, August 14 I was riding along feeling very pleased with myself yesterday evening when I felt an unmistakable jab in my arm. I pulled over and sure enough a yellow jacket had crawled inside my jacket sleeve. My husband says it's a rite of passage for bikers, and I'm wondering if I couldn't skip a few of these rites, but this was fairly minor compared to a crash. – Sarah (note from Mama: it just goes to show, ickie things happen sometimes. Glad the yellow jacket sting didn't cause a bigger problem while you were riding -- yes, rites of passage ARE a reality in our riding lifestyle -- so let's keep sharing information so that we can "learn" some of our lessons before they happen!) Tuesday, September 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, I rode down following my husband on his Roadstar Silverado. I was comfortable and confident and loving every minute of it. But this is not to say there was not a small incident with a very stupid turkey buzzard. We had only gone 17 miles when I saw that bird on the road. As my husband came up on it, he flew up on the guard rail. So, I slowed down just a little, kept to the right side of the lane and kept my eye on him. And sure enough he did exactly what I didn't want him to do. He takes off and is headed directly at me. I couldn't move over anymore more so all I did was honk my horn and waited for for the impact. He flew right into my left mirror and right into my left chest. That took my breath away for a second but when I looked back into my mirror he was still flying. It took me 3 miles to finally catch up with my husband and I told him I had to stop. So the first road I came to I stopped. I had to fix the mirror. He ask my what happened and I said a collision with that turkey buzzard. After a quick fix we were off and running again and the ride home was less eventful. I feel so good, because I reached my goal and it was the best time I've ever had. Thinking back to this time last year I was just a first year passenger. This year I'm a first year rider and survived the turkey buzzard. This was the first time I rode with my husband and even though he hasn't said much I think he is very proud of me. So, there you have it. Motorcycling couldn't get any better. Now I'm planning on next summers trips. Thanks, VTwin Mama for being there for a sister out there who rides. You have inspired us all. – Donna Dear
Donna, So there you have it . . . someone with 25 years of riding experience who still had to make the very same important judgment call that would result in the best possible ending. Whew! Meeting your riding goals thus far is an inspiration to us all! Happy planning for next year! – Mama Friday, December 3 Dear
VTwin Mama, On that note, I found a book review in the Seattle Times by Jim Downing. The title is, "The Great Betrayal: Fraud in Science" by Horace Freeland Judson. In the book Judson shows that the mechanisms in place to keep scientists "honest" does a "poor job of quality control." I thought this interesting in lieu of the fact that I discovered Dr. Goldstein contradicting Drs. Hurt, et al about their data. (Hurt is the one the insurance companies and safety people quote over and over again ad nauseam.) Goldstein is the one who asks whether you risk a head injury or a broken neck by a full-faced helmet. Anyway, I intend to get the book. Perhaps there is more to share. As far as animal impact, perhaps we need that Michelin Man suit to recover, or more realistically, dumb luck and some rider skills. I'm not going to trust that my helmet will "save" me. Again I wear a helmet, but I have no false sense of security in it. And if a bull moose or a large male elk is snorting at me along side the road, I sure will be glad I didn't have those ear plugs in to deter my next move. Thanks for your "ear." – Cecilia Dear
Cecilia, I admire your continued interest in digging through information that relates to the use (or lack thereof) of motorcycle helmets as it relates to injuries and fatalities and look forward to hearing if you discovered anything in the book you plan on reading. We know that there are no absolutes in anything we do, and what might lessen the severity of a crash, especially the uncertainly of meeting up with a critter, could instead introduce other consequences. That's a crap shoot IMHO . . . you are never going to be 100% prepared and covered for every eventuality . . . and have to make choices that make the best sense as an individual. – Mama Friday, April 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, My "dumb" question is: will they lurch out to strike you? Can they actually bite you if you get close? Have any of the other readers here had experiences with snakes on their rides? And if I had to run over one of the bigger ones, what can I expect? Also, I am still on my small bike, a Suzuki 125. I have almost 700 miles now. I can finally handle the curves with the speed I would in a car, sometimes more, sometimes less, just depends on the moment. I did scare myself the other day as a car popped up just as I entered the curve. I took my eyes off where I needed to go and focused on the car. So guess where I started heading. Well, I made it through the curve without wrecking, although for a moment I did not think I would. I have gone back to this road several times. I am determined to not let that incident happen again. Anyway, I really would appreciate all the voices/opinions on the snakes as this really bugs me. As I have mentioned before, I live in the Allegheny highland area of Virginia, in the country and almost 20 miles from town. So this is my riding turf. No interstates for me. – M. Wright Dear
