Superstitious?

[Willow]

This morning I was heading down a road that had just transitioned to grooved pavement.  Crews in my area grind and groove the pavement in preparation for laying fresh asphalt.  As I rolled onto the groove I reminisced that it was grooving on this road I avoided fifteen years ago when I was impacted on 119th and went to the Medical Center and then to Critical Care.

As I was noticing that the dance of my Valk was a bit more than I had expected and I wouldn't want to do any extreme maneuver or stop on this pavement I noticed that care in front of me had come to a complete stop.  I braked as hard as I dared and for a moment thought I might impact the vehicle in front of me but I was able to guide the bike slightly left and came to rest without contact.  This was the fourth "near miss" this month.

I like to tell my friends that I don't hold to the validity of superstitions.  I don't but that reminds me that I need someone to gift Mama a gremlin bell for her new (to us) Interstate.

Pattern recognition was a significant part of my career work for forty or more years.  Fifteen years gone past, 2008, an old woman turned in front of me awarding me a trip by ambulance to the trauma center at Overland Park Regional.  Ten years ago, 2013, I blew a rear tire on the flyway, handled it improperly, and took a helicopter ride to the hospital in Topeka.  Five years ago, 2018, I was forced into the curb because of conflicting contact between two cages.  It was a low speed put down but the right mirror folded back and took a significant chunk from my right thumb mandating care and repair without admission at the Overland Park Regional Emergency Room.

Today it's 2023, five years since the last incident.  I've had four threateningly close incidents this month.  I have been having what presents itself as a precognition of my death by vehicle impact in the near future.  My uneasy self is wondering whether I should just walk away from motorcycle riding for the next four months.  I'm not sure I have that in me but then, I'm not sure that I really need to or that it would do any good.  I'm not superstitious but I also believe strongly that we have much less control than we believe over the events of our lives.

I apologize for burdening you with my unreasonable fears but it helps me to process.    

[3fan4life]

If that little voice is telling you not to ride for a little while then maybe you should listen to it.

I understand not wanting to but my experience has been that I usually regret not listening to that voice.



If not, At least be extra careful in your riding endeavors for awhile.

[Ice]

Carl,

Superstitious? Well, I guess all of us can be at some point in time, even as you said, I dont believe in it.
As for your report of four near misses, well that tells me that you are doing something right, as they are near misses and not hits. Meaning that you are reacting correctly to the situation at hand or have been very lucky, and I dont believe in luck much either, on occasion maybe.
If I were to have decided due to the near misses I have had in my wonderful life on two wheels that I needed to put up the spurs for a bit, I am sure I would no longer be riding. I can say that unlike you I have had good fortune of not have too many get offs on my bike, a couple or so and two that garnered some respect for a while.
I believe that memory has a lot to do with how we perceive a situation and, in your case, you’re in the same areas with similar situations that remind you of unfortunate times when you had a ride to the hospital. Does that mean death is imminent if you keep riding? I cannot say, however I believe with the sport we chose to partake in, death is always a companion we may have to face.
Riding a motorcycle is always fraught with danger, and I could never, nor would I ever tell someone that they should keep or stop riding due to a feeling they have, no matter what they call it, superstition, premonition, bad juju, or whatever, however I do believe that we must face our fears and continue head on.
Good luck in whatever you decide, a four month hiatus or just keep trucking. I know what my choice would be and is.

[Oldfishguy]

Well, how do you feel otherwise?  Is your balance off?  Is your peripheral vision still strong?  Is your physical strength still strong? 

Are they superstitions, or your body telling you something? 

I have a belief in the super natural . . . but I also believe in the natural order of things.

[Bret SD]

IDK Carl, for about two or three weeks prior to my accident I had similar premonitions. Whether or not that had anything to do with what happened I can't say.

I've had plenty of time to sit and reflect on events leading up to the accident. Due to working much more I haven't been riding as much, I get rusty.. Not to the extreme but I definitely feel the difference. Sleep was terrible for about 4 days prior to it.
When it happened the time was around 5:00 p.m. On Friday, overcast Skies and fading light didn't help as I was facing toward the east and couldn't see any problem. 2 days ago I went to look at the site and found a patch of sand right where I went down.. I couldn't figure out why my Valkyrie didn't stay in a slide, looking at the left side of the bike there was no evidence that I made it into a full slide. What happened was the rear tire broke loose and I was power sliding for a brief moment, when the tire hit sticky pavement it launched me about 15 ft through the air. The impact on my groin was so severe I was knocked silly and have no recollection of being airborne. All I remember is the noise of my helmet hitting the pavement and staring up at the sky while laying flat on my back. Luckily the helmet did its job and I ended up with a bloody face but no broken skull. The impact was on my right side, crushing the ribs and snapping clavicle and scapula bones like they weren't there.. I tried to sit up to get my bearings but could not move. All I could feel was the broken scapula, it still feels like somebody is behind me poking a spear into my back. Pain is getting better but it's far from over.

