Sunday, June 14, 2009

An OH CRAP moment

The Hampton Inn had their breakfast spread out early so i was able go hit the road at 6am. It was a cool 57 degrees with menacing clouds, but no rain.

About 50 fifty feet after passing a semi a doe materialized about 25 feet in front of the bike. I think it came from the median, but i am not sure. It stopped in front of me then Changed directions and went towards the right ... At this point i realized i was already on the brakes and starting to go from 'squeeze' mode (to transfer the weight to the front tire) to 'clamp' mode (to REALLY slow the bike). just as i thought i was going to hit it, it did cartoon-scramble to the right. It was so close i thought was going to run over the hind legs or clip it with a sidecase.

It did neither. Two seconds later the semi i had just passed was next to me. As far as i could tell, the doe managed to avoid that too.

I am still amazed at how quickly it all happenau. I am glad that the emergency braking procedures we have taught happened automatically. So here i am, testifying that David Hough was right .. Learn it, and practice it, because when you'll need it, you won't have time to think about it.

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