M., Critters are always a concern when riding, whether they be your snakes or deer or anything else. This is where mastering the techniques of quick stops and controlled go-arounds come in handy. For your snakes on the road, yes, they realistically could strike out if you are going slow enough for them to do so, so make sure you have good riding boots on that extend up over your calf area, covered by heavy duty jeans or other riding pants. Anything that moves, critter-wise, has the potential for throwing you off balance on the bike. Either stop if you don't think the animal is going to move or slow down a lot so you can go around with control. Of course, this is not perfect advice as animals move in directions that you cannot always predict (they don't always go off the road, but hang around to see what's coming at them), and therefore wearing good riding gear (jacket, gloves, helmets) is a must so that if you do have a spill, you've got some protection. Some readers swear by the deer whistles you can mount on a car or bike and can be found in auto parts shops. For many animals, shouting at them in a very loud and insistent voice can scare them out of your path. I did this on a lonely road in Arizona where I found two dingo dogs intent on eating carrion in the middle of two lanes. You can bet that I slowed down as quickly as possible (I was going about 80mph), started screaming at the top of my lungs and then decided to maintain a straight course as I felt it better to hit one straight on instead of hitting one while leaning for the go around (who knew which way they were going to move?!). That was my gut instinct and reaction and I only had seconds to make the decision. With this in mind, why not go to a safe practice area with plenty of room and work on your quick stops and you could also practice how to go around an object by placing something on the pavement and beginning to work on quickening up your ability to go around. I think you'll find that your confidence will increase with practice. – Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Jennifer, On the Dogs on Bikes site I found their links section which has several sites that offer pet carriers specific for doggies on motorcycles! Happy shopping! – Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
DW Wednesday, August 31 To DW who seeking solutions to take two dogs along on the ride: I just read DW's question about sidecars that will hold two big dogs. Since riding hack is a whole different experience compared to riding a two-wheeler, maybe DW would like to investigate trailer solutions as well. I have a friend whose wife is legally blind. When they tour together, they take her lab in a trailer towed behind the bike. Now, I'm not the type to use a trailer myself (I like to travel light), but I have a lot of friends who tow trailers to rallies (Kwik Kamps, homemade ones, you name it), and they find that after a few miles, they hardly notice the trailer. I think the difference between riding with a trailer and actually riding a sidecar rig would be worth considering. In light of the sheer amount of STUFF some people tow to rallies, I'm sure that two dogs could be accommodated! Happy riding, and thanks as usual! – Marina (note from Mama: an interesting alternative to explore!) Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Denise, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Annie, 10:35 a.m. update! Annie wrote in and noted that she is looking for pictures of "bikers" in riding gear, with their pet(s) and their motorcycle somewhere in the picture, digital format, at least 3"x5" (and I'll add at least 300 dpi for proper print publishing). Annie wants to publish the book, a calendar, and greeting cards by the end of 2006. Please include in your email with attached picture your name, pet's names, and mailing address for release form. Let's help out a fellow woman rider entrepreneur! – Mama Friday, June 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Debra, The site you mention for the trailer is under
construction, so links to see close-ups aren't working. I found another
site that looked totally pet-happy: Cool
Dog Motorcycle Trailers. I know there is more online, but will stop
shopping now ! –
Mama Monday, December 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, By the way, I love your site. – Jody from Kansas Dear
Jody, Critters and motorcycles definitely don't mix well out on the road, and you are wise to consider that reality in choosing your riding time. The best one can really do is to continue learning the exact handling characteristics of the motorcycle so that quick stop and evasive maneuvers are second nature should something leap out in front of you. Many people report that they truly learned a lot by going to MSF's Experienced RiderCourse. It's something to consider for the new year! – Mama Wednesday, April 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Patty, But how to enjoy riding again, now having your first "thing" happen? Let me ask you this . . . if this had happened in your car, you would be sad and feel awful, but you wouldn't stop driving. The difference in your feeling may be that a car is simply transportation while the motorcycle is your newly chosen "lifestyle." The other thing that may be happening mentally is that you now understand that riding a motorcycle does bring in events that are not always under our control, but can have dire consequences to us. What if you had seen the puppy in time and swerved? What if this had been a deer? What if this had been a driver coming out of a blind spot? It's difficult for a newer rider to have their first occurrence and more clearly realize what obstacles we face . .. it's a reality check. The key is to continue practicing your basic skills but also