went down, ice

[0leman]

I went out to enjoy the beautiful weather here, no wind (been blowing for several days), sunshine, mid 60's temps.   Geared up with normal for me PPE, that is, FF helmet, gloves, mesh jacket, chaps over Kevlar jeans, hiker boots.   Decided to do one of my loops which would involve going thru one of CA vegetation inspection stations.  Wanted to know if they had a problem with me riding into their state.  No problem as it turned out. 

I was about 154 miles into this ride when I had a problem.   I was riding on a blacktopped logging narrow road, barely wide enough for two full size pickups to pass, no Hwy markings on it.  I was looking at  the forest that had some thinning done since the last time I rode this way.  Thinking they had done a good job (retired foresters do this sort of thing).  Not paying attention that the fact I was going up hill as much as I was. 

Rounding a right hand curve, I was suddenly on ice, 3" of ice, slippery wet ice (I did mention that is was in the 60's).  Next thing I know, I and being thrown off the right side, and slamming the ground.  Thankful for many years of marital arts preparing me for falls, this was as bad as it sounds.  I did slide a bit, but since I was on ice, no abrasions or road rash.

I get up, clear my head, and start thinking on get Valk on her feet.  I did the normal things like turning off ignition switch, and putting down the kick stand.  The tilt device did its thing and shut the engine off.  I start thinking, ain't know way I stand her up on ice,  if I start to lift her my feet are going to slide out.   Just when I decide to call home for help, a guy drives up in a low sports car.  He gets out and comes to help.  We exchange a few words, show him where to lift, but wasn't sure we could control the bike on the ice.  That's when two more show up.  They jump in, with in several minutes she up is and moving back to dry ground, like 6 yards back. 

Get her started and jockey her back and headed down hill.   Shut her down to check for damage.

I thank them for their help and not keeping "Social Distancing".   The sports car guy does a U-Turn and the other two keep going up.   

I do a quick check.  the only thing I see is wrong is the Hwy peg, which is twisted around a bit.  Wait till get down to flatter road to untwist it.  Rode the 30 plus miles back to town without problems.  Seem I got lucky as far as damage to bike. 

This morning, I don't notice anymore aches and pains than I normally feel.   I think my guarding angel who does work over time was watching over me.   Also of the parable about the guy who was sitting on his roof with a raging flood around him, who turned down three attempts to help him and kept saying "God will Provide for me".   I didn't turn down any help that was provided.

[scooperhsd]

Goes to show you that people are generally good about helping someone in trouble. Glad it worked out for you.

[Willow]

I'm glad you and the Valkyrie were largely unhurt.  Standing the Valk on ice would have been quite a challenge.

[Jess from VA]

Riding in hills and mountains, you always need to remember that ice may be in any (every) shady corners.

Not only is it not melted, but downhill water runoff is always contributing.

I couldn't find the Smokin' Joe pics of multiple Valks down on ice in the hills.

Glad you got some help.  On super slippery, it's hard enough to get yourself upright let alone a 900lb bike.  

[t-man403]

Awesome that all is good!

I've done the same as far as finding ice, so early in the season, I do my best to remember which back roads have the best exposure to the sun even if it isn't the most scenic. Even so, I managed to get into some iffy conditions last year at higher elevations as the sun just wasn't warm enough to melt the ice. Fortunately, made it thru without any problems.

[Valkorado]

Wow Oleman glad you're writing about this, it sure sounds like you were blessed by luck several times.  Those roads and conditions sound very similar to ours here.  31° right now with snow and freezing rain forecast on and off over the next week or so.  On numerous occasions in early spring and late fall I've come around a shaded corner and upon such a patch of ice of either the black or white variety.  Throw in some wildlife and I'll keep ya on your toes!

It's good you're feeling okay and your Valkyrie rides on.  Give it a day or two and you may feel the souvenir pains, that's how my rear ender whiplash worked last summer anyway.  I still have those souvenirs occasionally...

[3fan4life]

Glad that you and your Valk are still in good shape. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Glad you didn't get hurt or mess up the bike. This happened on a ride we  did I made it through the ice two of my friends did not. The worse damage was when my friend fell walking on the ice and hurt his hip bad . You are correct its a bitch picking up a heavy Valkyrie while standing on ice.

[old2soon]

      Damn man! Glad you didn't break anything. When I unloaded in Aug 16 besides my ankle the left road peg got twisted. Had to buy a heli coil kit to repair it. Like the Man from Colorado said-might be a day or two before the souvenir  wounds check in.  I did NOT Know my ankle was broke for sure til the next day even though it was Really swelled up. Again-glad yer relating this tale from yer first hand experience and Not reading a L E O report on what they Think happened. Thinkin here the ice May of helped with the longer slide.  Good to hear there are STILL Good Samaritans out and about.  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Joe, I believe that red one is the most upside down Valk I've ever seen.

