[MikeAstringer]

TREE BRANCHES! I left home yesterday afternoon for an appointment. As I was accelerating on the 2 lane road that leaves my neighborhood (I was up to about 40 or 45) the car in front of me slammed on his brakes, eventually making a left turn, like he realized his turn was there at the last second. In a split second decision I decided I was going to pass him on the right shoulder rather than lock up the brakes. I saw that there was some overgrowth on the shoulder of the road but in the two seconds it took me to point in that direction it really didn't register fully. Believe me that it fully registered when I took several tree branches in the face!! As I was going only a short distance I was wearing a lid rather than the 3/4 helmet I normally wear.

Moral of the story. Tree branches to the face, head, neck and chest do not feel like Christmas morning!

 

[Aced It]

Ouch! That sucks dude. You okay?

 

[egold54]

OUCH

Had a cage do that to 2 weeks ago they made a sudden right turn, put the blinker on in the turn that helped yeah right. I make it a point to follow the 2-3 sec. rule still had to brake hard and go around him.

 

[MikeAstringer]

Ouch! That sucks dude. You okay?

I'm fine thanks. They weren't big thick branches more like overgrowth. Still hurt though!

 

[MikeAstringer]

OUCH

Had a cage do that to 2 weeks ago they made a sudden right turn, put the blinker on in the turn that helped yeah right. I make it a point to follow the 2-3 sec. rule still had to brake hard and go around him.

I'm thinking that every time someone does something in a car that puts us in danger their punsishment should be a ride on the back of our bike. Let them ride with us for a few hours and see how stupidity in a car puts us in danger!

 

[kacealraid]

That just makes too much sense. We can't have that Glad you're okay fellow VLXer.

 

[markspike]

TREE BRANCHES! I left home yesterday afternoon for an appointment. As I was accelerating on the 2 lane road that leaves my neighborhood (I was up to about 40 or 45) the car in front of me slammed on his brakes, eventually making a left turn, like he realized his turn was there at the last second. In a split second decision I decided I was going to pass him on the right shoulder rather than lock up the brakes. I saw that there was some overgrowth on the shoulder of the road but in the two seconds it took me to point in that direction it really didn't register fully. Believe me that it fully registered when I took several tree branches in the face!! As I was going only a short distance I was wearing a lid rather than the 3/4 helmet I normally wear.

Moral of the story. Tree branches to the face, head, neck and chest do not feel like Christmas morning!

Glad you weren't more torn up, but do you think you might have been following a bit too close? Or, perhaps, going a wee bit too fast not allowing assured braking distance?

 

[byggd]

Done that many times but usually on my WR .... with a chest protector on.

 

[MikeAstringer]

Glad you weren't more torn up, but do you think you might have been following a bit too close? Or, perhaps, going a wee bit too fast not allowing assured braking distance?

Absolutely. It however seems like more of a stop from acceloration. Does that make sense? I was going through the gears when this guy slammed on his breaks. It seems like more of a stop than if I were cruising.

Either way I probably should have had 2 car lengths instead of one between us.

 

[markspike]

Absolutely. It however seems like more of a stop from acceloration. Does that make sense? I was going through the gears when this guy slammed on his breaks. It seems like more of a stop than if I were cruising.

Either way I probably should have had 2 car lengths instead of one between us.

Indeed - give yourself plenty of room to make an emergency stop in the future. :wink:

 

[Honda Davidson]

Glad you faired well considering.

I've hit tumbleweeds here in the desert, doesn't matter if you a 2 second rule or not, winds are unpredictable. I almost think the wind does have a sense of cruel humor when it comes to that, always seems to push blowing objects in your general direction, whether your bobbing and weaving or going the straight and narrow.

 

[razor78016]

Branches still hit you with that big ole windshield? I'd figure it would stop it.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

OUCH!
Glad you did not suffer any serious injuries...
Another thing that can hurt worse than bugs are the rocks ad crapulenz that come off tires on the freeway!

 

[QueenBee]

Yikes..now that doesn't sound like fun. Glad you're okay!

 

[MikeAstringer]

Branches still hit you with that big ole windshield? I'd figure it would stop it.

My head an face are above the windshield. The branches that hit my neck and chest bounced off the windshield. :shock:

 

[O'Larry]

Somebody earlier said to leave a 2 second safety zone. Good thinking if it can be done! Around here, if you leave that kind of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you, some jacka$$/idiot/moron/spacecase/simpleton/texter/cellphoner/newspaperreader
will sqeeze their big butts into that area. They even make right and left hand turns from the center lane without looking. After all, they are much more important than anyone else in the world---BE CAREFUL OUT THERE PLEASE!

 

[markspike]

Somebody earlier said to leave a 2 second safety zone. Good thinking if it can be done! Around here, if you leave that kind of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you, some jacka$$/idiot/moron/spacecase/simpleton/texter/cellphoner/newspaperreader
will sqeeze their big butts into that area. They even make right and left hand turns from the center lane without looking. After all, they are much more important than anyone else in the world---BE CAREFUL OUT THERE PLEASE!

I hear ya, but one needs to be aware of ones surroundings at all times and it's best to leave yourself a safety zone regardless. If that zone includes anticipating some bonehead pulling in front of you, you still have the advantage. And, that's when having a loud horn helps (Stebel)....

Just my $.02....