start considering that advance skills in obstacle avoidance/minimizing the impact is very necessary. When you are ready, consider signing up for the Experienced RiderCourse that the MSF offers. Here you will polish your skills even more, with quick stop and swerve moves that will build your confidence. If we know exactly how a motorcycle will respond to our "quick" commands, we build an even better understanding of defensive riding and how best to use our skills. So please, keep motoring on. I'm sure the puppy is in doggie heaven frolicking with my first dog Lady, who met a similar end when a truck that did not see her (my fault for not walking her on a leash that morning and she saw a bunny on the opposite side of the road). They are playing together in joy . . . so find your joy again as well. – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Rhonda, A rider's reaction is usually one of great surprise, and the brain cells may not be firing quickly enough . . . what I mean is, that the natural reaction is to grab front brake. Why? I think it has to do that we spend more time in our car cages and hitting the brakes is what we do. If we do this on the motorcycle, we set ourselves up for a dump. That's because if we execute a countersteer around the backside of an animal, the front brake application will make that countersteer lean "more," because a front brake tends to pull a rider down on the side they are leaning towards. Rear brake application in "surprise" would be better as it tends to keep a bike upright and the lean is more controlled. The problem here is that in "surprise," we may jam on the rear brake and send the back end of the bike into a sideways skid. I personally think you have a better chance, with smaller critters that is, by maintaining your straight line and take the hit as a "wobble curb." It's sort of like running over a curb in loose dirt or gravel; not pretty, but you've got more options if the bike is upright and straight to begin with. Now, larger animals such as dogs or deer is just never a fun proposition. I once was on an empty road and notice animals in the middle. I laid on the horn, yelled at the top of my lungs, gunned the throttle with the clutch pulled in, all while downshifting as fast but safely as possible. There was no guessing which way they would go, so I chose to maintain my course. I got lucky . . . one dingo doggie went one way, the other the other way. I kept going forward. I shook in my booties for about 20 miles after that, before I convinced myself it was ok to gather up speed again! Is it reasonable to hope that animals, in seeing your "maintained" pathway, that they can process your trajectory (i.e. line) down the road more clearly? I'm not sure, but that's the bet I feel more comfortable with. Of course, each incident is individual and why proper riding gear is so important. So, the next time you are going down a country road, take some time to think about an animal crossing in front of you. Imagine your reaction time and what you think you would be most comfortable doing. I'll simply add that normally your brain will have already registered if there is any traffic in the opposing lane, as you really don't want to add a cage hit on top of everything else. This is all IMHO. Certainly one can gain greater control of the situation if quick stop and countersteer moves are practiced. The MSF's Experienced RiderCourse (1/2 day) works on those skills . . . "Using your own motorcycle, you'll put into practice the techniques of managing traction, stopping quickly, cornering and swerving" . . . and may be something you wish to check into. – Mama Wednesday, May 30 For Rhonda who wants to know the best way to handle critters crossing roads: I had an instructor tell me that if they'll fit in a frying pan . . . hit 'em. You probably won't have any loss of control problem. With dogs, they tend to run on an angle from behind and have difficulty judging speed and direction changes, so if you slow down or speed up, it will confuse them. As for deer and other large animals -- I've had luck in leaning on the horn, they will usually head for cover rather than staying on course across the road. It's best to give moose and bison room. Stop way ahead and just wait until they leave the area. You can also try installing an air horn. – Chorister (note from Mama: ahhhh, an instructor with a sense of humor! Your doggie handling was the better advice than mine . . . I forgot this is the best way to deal with them. An air horn sounds like a good addition!) Tuesday, July 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Beginner Biker Babe, This deer avoidance article from Motorcycle Cruiser is worth reading on the subject so that you can practice and incorporate as many safety considerations as possible. – Mama Monday, September 3 Dear Petra, Please advise everyone to be very careful at night, even on the highway. And get to know the locations of you local wildlife. Up North, there are tons of raccoons everywhere, just waiting to make you go SPLAT! Love to All. – Mary Martin-Gay Dear
Mary, Yes, critter interference must always be taken seriously. The other night I was coming home from a ride and decided to stay on the Interstate rather than take the shorter back road run home as I know that's deep country road riding and the chances of critter encounters is much higher. Still, even on the Interstate, my eyes were casting left and right for any signs of movement. Even if you catch it though, some animals move so fast that you're left with few options. Thank you for the timely reminder though ... it's always good to review that we can't let our guard down. – Mama |
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