My accident could have been prevented by going slower, I'm not sure what that means when thinking about the premonitions I was having. Maybe they were warnings of a coming bad decision?

I've decided to take my time and fix the Valkyrie, the experience will be cathartic I believe. My pseudo wife will not get on the back of the bike anymore. I'm being pressured by nearly every loved one to give up riding, at this point I won't make any decisions.

Good luck with yours, maybe pray on it? I too have much to unwind.

[Oss]

 I take it day by day

There have been days (not often) when I gear up take the bike out of the garage and then change my mind about riding to work.

When its a fun event that has not happened, yet

but if it does I will just do what the voice says to do

Hope you always have misses and not hits, it hurts a lot less

[f6john]

I have no advise as I think everyone’s experiences differ. I can say I have seen a decidedly negative change in the driving public in general over the past 20 years for sure. I value my remaining time on earth so every time I head out, on the bike particularly, I try to concentrate on defensive operation. Depending on traffic conditions that can be very taxing and not 100% enjoyable but I’m thinking necessary. You have way more miles and hours in the saddle than I do so let your experience be your guide. I had a self induced 8 year riding drought so I know 4 months is survivable!

[Jess from VA]

Laying off for a while might be helpful.

I think more helpful might be choosing some shorter rides that are easier, less traffic, better roads, good weather, and a good breakfast etc., and not dwelling on premonition, but instead riding conservatively and concentrating on simply being a good safe rider.  Like taking yourself back to school.  Practice is always good for perishable skills, and also builds confidence.

Since my little slam bang (no injury) spill this Spring (first in the road since the 70s), I've done this very thing.  I like to think I've lost none of my riding skills, but at 70 I'm not quite as quick in my reaction times as I used to be.  So I'm trying to ride so I don't need quick reaction times.... or at least less so than normal.  Taking the slow(er) scenic routes and trying to lay off the throttle.  And head always on a swivel watching the other guys.

I never shop on my bikes.  Too much traffic and crowded parking lots and careless drivers, and I don't leave my bike in lots (for longer than 3-4 minutes).  I shop in the truck. 

[Willow]

...
I never shop on my bikes.  Too much traffic and crowded parking lots and careless drivers, and I don't leave my bike in lots (for longer than 3-4 minutes).  I shop in the truck. 

LOL, Jess.  I'm a PMT rider.  I shop on my bikes.  My common assessment is if you can wrap a bungee around it you can carry it on the bike.

I do have a word for the rest of you but I don't think it's acceptable on this board.   

Thank you for the advice (all of you).  I generally make my own decisions and I am really poor at taking advice.   

It'll be good to find I was wrong or that I was right.   

[Jess from VA]

I had to look up PMT, and it said premenstrual tension.   

[Willow]

I had to look up PMT, and it said premenstrual tension.   

LOL!  Primary Means of Transportation.   

[Chrisj CMA]

Ok Carl. I’m fully aware that I don’t know you well enough to direct this directly towards you. However, it is in my estimation relevant to me and to you and to anyone getting to the age we more so you are. There comes a time that it is irrational to continue riding a motorcycle. Reaction times slow. Balance is degraded, everything about riding is already more dangerous but where is that line? I’m not sure where it is but it’s out there somewhere.

I always said I would never get a trike when the time comes. I’d get a sport car. Well I went there a little early for other reasons and I can tell you if someone bought the Cobra bike tomorrow I’d miss it and miss riding just as I miss other things I did in my youth. But, the sport car definitely fills the space.

You are getting nearer to that line. Don’t be so stubborn or hard headed that you make dumb decisions.

Ok off my soapbox.

[Moonshot_1]

You had 4 near misses this month. A less seasoned rider would have not missed the first time.

When the time runs out on us it runs out. No one makes it out alive.

Reminds me of a story.

You go to a cemetery and look at the grave stones.

You see the name of the person, maybe a spouse.
You see the day they were born and the day they died.

What most people never notice is the little dash between the birth date and the date of death.

That little dash is their life.

Get out there and dash around.

[Oldfishguy]

...

I do have a word for the rest of you but I don't think it's acceptable on this board.   

Thank you for the advice (all of you).  I generally make my own decisions and I am really poor at taking advice.   

It'll be good to find I was wrong or that I was right.   

Funny, but thank you for putting it out there.  It would be fare to say most of us above a certain age feel it at time to time.  If you don’t, you’re not listening.  When you’re young, one feels they are invincible. As we age and see things and experience them, we all know better.  Have courage, but trust your gut instincts.

