A not so good ride!

Another very nice Nov. day here in Mid TN today and of course a long ride was in order as the temps were to be in the mid 70's.
I headed out around 7:30am on my run to Pucketts to see who was up for a ride. One of my favorite sections/roads has been closed for months as it was badly tore up during the summer floods so I decided to see if any work had been done on it yet and low and behold, New Pavement! :fing02:



Not ever striped yet, can you say Race Track! :491:
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But I kept it in check and arrived at Pucketts to a large crowd. After a nice breakfast and several cups of coffee it was time to roll. It was 3 of my regular riding mates and one new guy who said I'm joining you! :huh: He was on a nice Guzzi but in tennis shoes and normal pants. I was uneasy with this situation as always with a new/unknown rider joining our seasoned group. He was riding decent at the back of our group and didn't fall back to bad when we hit the tight stuff. As we pulled up to a stop he honked and waved goodbye, I felt much better as all I could do was worry about a new guy at the back of our group.
We instantly picked up the Pace and continued on the early part of our 300 mile loop. I was running in the 3 spot and Clipping along at a strong Pace and good spacing.
I saw a Deer pop out in front of the front two riders almost collecting the front guy. I rolled off the throttle thinking they usually travel in pairs or groups and just as I near the same spot in the road a second deer pops out from the brush along the shoulder. I'm on the brakes now as the deer is running along the left edge of the road with me and I never trust these beast, just then it makes a 90 and cuts right in front of me. As I'm breaking harder for the deer I glance at my left mirror only to see a rapidly approaching Factory. I have no idea what Bob was looking at, me the deer, both or neither , but I was sure i was about to be rear ended so I headed to the right edge of the road and braced for impact. That's when I hear it impact and in the next second a Cartwheeling Factory passes me exacting in the space I just vacated! :blink: I could have reached out and touched it as it was endowing by! It was riderless so I stopped as quickly as possible and looked for Bob. He was out cold face down in the center of our lane as I got to him, I was worried about a car coming over the little rise we were just on the other side of and running bob over. Within a minute or two several cars stopped and moved into blocking positions!
I was worried about Bob as I think he faced planted on the road by grabbing too much of those killer brakes and endowing as his helmet was badly scuffed on the front, that's my guess anyway. He eventually came too and started talking and was able to move all his extremities after about 20 mins so we felt much better about his condition. No one would let him move until Emergency units got on site.

They said Bob should be OK, but I'm waiting for an update on his condition.

Could have been Much worse and even included me, but luckily it wasn't!

BR[image: Attached Image: IMG_2288.JPG]

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Those deer have given me too many close calls for comfort. I'm glad you stayed out of the fray Kevin. Hopefully your buddy will be alright.

That's a gut wrenching tale right there. Crappy day for Bob, but man, Kev, you are one lucky SOB.

Kevin... Sorry to hear about your friend... Glad he's no worse for ware. Needless to say those deer are the biggest problem going.

Glad you and Bob live to tell the tale.

Tell Bob the 2011 Tuono looks pretty purdy... :biggrin:

Hope things work out for the better Kev.

Damn bambis!!!!!!!!!! Glad everybody lives to tell the tale. Send our best wishes for a quick and un-complicated recovery to Bob.

Hope the factory rider is alright, Kevin. This was opening weekend for gun season, plus the rut is on. I've hit several deer this weekend over the years luckily always in a cage.

Glad you got through :fing02:

BR, that sucks man. I hope your buddy recovers quickly and gets back on. Hitting a deer is no fun. I rode today for the first time in a month since it happened and I was still a bit sketchy at certain spots on our ride. It's a tough thing to get passed.

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 21 November 2010 - 04:15 PM, said:

Kev, you are one lucky SOB.


Agreed!!!!

Thanks guys, still waiting for an update on Bob! :blush:

Hope he comes out on top! Talk about tooth skin. The only advantage to NOT riding year-round, is a mental break from the, "what if's". Glad you're ok. Prayers for Bob.

Glad you were not involved Kevin. I am sorry your friend was not so fortunate.

The deer are bad around here as well, especially with hunting season.

BR. Tell Bob hope all is well and glad you were saved from injury. He is such a nice guy.

