GBarnes
Nov 12th, 2007, 2:20 pm
I've been a little busy lately and haven't spent much time here, but I figured it was time now.
On October 18th, on my way to work a little before eight in the morning, I hit an ice-covered bridge on Interstate 70. I was going about 85 when I saw the ice, 75 when I started to cross it, and probably 65 or so when I went down. The bridge was on a slight curve so, as soon as I saw the ice, I changed lines and pointed the bike straight. I disengaged the cruise control, but didn't brake or otherwise change anything.
I was about 75% of the way across the bridge and thought I was going to make it, when the back in of the bike slid a little to the left. I gently corrected, and had a very nice, flat-track style slide going, till I hit the dry asphalt at the end of the bridge. I think the bike was at about a 35 to 40 degree angle from straight when I hit the dry stuff.
The big beast jumped to the right, then left, then right, then left... Well, you get the idea. After about 4 or 5 rear-end swaps, we finally low sided on the left side. I slid along on the asphalt on my back for a ways, watching sparks fly from the LT as it did the same. Then something happened and I started to tumble.
I came to a stop, lying on my back in the right lane of the interstate. I had passed a few cars a mile or so back, so I was worried I might get run over. I felt OK, so I rolled onto my stomach. Everything still felt good, so I got up on my hands and knees. I looked and saw two cars approaching, one in each lane, so I stood up and walked the few feet to the right shoulder. I was amazed at two things. One was that I didn't feel any pain, anywhere. The other was that the cars barely slowed down as they continued on their way!
I crossed the Interstate, picking up my tank bag and both of my Garmin units, and kicking pieces of my windshield ahead of me. The LT came to rest in the median on her left side. She didn't look too bad, but I knew from experience that it was going to be one expensive fix!
About then a guy came running up and asked if I was OK. That was the first time that I really checked myself out: legs-OK, arms-OK, other parts-Ok. "Yeah", I said, "I'm fine". "Man", he said, "you better play the lottery today; you're one lucky SOB". It turns out he was in a tow truck up the road about 100 yards when I went down. He was trying to get across the Interstate to pick up an SUV that had rolled a couple of hours earlier, (after hitting the same ice I had). He had been watching his mirrors, looking for a break in traffic, when I came tumbling along.
A state trooper showed up a little while later, took my accident report, and gave me a citation for "excessive speed for conditions". What a pal!
A couple of friends came and got me and the LT and we took it to their shop near my home. The adjuster from Progressive showed up later that day and, after about 30 minutes of math, pronounced the bike a total. They gave me a check for $8,739.22 last Wednesday and the tow truck should show up to haul the bike away today.
A lot of my LD accessories had been donated, so I didn't have receipts to prove cost, so I just took everything off the bike and let them have it. I had considered keeping it for the $1,600 salvage value they eventually offered, but the damn thing had 180,000 miles on the bike, 70,000 on the engine,trans & clutch, and 100,000 on the FD.
Most of the bodywork had some kind of damage; there was a hole in the crankcase cover, the shifter was broken, the windshield operating mechanism was completely totaled, and the handle bars were bent down to the tupperware.
I'm not sure what I'll be doing for a bike just yet; I may wait until spring.
The Gear: I had been given a set of First Gear's new TPG clothing to "test" just 10 days before the accident. There is a large tear in the left hip area of the pants that you can see the Knox armour through. There is also a tear in the left shoulder-to-upper arm area. The back of the jacket and pants have "skid marks", (the real kind :)), but did not wear through. My two-year-old First Gear winter gloves stayed on and have some tears at the finger tips. My Nolan X-1000 (?), bought new in July, hardly has a scratch on it.
All in all, I cannot recommend the TPG gear highly enough! I have been wearing an Aerostitch Roadcrafter for 11 years, and, since this was my first high-speed get off, I don't know how the 'Stitch would have held up, but the TPG worked fantastically. I literally did not have a scratch on me and, other than sore shoulders for several weeks, I didn't even sustain any bruises.
