When your time is up...

[newbiker]

I heard from some mates that several of their ROSPA certified advanced bikers have either been killed or had serious accidents recently and this made me think:

If you ride 100% of the time as you have been taught, use shoulder checks, lifesavers, keep your distance and ride at appropriate speed for the road conditions, keep your bike well maintained, wear high visibility clothing, and always assume every car driver is out to get you, then is it really possible to have a riding career without accidents?

Or is it just a case of when your time is up...

[Reddit]

Originally Posted by newbiker

I heard from some mates that several of their ROSPA certified advanced bikers have either been killed or had serious accidents recently and this made me think:

If you ride 100% of the time as you have been taught, use shoulder checks, lifesavers, keep your distance and ride at appropriate speed for the road conditions, keep your bike well maintained, wear high visibility clothing, and always assume every car driver is out to get you, then is it really possible to have a riding career without accidents?

Or is it just a case of when your time is up...

I think you've answered your own question there. No matter how well you prepare, how good your observation and riding skills are, there is always the potential for the unexpected. I have been lucky, but I was taught to ride by a Police rider, and my thought process when riding, in any given situation, is 'what's the worst/most unlikely thing that could happen here?'.

One very important thing (for me anyway) apart from what you correctly say above about assuming everyone else on the road is out to get you, is to constantly be checking and adjusting speed to suit conditions, and always be sure that you can stop in the distance you can see to be safe and clear.
Apparently guardian angels can only fly at 70mph - after that the devil takes over (or so it says in the back of my mum's car), but the point is, if you go into a blind bend at 50mph and a tractor drives out of a gateway in front of you, it would be too late to say 'I didn't expect that', because you should have.
Sermon over, go and ride your bike and enjoy it.

[bilbo141]

couldnt agree more with what reddit says theres not much more you can add really

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by bilbo141

couldnt agree more with what reddit says theres not much more you can add really

yep

[bulldog63]

Originally Posted by Reddit

I think you've answered your own question there. No matter how well you prepare, how good your observation and riding skills are, there is always the potential for the unexpected. I have been lucky, but I was taught to ride by a Police rider, and my thought process when riding, in any given situation, is 'what's the worst/most unlikely thing that could happen here?'.

One very important thing (for me anyway) apart from what you correctly say above about assuming everyone else on the road is out to get you, is to constantly be checking and adjusting speed to suit conditions, and always be sure that you can stop in the distance you can see to be safe and clear.
Apparently guardian angels can only fly at 70mph - after that the devil takes over (or so it says in the back of my mum's car), but the point is, if you go into a blind bend at 50mph and a tractor drives out of a gateway in front of you, it would be too late to say 'I didn't expect that', because you should have.
Sermon over, go and ride your bike and enjoy it.

[Singh600RR]

If you ride safe you arrive safe. My neighbour has been riding bikes for years (daily) - he uses it go get to work across town every day (rain or shine). He's never had an accident.

He rides like miss daisy and is very very sensible. So I believe the answer is YES!!

The only accident he had was when he dropped the bike waving to another neighbor on his own drive!!!!!!

[stroppybitch]

Hi Newbiker and welcome

Can only agree with the rest of them

[bulldog63]

Hi New Biker and welcome

This is a great site for advice from a proper biking forum

[kitty]

i was taught one good bit of advice when i started driving, and applies for riding too..

drive/ride like everyone else on the road is an idiot!

[jeffbiker]

yeah very true, I do not trust car drivers at all!