Ouch. 

[Jersey mike]

Hey Oleman, glad to hear you made it through without injuries to you and the bike. Nice to see people help out a rider.



Joe, that’s a crazy photo and some terrible ice and on a bend also same as Oleman’s issue.

[da prez]

  Ice was a curse and a blessing.  Good you are O K. The bikes usually heal faster.

                                              da prez

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Joe, I believe that red one is the most upside down Valk I've ever seen.

Ouch. 

That was my friend Paul ( Wimp ) he didn't get hurt when his bike went out from under him. He was walking on the ice and fell it was pretty bad at one point we was going to call for a ambulance.

[..]

I believe Joe clenched his saddle hard and sucked the bike off the ground for a few yards.

[0leman]

Now a day and half after my great laydown.   No physical problems from the event.   Valk is doing OK also.  Did a once over on her yesterday.  Had to re-align the right Hwy peg as it was not where it should be.  No new scratches or dents.

I really thanked the 3 guys who came to help me.   It is strange as I have ridden that road several times in the last 7 years.   Never seen another vehicle on it.  Suddenly there was two vehicles within 5-7 minutes of the laydown.   Yes, I did thank the man upstairs for providing help.

[old2soon]

Now a day and half after my great laydown.   No physical problems from the event.   Valk is doing OK also.  Did a once over on her yesterday.  Had to re-align the right Hwy peg as it was not where it should be.  No new scratches or dents.

I really thanked the 3 guys who came to help me.   It is strange as I have ridden that road several times in the last 7 years.   Never seen another vehicle on it.  Suddenly there was two vehicles within 5-7 minutes of the laydown.   Yes, I did thank the man upstairs for providing help.

                         RIDE SAFE always and try too Not outrun yer Guardian Angel.

[Oss]

You may need a new gremlin bell

I keep my squashed one in my saddle bag from when I went down on ice a few years ago

Uphill switchback, should have known better like you I got lucky and got it up with help from
a driver, finished the ride and made it home sore but otherwise safe

North sides of hills always be ready for anything  There is a reason the double black diamond ski trails are all on the north sides of mountains

And you thought I rode slow in twisties before, it is even slower in early spring   

Hope Wimp is ok these days? Seem to remember reading he had some troubles

[Savago]

@0leman: glad to hear you made if fine, as it can happen with anyone of us.

Bikes can be easily replaced, the same is not true with our health.
 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I believe Joe clenched his saddle hard and sucked the bike off the ground for a few yards.

I went 75 plus yards before I realized I was on ice thought it was just wet road . Looked in mirror and saw the carnage behind me that was a bad day. Another group www.countryroads.org lost a few riders on this same road the day before when they hit the ice.

[MAD6Gun]

 Oleman glad you made it out unscathed. My brother and I went down on the Beartooth highway in WY a few years back during a snowstorm. Only damage to the bikes was I broke the right highway peg he broke the left. My wife hit her knee on the getoff but she recovered a few days later.

[0leman]

You may need a new gremlin bell

Oss, thanks for reminding me..  As soon as I saw your post, I had a flash back to seeing my right side gremlin bell laying in the ice.  Totally forgot about it.  Thankfully did have two bells.  May have to take a trip later in week to go see if its still there, of course stopping a ways from the ice.   

I believe Joe clenched his saddle hard and sucked the bike off the ground for a few yards.

I went 75 plus yards before I realized I was on ice thought it was just wet road . Looked in mirror and saw the carnage behind me that was a bad day. Another group www.countryroads.org lost a few riders on this same road the day before when they hit the ice.

Joe, thankfully only went about 5-8 yards into the ice area. 

To make it more difficult to stand Valk back up, it was also on a pretty good grade up hill.  Though it made it easier to roll her back to dry ground. 