Well I hadn't gotten any update on Bob so I just called his cell phone to see what happened and he answered! His sitting in Vanderbilts ER waiting room now as the county Hospital they sent him to didn't have a Nuro doc on duty and it looks like he has a little bleeding in his brain so he's waiting to get a Catscan. He sounds great and feels pretty good. Says he has a few broken ribs he doesn't feel and swollen knees along with some stiches in him left hand.
All pretty good news really! :fing02:

I wonder if he would have been on his BMW s1000r(?) with all it's race ABS would have prevented this crash? :blush:

BR

Glad you weren't hurt and well wishes for Bob.

Getting hit from behind is one of my biggest fears when I'm hard on the brakes.
It takes A LOT of experience and skil to manage to avoid someting coming from behind when you're in a panic stop situation.

He feels pretty good and doesn't feel broken ribs.
Hope it's nothing worse for him, and glad nobody else got involved / hit. :mellow:

Praying for Factory, Bro!! Speaking life and healing to him!!

hope he is well and glad you didnt join in the carnage BR. Funny you posted the pics. I have been checking this road out every couple of weeks and today was the first time it was looking good. going away from Pucketts is finished, but coming towards still needs another layer. they were painting it this afternoon too.

be safe bro.

Sorry to hear. I hope that your buddy comes out of the hospital ok. Good luck.
C

Damn oversized forest rats! I hate deer on the roadside! Stupid creatures have larger ears and better hearing then just about most animals but they still run right out in front of vehicles on the road? I hope your friend Bob comes out of it alright, and I am glad you escaped harm!

Scary.... I hope he come's out okay!!!

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 21 November 2010 - 07:14 PM, said:

:fing02:

I wonder if he would have been on his BMW s1000r(?) with all it's race ABS would have prevented this crash? :blush:

BR


Defintely shouldnt have cartwheeled from too much front brake with ABS, but he would have had the most reaction time of any of ya, I do wonder what he was looking at.

Anyway, Glad you avoided getting power driven in the back by cart wheeling bike, and hopefully your friend comes out well too.

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 21 November 2010 - 10:44 PM, said:

Damn oversized forest rats! I hate deer on the roadside! Stupid creatures have larger ears and better hearing then just about most animals but they still run right out in front of vehicles on the road? I hope your friend Bob comes out of it alright, and I am glad you escaped harm!

Yes we call deer stupid, which implies we humans are supposed to be smarter than deer. Running at a rapid pace through prime deer country is not being smarter than the deer, no? I'm not trying to be a smart-ass or critical of the participants esp. Bob who ended up on the losing end, but we as riders need to exercise better judgement when it comes to this type of situation. Think about it: when is the probability highest of colliding with a deer? That would be morning or evening when deer are out foraging, in relatively quiet, secluded wooded areas. It's the very environment that spurs many riders to pick up the pace precisely because it is secluded and unpopulated with much traffic. I've been there and done that, and to date I've been fortunate enough to avoid any close encounters with a deer, at least on a bike. In recent years, I started to convince myself that to help keep that record intact, I need to be cognizant of the "deer" factor and ride appropriately. Even so this is no guarantee, a deer could pop out even at a moderate pace and take me out. Let this be a reminder to all of the dangers out there and ride accordingly. Hope Bob heals up quickly and gets back in the saddle.

[image: View Post]Solomoto, on 21 November 2010 - 11:42 PM, said:

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 21 November 2010 - 10:44 PM, said:

Damn oversized forest rats! I hate deer on the roadside! Stupid creatures have larger ears and better hearing then just about most animals but they still run right out in front of vehicles on the road? I hope your friend Bob comes out of it alright, and I am glad you escaped harm!

Yes we call deer stupid, which implies we humans are supposed to be smarter than deer. Running at a rapid pace through prime deer country is not being smarter than the deer, no? I'm not trying to be a smart-ass or critical of the participants esp. Bob who ended up on the losing end, but we as riders need to exercise better judgement when it comes to this type of situation. Think about it: when is the probability highest of colliding with a deer? That would be morning or evening when deer are out foraging, in relatively quiet, secluded wooded areas. It's the very environment that spurs many riders to pick up the pace precisely because it is secluded and unpopulated with much traffic. I've been there and done that, and to date I've been fortunate enough to avoid any close encounters with a deer, at least on a bike. In recent years, I started to convince myself that to help keep that record intact, I need to be cognizant of the "deer" factor and ride appropriately. Even so this is no guarantee, a deer could pop out even at a moderate pace and take me out. Let this be a reminder to all of the dangers out there and ride accordingly. Hope Bob heals up quickly and gets back in the saddle.