What helps me is riding courses I do every year, and have for about ten years now.  The State puts on these courses and escalate as one’s skills improve.  (There are plenty of private industry courses as well.) So every year one picks up where you left off the year prior.  Just 6-8 hour one day courses.  The speed increases and the difficulty increases through the years. The first hour one just tries to warm up and get back up to speed with the machine.  And every year I learn something; a good instructor will point out some stupid habit from decades prior. 

These are fun days on the bike.  I look forward to them every spring . . . but yet, they scare the hell out of me. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I don’t hold the validity of superstitions either. I do hope one of your friends picks up on what you are putting down, and has a bell in the mail by now. (No sense in tempting fate) 

[Willow]

I don’t hold the validity of superstitions either. I do hope one of your friends picks up on what you are putting down, and has a bell in the mail by now. (No sense in tempting fate) 

I actually have a bell that says, "JESUS" on it but I'm guessing that a gift from the titular owner of the bike would not fit the requirement.

[Jersey mike]

I take it day by day

There have been days (not often) when I gear up take the bike out of the garage and then change my mind about riding to work.

When its a fun event that has not happened, yet

but if it does I will just do what the voice says to do

Hope you always have misses and not hits, it hurts a lot less

“ There have been days (not often) when I gear up take the bike out of the garage and then change my mind about riding…”

I’ve had many similar experiences, something in the gut says *well maybe not today”. I’ve also disregarded that little voice and took a route less traveled and stayed away from certain areas, we are a high volume tourist area during the summer and stayed on alert as I rode until the feeling passed and I could settle in comfortably.

Unfortunately if you need to go to a specific location (work) and cannot go out of route and want to ride that’s a different story.

[Rams]

I don’t hold the validity of superstitions either. I do hope one of your friends picks up on what you are putting down, and has a bell in the mail by now. (No sense in tempting fate) 

I actually have a bell that says, "JESUS" on it but I'm guessing that a gift from the titular owner of the bike would not fit the requirement.

All I'm going to say is, each of my Valkyries have some bells on them.   They are there because someone cared enough to give them to me, not because I believe they do anything other than jingle.   Having said that, if given one, it'll be on the bike(s).

Rams

[Valkorado]

Heck I still have the heebie jeebies since getting rear ended.  I kept the bike up, but my neck and shoulders will never be the same.  I will never forget the whiplash impact, and the shock.  Messed up my bone structure in the upper spine and neck, even though I didn't suffer any breaks.

I still love getting out though, and getting on the throttle.  It's hard not to when riding a well running Valkyrie.  I'm not really sure we're tempting fate, but I am trying to enjoy the sound of a smooth flat six engine putting along at legal speeds more than I used to.

[Willow]

... at legal speeds more than I used to.

Hmmm.  We have a lot in common and a lot of differences.   

[f6gal]

My question would be, do these thoughts impact your riding in a way that could be detrimental?  In my experience, riding tentatively is not a good thing.  Riding safely, particularly on a big bike, requires riding with confidence and a touch of aggressiveness. 

[Willow]

My question would be, do these thoughts impact your riding in a way that could be detrimental?  ... 

Thank you.  That is the most important question.  I do try to keep that in front of myself as I choose to ride.

[Jess from VA]

Riding safely, particularly on a big bike, requires riding with confidence and a touch of aggressiveness.

I concur Connie.  All my life, in all vehicles, I ride and drive that way.  The aggressiveness is not performance driving or bullying or rude or lawbreaking or overtly speeding all the time.  (VA even has a ticket for aggressive driving).

It is simply owning your part of the road, giving way and courtesy when you should, but expecting others to do the same.  One of the things I do on occasion is go the strict limit (to avoid tickets), but being constantly passed from behind is not particularly safe driving (IMHO).  Carefully moving through traffic always seems safer to me.  Out (mostly) alone on the road, I go back to the strict limit or under and enjoy the ride (often, not always). 

[f6gal]

Riding safely, particularly on a big bike, requires riding with confidence and a touch of aggressiveness.

I concur Connie.  All my life, in all vehicles, I ride and drive that way.  The aggressiveness is not performance driving or bullying or rude or lawbreaking or overtly speeding all the time.  (VA even has a ticket for aggressive driving).

It is simply owning your part of the road, giving way and courtesy when you should, but expecting others to do the same.  One of the things I do on occasion is go the strict limit (to avoid tickets), but being constantly passed from behind is not particularly safe driving (IMHO).  Carefully moving through traffic always seems safer to me.  Out (mostly) alone on the road, I go back to the strict limit or under and enjoy the ride (often, not always). 

Yeah, I tried to soften aggressiveness by adding "a touch of."  Aggressive, more in the vein of taking control of a situation.  Couldn't come up with the perfect word.  But those who know, know.