[sheets]

. . . went down hard last summer on DR650. Wasn't ice, but a layer of dried leaves. Was leaving a business establishment . . . first gear idle speed . . . then cracked the throttle a bit to ascend a steep (10%?) driveway to get up to highway grade. Was in a wheel track left by four wheeled rigs. No sooner cracked the gas and I went down so fast and hard I thought I'd been struck by lightening - except it was mid summer. Went down on the left side - looked like Arte Johnson and his tricycle routine on Rowan & Matrin's Laugh In (circa`69 -`70). Feet still on pegs, hand on grips . . . on my left side with engine still running. Would have come out of it unscathed except I didn't realize the bike was still in gear with rear wheel turning at Idle speed. Pulled my left leg out and put my knee down to to wiggle free and upright the bike. Rear wheel made contact with pavement and bike scooted forward about three feet before I realized what was happening. I had boots and gloves, but was wearing shorts (summer temps 100*). When drive wheel made contact with pavement it took a couple layers of skin off my left knee before it dawned on me that I was still in gear. Didn't take me long to kill the motor. Hobbled around with a ugly scab for a couple weeks.  Some kind of oak tree. Leaves about the size of one's thumbnail. Layers of dried leathery like leaves was like riding on layers of wax paper. Seasonal hazards.   

[Chuckman]

Just glad to hear you are OK
that could have been a WHOLE lot worse

[..]

. . . went down hard last summer on DR650. Wasn't ice, but a layer of dried leaves. Was leaving a business establishment . . . first gear idle speed . . . then cracked the throttle a bit to ascend a steep (10%?) driveway to get up to highway grade. Was in a wheel track left by four wheeled rigs. No sooner cracked the gas and I went down so fast and hard I thought I'd been struck by lightening - except it was mid summer. Went down on the left side - looked like Arte Johnson and his tricycle routine on Rowan & Matrin's Laugh In (circa`69 -`70). Feet still on pegs, hand on grips . . . on my left side with engine still running. Would have come out of it unscathed except I didn't realize the bike was still in gear with rear wheel turning at Idle speed. Pulled my left leg out and put my knee down to to wiggle free and upright the bike. Rear wheel made contact with pavement and bike scooted forward about three feet before I realized what was happening. I had boots and gloves, but was wearing shorts (summer temps 100*). When drive wheel made contact with pavement it took a couple layers of skin off my left knee before it dawned on me that I was still in gear. Didn't take me long to kill the motor. Hobbled around with a ugly scab for a couple weeks.  Some kind of oak tree. Leaves about the size of one's thumbnail. Layers of dried leathery like leaves was like riding on layers of wax paper. Seasonal hazards.   

Pine needles will do the same when off road on a dual sport.

[0leman]

Pine needles will do the same when off road on a dual sport.

I ride when not "icy" in pine forest, mostly ponderosa pine.   In the fall there are lots of pine needles on the roads, plus cones.  One of the pine trees, sugar pine, drops cones that can be 10" inch long and 3-4" around.   (they hurt when dropping on ones head while in the trees).  One learns to watch out for them.   

I did return to the scene of the laydown.  The gremlin bell did not escape damage, found 10 pieces.  The area where Valk had laid down was clear of ice. I could have easily moved thru the area without touching ice.  Only takes a few days with our warm weather to melt the ice.  Just rode the road one week too early.   

[sheets]

Have cones in my neck of the woods also. The size of a large pineapple. Road hazards on Rte 299 & 96 certain time of the year.  Wouldn't want to take a hit by one mid-flight. Have been known to break windshields and dent car body parts. Don't know the specific pine tree (Gray?). Native to the region and climate zone - doesn't even make good firewood. Trees that fall along the highway stay there until cleared by road dept. Local folks don't waste their time making firewood from that particular tree. They make a helluva pine cone.   

[0leman]

Pine needles will do the same when off road on a dual sport.

I ride when not "icy" in pine forest, mostly ponderosa pine.   In the fall there are lots of pine needles on the roads, plus cones.  One of the pine trees, sugar pine, drops cones that can be 10" inch long and 3-4" around.   (they hurt when dropping on ones head while in the trees).  One learns to watch out for them.   

I did return to the scene of the laydown.  The gremlin bell did not escape damage, found 10 pieces.  The area where Valk had laid down was clear of ice. I could have easily moved thru the area without touching ice.  Only takes a few days with our warm weather to melt the ice.  Just rode the road one week too early.   

I believe that your are talking about Digger Pine.  They have rather large cones.  Those working in the woods around them tend to wear shoulder pads during the cone drop time.  Thankfully I never work around them.   

[sheets]

Given name of said tree . . . yes. A friend of mine is a forester. Tells me the common name is offensive to some elements of our society. So, in an attempt to be more specific and scientific I recalled my lesson in Dendrology.  About your recent mishap on ice and that gremlin bell, ten pieces? Just how big was that bell? 

[0leman]

About your recent mishap on ice and that gremlin bell, ten pieces? Just how big was that bell? 

The bell was what I would call a normal gremlin bell one would purchase from a vender.   It got run over several times.  lots of little pieces.         where it was found was on dry rough blacktop, ice had melted.   Been in the 60's since laydown.