Bram
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2010
- Messages
- 370
- Reaction score
- 16
- Points
- 18
- Location
- Belgium, Wetteren
It happened some months ago, but I haven't found the "guts" upto now to talk about it. I am still a bit impressed about what happened.
It was a beautiful sunday some while ago, and I got up early to head out to the harbour. There is a very big roundabout there with 2 lanes and perfect sticky asphalt.
I go there every few months to practice my body/head/feet-position. (in full gear offcourse)
I know the street is not the place to practice bodyposition and kneedowns.
The roundabout is in the middle of nowhere, only trucks from the harbour use these roads. And it was on a sundaymorning, so like usually, there was nobody around, Harbour activity stops at sundays, and alot of people are still sleeping.
This area is well known for racebikes roadracing, but even those were not present that morning.
some details on the roundabout:
Its a very big oval shaped roundabout with 2 lanes. On the inside and outside of the roundabout there are concrete blocks (don't know the right word for this).
There are absolutely no houses around at all. As far as I can see, there is nothing moving.
After a inspection round on the roundabout looking for any debris, oil, sand,... I went faster and faster, practicing the perfect bodyposition to have the best control over the bike while at maximum leaning angle.
I went round and round for about 9 times reaching speeds that would make my drivers license explode. :spank:
Due to the leaning angle and body position, my head did not came above the concrete blocks. When I was making my 10th round, suddenly I saw a car coming right at me in my lane, right when I was about to exit the first turn of the oval.
I was going about 110km/h, and she was going about 40km/h i guess. If we colided head on, I would not be alive today because at that point, my head was at the hight of the radiator grill of the car....
She was driving the wrong direction on the inside of the roundabout and did not see me because of the concrete blocks. Luckily I was just about to exit the turn, so I steered right of her, and she braked and put her hands on her face.
It all happened in 1 second, but I remember every millisecond of it.
If it where happened any else, I would have died. If she turned left, and I right, we also would have collided.
I did another round to see if she was still there. But she was gone.
I realize I had all of the luck in the world. The timing, reaction, instinct and maneuver of both me and her where perfect to escape a horrible accident.
When I saw her, I rolled off the throttle, (had no time to brake), came upright and meanwhile steered to the outside of the roundabout. She just braked, looked at me like she saw death himself, and covered here eyes with her hands.
After the incident, I stopped for 5 minutes and think about what just happened. I had a warm feeling, like someone had given me a wake-up call. I guess it was not my time to go.
I should not have been learning skills on the roundabout (even as safe as it seems to be), and she should not have been riding clockwise. We where both at great fault.
I have not gone back there, or done anything similar since.
Today I ride my bike as usual, and without fear. (else you should not get on the bike at all)
But roundabout stunts are history.
on a side note:
I am raised as a catholic, but I don't believe in God.
But I do believe that there is something good watching over us all to give us a slap on the head if necessary.
What was I thinking.....Can't imagine what that would do to my parents and friends if it turned out otherwise.
.....Still very impressed.....
It was a beautiful sunday some while ago, and I got up early to head out to the harbour. There is a very big roundabout there with 2 lanes and perfect sticky asphalt.
I go there every few months to practice my body/head/feet-position. (in full gear offcourse)
I know the street is not the place to practice bodyposition and kneedowns.
The roundabout is in the middle of nowhere, only trucks from the harbour use these roads. And it was on a sundaymorning, so like usually, there was nobody around, Harbour activity stops at sundays, and alot of people are still sleeping.
This area is well known for racebikes roadracing, but even those were not present that morning.
some details on the roundabout:
Its a very big oval shaped roundabout with 2 lanes. On the inside and outside of the roundabout there are concrete blocks (don't know the right word for this).
There are absolutely no houses around at all. As far as I can see, there is nothing moving.
After a inspection round on the roundabout looking for any debris, oil, sand,... I went faster and faster, practicing the perfect bodyposition to have the best control over the bike while at maximum leaning angle.
I went round and round for about 9 times reaching speeds that would make my drivers license explode. :spank:
Due to the leaning angle and body position, my head did not came above the concrete blocks. When I was making my 10th round, suddenly I saw a car coming right at me in my lane, right when I was about to exit the first turn of the oval.
I was going about 110km/h, and she was going about 40km/h i guess. If we colided head on, I would not be alive today because at that point, my head was at the hight of the radiator grill of the car....
She was driving the wrong direction on the inside of the roundabout and did not see me because of the concrete blocks. Luckily I was just about to exit the turn, so I steered right of her, and she braked and put her hands on her face.
It all happened in 1 second, but I remember every millisecond of it.
If it where happened any else, I would have died. If she turned left, and I right, we also would have collided.
I did another round to see if she was still there. But she was gone.
I realize I had all of the luck in the world. The timing, reaction, instinct and maneuver of both me and her where perfect to escape a horrible accident.
When I saw her, I rolled off the throttle, (had no time to brake), came upright and meanwhile steered to the outside of the roundabout. She just braked, looked at me like she saw death himself, and covered here eyes with her hands.
After the incident, I stopped for 5 minutes and think about what just happened. I had a warm feeling, like someone had given me a wake-up call. I guess it was not my time to go.
I should not have been learning skills on the roundabout (even as safe as it seems to be), and she should not have been riding clockwise. We where both at great fault.
I have not gone back there, or done anything similar since.
Today I ride my bike as usual, and without fear. (else you should not get on the bike at all)
But roundabout stunts are history.
on a side note:
I am raised as a catholic, but I don't believe in God.
But I do believe that there is something good watching over us all to give us a slap on the head if necessary.
What was I thinking.....Can't imagine what that would do to my parents and friends if it turned out otherwise.
.....Still very impressed.....
