Im OK, the bike is scratched, but emotionally it hurts

[RichardF]

Well,

riding along, need to changes lanes (right<-Left), indicate, head check, look forward again and S**T !!!!........the guy in front has nailed the brake, I am mid lane change and I too hit the brakes.

The bike lies down , and I am sliding closer to the car in front ........... all in slow motion, using my laptop in my backpack and helmet as some form of deacceleration device.

Good news, it is only a busted indicator (mmmm will replace with the LED's that I have put off buying - there's a motivator), new pipes on the way and a good couple of hours with the power tools to remove the scratches.

I feel fine, no damage real damage done, but dam it hurts to know that there is a scratched black bike outside.........

No I am not complaining - there are others that have come of worse than me. it just sucks and I am whinging.

R.

[waynemorgan]

Glad you're ok - the bike can be fixed etc but humans are a little more difficult.

Sucks having a damaged bike tho - big time. Get it sorted when you can and enjoy.

[greenmeanie]

Live & learn....all part of the game.
The main thing is you got up & walked away without injury to yourself.

[photomike666]

Easy thing to happen when you head check. Just leave a little more room in front stops this occuring and also allows you room to accelerate into the next lane if required.

[Supafrog]

It's all part of the learning ....

Glad you are ok ;o)

[seiko1]

There's nothing like the occasional off to get the blood flowing
Eh Gos?
oh....and me

[tim]

Sounds like two things happened there which you can learn from and practice if you haven't already so you are a better rider.

1. More buffer from the car in front (and everywhere for that matter)

2. Practice your emergency stopping over and over to create good braking habits.
First quickly "setting up" to load the front tyre and suspension, THEN squeezing firm then hard and harder as you slow.

Another thing to potentially practice is counter-steering forcibly to avoid obstacles quickly if you can't break quickly enough. I've practiced it by weaving in and out of reflectors on the road and avoiding marks in the road etc, and then starting to use your peripheral vision to do this so you keep keep your eyes on where you're going.

Otherwise, You're ok and that's #1

[dilligaf]

+1 Suspect most of us have come close to doing that. Might have been a bit of target fixation? Can help to look next to the car rather than directly at it then in an emergency you tend to go there rather than into the car.

[RichardF]

thanks all,

It was a stupid mistake. I think that I am more anoyed at myself because it was so stupid, there was noone else to blame and the result is a damaged bike. Still it had to happen some time and I am glad that I am only stiff and sore today and not worse.

Still, I with have to lavish the bike with attention this weekend and get it back to A1.

Cheers for the comments.

R.

[mike-s]

Do as Tim suggests, and the more you do it, the more ingrained it is, and the more likely you'll do that than go "ohshitbrakebrakebra*crunch*"
A new indicator and misc other damage is a lucky outcome considering the car in front was decelerating faster than you on your arse.