Safety

[OldWrench]

I wonder how many of you commute or ride at night? I have had a few unnerving experiences that has caused this old guy to change some of his habits.
I commute five days a week about 45 miles each way, I leave at 5am and it’s obviously dark. I also live in a remote area just outside of Yosemite Park. This is the time of year when the deer go crazy, cattle get out through broken fences, and junk gets dropped in on the road. I have had several close calls with deer over the last couple of years, found cattle in the middle of the road, and this last one was someone dropped some of their firewood in the middle of the road. My friend his a cinder block that was laying in the middle of the road, fortunately he was in his car that morning, normally he rides as I do.

I have developed a practice now of making sure I’m following a car at about 300 feet, I will actually wait for one to come by and then tag along with it. I have figured that I would prefer them hit whatever is lurking on the roadway. Sometimes it is a bit of a pain following someone that may not drive as fast as I like but at least I’m lessoning my odds of hits something.

What do you folks think?

 

[joedrum]

my practice also ...there are still many dangers to this approach too but i think there less than other forms of riding ....having a cage run clearence is a good policy of good sence to me ...i like the cushion this type of riding affords.....gee i thought you were in ohio greg did you move

 

[backlander]

I try not to ride at night for those same reasons. I don't mend so quick anymore. A large owl butted heads with me one night at about sixty mph, he died, I had a headache and almost went over. Luckily I was wearing a full helmet. When I am caught at night I use the forward interference method also.

 

[Anonymous]

I try not to ride at night for those same reasons. I don't mend so quick anymore. A large owl butted heads with me one night at about sixty mph, he died, I had a headache and almost went over. Luckily I was wearing a full helmet. When I am caught at night I use the forward interference method also.

:smilie_happy: FABIO.!! :smilie_happy:

glad you did not get hurt too bad, my wife is asking if you have long hair

 

[backlander]

yeah it's down to my shoulders. I've got that kinda "old hippy" look with beard. It keeps the younger generation guessing. :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy:

 

[Anonymous]

:smilie_happy: Fabio (male model) became famous when he was riding on a roller coaster in the front car, on the main drop they ran into a goose got him right in the noggin :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy:

 

[backlander]

:smilie_happy: :smilie_happy:

 

[rock42]

as i am retired now and i have a practice of not riding at night and when i have to i ride a little slower than usual and fall behind cages if possible.

 

[Anonymous]

I rarely ride at night as well - this area is full of Deer and I have had a few close calls already, like the others i follow close to a car truck or anything else and always drive as carefully as possible when I stay out too late.

 

[mcgovern61]

I love riding at night! But deer are a problem around here too.

 

[cooltech]

I was caught out at night coming back from a ride had a close call with a herd of deer had my big driving lights on but they jumped out so when I'm out at dark I follow cages and slow down

 

[OldWrench]

One other issue we have is bear, mainly in the summer months and they just won't move, kind of like cattle.

Hitting an owl, now that would hurt, my wife almost hit a hawk (in the car) he was grabbing dinner off the road, a snake.

I gave up commuting on the bike when it rains, that just adds one too many potential dangers.

Really interesting responses.

 

[joedrum]

here the deer are like monsters compared to the ones i see in other places ...here in southern indiana there like i/2 the size of oldwings and you just dont want to hit them ...i have problems at night with cagers around here cause i ride slow at night trying to see them ... i hit one with a cage this yr ,,,the deer was so big it fliped the deer right over and on the roof of the car one bounce and then off the car never touched the windsheild ...i couldnt beleave how big it was ...im sure 300pounds plus some...

 

[dan filipi]

On your stretch of road there Joe I'd be watching for your daughter.
On my ride in the sidecar at the meet she came flying over the top of the hill!
Wooo nelly lol.

 

[AApple]

No deer around here to worry about after dark...just drunks....and texters....and the occasional Texas speed bump...

...and drunks...

 

[mcgovern61]

Those "save a deer" whistles do a great job around here of "calling the deer over" to the roadside!! :smilie_happy:

(Never seen them work at chasing them away)

 

[1burthabutt]

^ what he said! My late husband always said he fixed more vehicles that hit deer with deer whistles on them than without the whistles. Makes ya wonder....

 

[AApple]

:smilie_happy: :mrgreen: :smilie_happy:
Ya...seems like every one I see with those things on them have some kind of front end damage....

I've never lived around anyplace that had deer, so I wouldn't know. We have more issues with cows/buffalo where I'm from....and Texas speed bumps. In the spring, usually around dusk, you can run thru a horde of insects that will just about knock you off a bike....but no deer.

 

[mwbill37841]

her in tenn. it's a bugger with deer but cagers are worse.

 

[Wildwing]

Ditto that mwbill...a good friend of mine was hit Tues. by a driver who swerved across the double yellow lines into the carpool lane. Side swiped her and she went down. Then he kept on going, without even so much as a tap on the brakes. She 's doing well, with only scrapes and bruises. She wears good riding gear all the time and the car following her was giving her the proper space as not to run her over when she went down. https://www.ocregister.com/articles/moto ... html?pic=2

She was riding her CBR250 she uses to commute with, and fortunately not her brand new BMW800f-st. We just rode 890 miles on a three day trip to Sequoia on Sept 23. She is a good and safe rider, just goes to show "when you least expect it...expect it."