Yes, I'm sure these experienced riders can use a lecture about deer saftey from you right now. Get a grip. Most every road I enjoy riding is in deer country. Heck we've even seen dogs, bears and pigs on some of these roads. I'm just wondering what speed I should drive to avoid an accident with an animal.

[image: View Post]VFR Capt.Bob, on 22 November 2010 - 12:09 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Solomoto, on 21 November 2010 - 11:42 PM, said:

[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 21 November 2010 - 10:44 PM, said:

Damn oversized forest rats! I hate deer on the roadside! Stupid creatures have larger ears and better hearing then just about most animals but they still run right out in front of vehicles on the road? I hope your friend Bob comes out of it alright, and I am glad you escaped harm!

Yes we call deer stupid, which implies we humans are supposed to be smarter than deer. Running at a rapid pace through prime deer country is not being smarter than the deer, no? I'm not trying to be a smart-ass or critical of the participants esp. Bob who ended up on the losing end, but we as riders need to exercise better judgement when it comes to this type of situation. Think about it: when is the probability highest of colliding with a deer? That would be morning or evening when deer are out foraging, in relatively quiet, secluded wooded areas. It's the very environment that spurs many riders to pick up the pace precisely because it is secluded and unpopulated with much traffic. I've been there and done that, and to date I've been fortunate enough to avoid any close encounters with a deer, at least on a bike. In recent years, I started to convince myself that to help keep that record intact, I need to be cognizant of the "deer" factor and ride appropriately. Even so this is no guarantee, a deer could pop out even at a moderate pace and take me out. Let this be a reminder to all of the dangers out there and ride accordingly. Hope Bob heals up quickly and gets back in the saddle.

Yes, I'm sure these experienced riders can use a lecture about deer saftey from you right now. Get a grip. Most every road I enjoy riding is in deer country. Heck we've even seen dogs, bears and pigs on some of these roads. I'm just wondering what speed I should drive to avoid an accident with an animal.

You're making my point: Use your head! :idea3:

Remember, Deer rule their lives by the Four "F"'s.

Fight
Feed
F^�k
or
Flee


If it doesn't fall into one of those categories, they have no idea what to do and always default to #4.

I see from 10 to 70 of the little bastards on the way to work every day, so I always expect the worst.

:3: :dry:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 21 November 2010 - 07:14 PM, said:

... He sounds great and feels pretty good. Says he has a few broken ribs he doesn't feel and swollen knees along with some stiches in him left hand.
All pretty good news really! :fing02:



Glad that all will be okay in the long run ... plse send regards to Bob.

I agree with Dutchy - his bike looks fungin good - even after the crash :blush:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 21 November 2010 - 07:14 PM, said:

Well I hadn't gotten any update on Bob so I just called his cell phone to see what happened and he answered! His sitting in Vanderbilts ER waiting room now as the county Hospital they sent him to didn't have a Nuro doc on duty and it looks like he has a little bleeding in his brain so he's waiting to get a Catscan. He sounds great and feels pretty good. Says he has a few broken ribs he doesn't feel and swollen knees along with some stiches in him left hand.
All pretty good news really! :fing02:

I wonder if he would have been on his BMW s1000r(?) with all it's race ABS would have prevented this crash? :blush:

BR


Great! Now that we know he's relatively ok, how much is he going to sell you the wreck for? :warranty:

Glad ur ok and Bob will be ok. Im meeting my buddy for a ride in a couple hours, I will just spend the next few hours knocking on wood :excl:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 21 November 2010 - 07:14 PM, said:

Well I hadn't gotten any update on Bob so I just called his cell phone to see what happened and he answered! His sitting in Vanderbilts ER waiting room now as the county Hospital they sent him to didn't have a Nuro doc on duty and it looks like he has a little bleeding in his brain so he's waiting to get a Catscan. He sounds great and feels pretty good. Says he has a few broken ribs he doesn't feel and swollen knees along with some stiches in him left hand.
All pretty good news really! :fing02:

I wonder if he would have been on his BMW s1000r(?) with all it's race ABS would have prevented this crash? :blush:

BR


Thanks for the report, BR. Glad both of you are alive and kicking-however high. Reminds us all to be careful
when the beasts are foraging at dawn and dusk. Most of us are city guys and don't remember it is hunting season.
Always some new information on VFRD. Best wishes and prayers to Factory.
Wrestler