All those things they put on the road to help you see where it goes,
and to help keep the cages in line, are a hazard. :beer:
For example, today a group of us was riding up Highway 33, heading back towards Ojai from the fire station at Lockwood Valley. I was following a guy on a Triumph Rocket triple, the 2300 cc thing. Going around a long sweeping right hander, not real fast, maybe 50 mph, he got onto the double yellow and bam! hit the lowside sliding across the road into the dirt berm. Holy!
The double yellow here has reflectors in the middle of the road. They're set into these rectangular cuts ground into the pavement. So, a reflector inside a cut maybe 10" long by 2" wide and 1/2" or so deep. I'm told they're done that way so the snow plow doesn't scrape them all off in winter. It happened so fast, but looked like maybe his front tire tucked on one of those. :beer:
Lucky nobody was coming the other way. Bike came out not too bad, rideable even. His hand was too swollen and sore to ride, our EMT friend riding with the group said it probably wasn't broken, or it would hurt lot worse. So, 2 1/2 or 3 hours later the tow finally showed up. Thanks to the Ranger that showed up and called AAA on the radio. Cell phone service there is sketchy if it works at all.
Did I mention that afterwards it caused me to slow down a bit to see this right in front of me?
That and the many cops up there for a couple other similar reasons.
Ride safe out there, and stay between the lines. :fing02:
Ive hit these a couple of times and the front tire only skiped and bounced. Luckily I kept it under control and nothing came of it but maybe the downfall for the Triumph was that it has an underwhelming performing front tire?? Glad he and the bike werent down for the count.
About 2 years ago I was on the inside lane of a two lane right hand turn, and I'm pretty certain the dots are what caused me to lowside. I will admit that I was taking the turn a little too fast, but I'm pretty sure I would have made it had the line dividing the two turning lanes not been lined with dots. When I lowsided, it was as if someone pulled the road from under my front tire.
I will admit that I was taking the turn a little too fast, but I'm pretty sure I would have made it had the line dividing the two turning lanes not been lined with dots. When I lowsided, it was as if someone pulled the road from under my front tire.
That's about what happened as far as I saw. It happens so fast. :fing02:
I know I've gotten some headshake going over dots to make a pass.
And some slides going over sand in the middle of the road while making a pass.
Ride safe.
Sorry to hear about the crash, but glad the guy will be OK.
I almost lowsided on some fresh blacktop this summer during a lefthander sweeper. I was near but not on the double-yellow but lost traction anyway. My riding buddy (Phil) behind me said it looked like I rode over a yellow line that had been painted black. I didn't even see it. I'm guessing the 'line crew' made a mistake, painted over it then reapplied the DY in the right place.
A VFR rider here had his (worn) rear tyre blow out when he hit one of the reflectors in the centre of the road. He crashed, and although the bike was badly damaged, it caught fire and was destroyed. He was rather damaged himself. Unfortunately, his bike wasn't insured. http://www.vfrdiscus...tyle_emoticons/default/sad.gif
First of best wishes to your friend in a speedy recovery.
Next i will say that as much as the rest of you I hate it when i change lanes and hit one of them. But on the positive side with the VFR being my only vehicle I will state that there has been many times in the pouring rain or on those really foggy mornings that those reflectors kept me where I needed to go, so with me it is a love hate relationship.
there has been many times in the pouring rain or on those really foggy mornings that those reflectors kept me where I needed to go, so with me it is a love hate relationship.
Yeah these things have their place and use.
Not a good idea to run over them I guess.
Report on my friend, 6 broken ribs, 3 cracked. Ouch. :wheel:
Another thing is tar snakes when wet. Was on the highway and raining going around a gradual turn I could feel the bike slide on tar snakes, just a little but enough to feel it. Very unnerving till it gets used to.
Glad your friend didn't come out any worse for ware. Reading all these replies is saying one thing...Don't ride over the line, and when you do, go between the dots/groves........ I started dodging reflectors in my TRIII (Triumph Spitfire '68) with 4 wheels while living in the UK just for fun. It's way easier to miss them with a single track mc. It could just be a OCD thing with me but it can be done if you want.
[image: View Post]landlover, on 13 September 2011 - 11:47 PM, said:
Another thing is tar snakes when wet.
...or hot!
When it is sunny and 105F outside, it seems like a black roadway gets hot enough to return some of the petrochemical compounds in tar and asphalt back to their liquid state!
[image: View Post]VFR4Lee, on 16 November 2008 - 11:47 PM, said:
Quote
I will admit that I was taking the turn a little too fast, but I'm pretty sure I would have made it had the line dividing the two turning lanes not been lined with dots. When I lowsided, it was as if someone pulled the road from under my front tire.
That's about what happened as far as I saw. It happens so fast. Posted Image
I know I've gotten some headshake going over dots to make a pass.
And some slides going over sand in the middle of the road while making a pass.
Ride safe.
Yes, I wish to express my concern for your friend. I hope he heals up well and quickly. Those dots are very helpful in some ways but deadly in some ways (especially to bicycles).
Notes: 1-Those things are called Bots Dots (after their inventor whose last name is Bot)
2-Are you a King Crimson fan? (Your avatar of course)
End of thread · 12 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 15 Jul 2012