Positive criticism only, please
- Thread starter nfbmp
- Start date
wv2wheel
Active Member
"back brake only" is an auto driving nature. Most braking on a bike is in the FRONT brake due to weight shift on the suspension but you should train yourself to use both. That said, anytime you hit your head you can have the kind of issue you had..perhaps a better helmet next time (not sure what you were using but many cruiser riders use woefully inadequate buckets just to satisfy the law instead of protect their brain). Glad you came out Ok.
Mad Dog Jim
Banned
I would love to be able to help. Unfortunately this is like an algebra problem with too many unknowns. I can tell you this much for certain. There is a perponderance of evidence that you were following too close. Some might say after a green light collision like this that people shouldn't stop in the middle of an intersection with a green light. But what if that motorist saw a problem ahead? example: a stroler rolling out into the roadway... He has to stop right? Under ANY circumstance, when we can't stop soon enough and make contact with the vehicle ahead of us, it's following too close.
Others have already commented on riding technique issues that I won't rehash.
I'm not a medical professional, and only a brain specialist could tell you if the collission was proximate cause to the bleed. I beleive with the information provided,,, probably since people brains don't normally just start bleeding.
If I were your wife (dude, that's odd to say) I would probably demand you pass an advanced course with flying colors at a bare minimum. Coupled with the approval or opinion of the doctor that a future such collission would not kill you. Wives are funny that way.
On the ETOH issue that someone previously caught onto; I'll bet if you had been drinking you would deny it. So, only you know that. If so, you probably wouldn't listed to someone close to you so take it from a total stranger. No alcohol at all if you ride again. Because next time the person with a brain bleed might be a little kid who was just standing there doing what kids do. ETOH plus Fatality = Vehicular Homicide and in most States its a 3 year minimum for the first time...
I hope you take all of this in a positive way. That's how it is meant. Ride safe!
Others have already commented on riding technique issues that I won't rehash.
I'm not a medical professional, and only a brain specialist could tell you if the collission was proximate cause to the bleed. I beleive with the information provided,,, probably since people brains don't normally just start bleeding.
If I were your wife (dude, that's odd to say) I would probably demand you pass an advanced course with flying colors at a bare minimum. Coupled with the approval or opinion of the doctor that a future such collission would not kill you. Wives are funny that way.
On the ETOH issue that someone previously caught onto; I'll bet if you had been drinking you would deny it. So, only you know that. If so, you probably wouldn't listed to someone close to you so take it from a total stranger. No alcohol at all if you ride again. Because next time the person with a brain bleed might be a little kid who was just standing there doing what kids do. ETOH plus Fatality = Vehicular Homicide and in most States its a 3 year minimum for the first time...
I hope you take all of this in a positive way. That's how it is meant. Ride safe!
bwalsh22
Junior Member
Only other thought I had, was what kind of helmet? Might make a comprimise to wear a better helmet if the one you were wearing was a novelty (not DOT approved) or even a full face with a bit more protection.
I can understand your wife's position though. I cardiac arrested at work, 2 years ago now, spent 4 days in ICU (2 of those days in a drug induced coma and a day of no memory from minute to minute, they had no idea if I would have permanent brain damage or not), scared her to death (I was only 31 at the time) and she still thinks about it from time to time. Thankfully she is still suppportive of me riding, and I am healthy as can be now.
I can understand your wife's position though. I cardiac arrested at work, 2 years ago now, spent 4 days in ICU (2 of those days in a drug induced coma and a day of no memory from minute to minute, they had no idea if I would have permanent brain damage or not), scared her to death (I was only 31 at the time) and she still thinks about it from time to time. Thankfully she is still suppportive of me riding, and I am healthy as can be now.
Can't really add too much to what's been said.
As almost everyone has emphasized, the main problem as I see it was the use of the rear brake only. The only time I DON'T use the front brake in tandem with the rear is in very slow speed maneuvering, like in a parking lot below 5 MPH.
Another question - you state, "and just before coming to a stop, I tip over to the left and hit my head." How exactly did this happen. Is it possible that in the heat of the moment, you forgot to put your left foot down on the pavement? As they will teach you in a rider's course, you need to practice maximum effort stops in an empty parking lot complete with downshifting to first gear and placing your left foot on the ground just before stopping. Practice it over and over until it becomes second nature.
Finally, as a previous poster said, 30 days after this incident is a LONG time. Go over everything that happened to you in those 30 days with your doctor - don't just assume it was this incident that caused it.
Please, let us know how everything turns out.
As almost everyone has emphasized, the main problem as I see it was the use of the rear brake only. The only time I DON'T use the front brake in tandem with the rear is in very slow speed maneuvering, like in a parking lot below 5 MPH.
Another question - you state, "and just before coming to a stop, I tip over to the left and hit my head." How exactly did this happen. Is it possible that in the heat of the moment, you forgot to put your left foot down on the pavement? As they will teach you in a rider's course, you need to practice maximum effort stops in an empty parking lot complete with downshifting to first gear and placing your left foot on the ground just before stopping. Practice it over and over until it becomes second nature.
Finally, as a previous poster said, 30 days after this incident is a LONG time. Go over everything that happened to you in those 30 days with your doctor - don't just assume it was this incident that caused it.
Please, let us know how everything turns out.
R_W_B
Senior Member
Yes a very good point (along with a sufficient following distance as BullDog said), that was something they taught us heavily in the rider's course was immediate braking techinics at a given point.
They made us go over it and over it until even the weak riders in the course got. And it stuck with me. I have had times where I could hear my rear tire sliding but my bike held straight because I had both brakes applied.
And obviously there are times when the front brake should not be used heavily (or even at all in some case) like loose sand, gravel or wet paint stripes. But these are minority variables. Again if you took a course pull out the manual and re read it. If you have not taken it, definitely take it before riding again.
I believe you can ride safe and enjoy your bike life. Hoping the best for you.
We all have had our moments of failed execution. The lucky ones live and learn from it.
From the way you have recounted the incident, you tipped over BEFORE your front wheel made contact with the other bike.
If you tipped over before impact occured then maybe this was because you lost balance due to looking down at the rear fender (target fixation) as you drew closer? You know what they say.... if you look down you'll go down....
brownfoxx1
Active Member
try only doing the 4-lane for a while. i had a guy right in front on my house get killed on a new harley. a 16 yr. old backed out right in front of him & he has no where to go. if the kid looked. the sun was right in his eyes.and with the bike being so quiet i know he never heard him. i was unhooking a trailer in my driveway100 ft. away. so i wear my helmet more now. especially at night. but i'm 95% a 4 lane guy where i can watch where people are at. am glad you survived.lb
maine-e-axe
Junior Member
Well you can tell the wife that you have proof you have a brain:small3d038::lolrolling