Surprise road hazard

[jbooth2099]

Road my bike to work the other day.  On my way home I encountered a hazard that wasn't there on my way in.  After exiting the freeway, I made a right turn to a back road that I take all of the time on my way home.

As I rounded the curve, my bike slid sideways and the rear wheel broke loose.  Not sure how, but I managed to straighten it up and get it under control.

Apparently they had dug a hole in the road and covered it with one of those metal plates, about 10x10.  I hit it expecting to have good dry pavement.  It was like hitting a sheet of ice.  There were no cones, flags or signs to warn of the danger.

Just goes to show how fast the road can change.

JB

[da prez]

This time of the year we have the turtle stampeds. Some of the snappers are over a foot and a half in diameter and  8 to 10 inches tall. The painted turtles are a lot smaller , but still can be an obsticle. More than once I rode thru swamp areas where it is impossible to miss the frogs. ( they pop like plastic bubbles).
  There are all kinds of road hazzards to avoid.

                                    da prez

[Master Blaster]

A few years ago I was motoring down a divided 4 lane at speed, and ahead was a flat bed truck in my lane.  as I was approaching, I swerved over to the passing lane and at the same time he hit a bump or something and ejected a 5 gallon plastic bucket of oil.  Of course the lid came off and the bucket hit the pavement spinning.  Covered both lanes and I couldn't avoid it or stop or anything but hold it straight and make no sudden moves.  When I went through the bucket was still spinning.  I got oil all over the bike, and gradually slowed down until I could get over to the shoulder.  Poked along slow to get the oil off the tire treads, and coated with dirt from the shoulder.   My butt was working buttonholes for a little bit there.

[R J]

Tom, that happened to me, but in a chase, in San Francisco in the Mission Area.

I was right on the vehicle involved and just ready to over take him in the next straight away.

Driver decided to take a left turn and when he did the rear door flew open and 3 guys dumped a 45 gallon barrel of oil out into the corner.

Yes sir, I went down, I slide up or crawled up on top of the bike and just rode it out.     Just minor injuries, God was my Guardian Angel that day.

The Cruisers caught them and 5 people got charged with attempted murder of a LEO, along with several other felonies.     I don't remember the years each one got, but they did some serious time in the San Quentin State Prison.