So, ATGATT!
George
On October 18th, on my way to work a little before eight in the morning, I hit an ice-covered bridge on Interstate 70. I was going about 85 when I saw the ice, 75 when I started to cross it, and probably 65 or so when I went down. The bridge was on a slight curve so, as soon as I saw the ice, I changed lines and pointed the bike straight. I disengaged the cruise control, but didn't brake or otherwise change anything.
I was about 75% of the way across the bridge and thought I was going to make it, when the back in of the bike slid a little to the left. I gently corrected, and had a very nice, flat-track style slide going, till I hit the dry asphalt at the end of the bridge. I think the bike was at about a 35 to 40 degree angle from straight when I hit the dry stuff.
The big beast jumped to the right, then left, then right, then left... Well, you get the idea. After about 4 or 5 rear-end swaps, we finally low sided on the left side. I slid along on the asphalt on my back for a ways, watching sparks fly from the LT as it did the same. Then something happened and I started to tumble.
I came to a stop, lying on my back in the right lane of the interstate. I had passed a few cars a mile or so back, so I was worried I might get run over. I felt OK, so I rolled onto my stomach. Everything still felt good, so I got up on my hands and knees. I looked and saw two cars approaching, one in each lane, so I stood up and walked the few feet to the right shoulder. I was amazed at two things. One was that I didn't feel any pain, anywhere. The other was that the cars barely slowed down as they continued on their way!
I crossed the Interstate, picking up my tank bag and both of my Garmin units, and kicking pieces of my windshield ahead of me. The LT came to rest in the median on her left side. She didn't look too bad, but I knew from experience that it was going to be one expensive fix!
About then a guy came running up and asked if I was OK. That was the first time that I really checked myself out: legs-OK, arms-OK, other parts-Ok. "Yeah", I said, "I'm fine". "Man", he said, "you better play the lottery today; you're one lucky SOB". It turns out he was in a tow truck up the road about 100 yards when I went down. He was trying to get across the Interstate to pick up an SUV that had rolled a couple of hours earlier, (after hitting the same ice I had). He had been watching his mirrors, looking for a break in traffic, when I came tumbling along.
A state trooper showed up a little while later, took my accident report, and gave me a citation for "excessive speed for conditions". What a pal!
A couple of friends came and got me and the LT and we took it to their shop near my home. The adjuster from Progressive showed up later that day and, after about 30 minutes of math, pronounced the bike a total. They gave me a check for $8,739.22 last Wednesday and the tow truck should show up to haul the bike away today.
A lot of my LD accessories had been donated, so I didn't have receipts to prove cost, so I just took everything off the bike and let them have it. I had considered keeping it for the $1,600 salvage value they eventually offered, but the damn thing had 180,000 miles on the bike, 70,000 on the engine,trans & clutch, and 100,000 on the FD.
Most of the bodywork had some kind of damage; there was a hole in the crankcase cover, the shifter was broken, the windshield operating mechanism was completely totaled, and the handle bars were bent down to the tupperware.
I'm not sure what I'll be doing for a bike just yet; I may wait until spring.
The Gear: I had been given a set of First Gear's new TPG clothing to "test" just 10 days before the accident. There is a large tear in the left hip area of the pants that you can see the Knox armour through. There is also a tear in the left shoulder-to-upper arm area. The back of the jacket and pants have "skid marks", (the real kind :)), but did not wear through. My two-year-old First Gear winter gloves stayed on and have some tears at the finger tips. My Nolan X-1000 (?), bought new in July, hardly has a scratch on it.
All in all, I cannot recommend the TPG gear highly enough! I have been wearing an Aerostitch Roadcrafter for 11 years, and, since this was my first high-speed get off, I don't know how the 'Stitch would have held up, but the TPG worked fantastically. I literally did not have a scratch on me and, other than sore shoulders for several weeks, I didn't even sustain any bruises.
So, ATGATT!
George