Post by ancorder on Oct 19, 2010 17:01:47 GMT -5
Scooter went for a skid yesterday. Totally my fault, and totally preventable (twice).
I got off work a little late, so I went to my wife's work and met her there so we could go to the grocery store before heading home. As we were heading home, I thought to myself, "Self, you ought to put some gas in the tank." But of course I didn't. And just one block down the road, out of gas. Never happened to me before. I think I got the invincibility syndrome.
The real irony is that over a month ago I picked up three one-gallon gas cans at a yard sale. The idea was to keep one in each scooter and one in the car trunk so we'd never have to worry about running out of gas. But I was waiting to put the gas can in the scooter trunk until I got saddlebags so I could move all the crap that was in the trunk already into the saddlebags, blah blah blah. Just never got around to ordering them, so no gas can.
Anyway, I pushed it a block and a half to the gas station, not so bad. Okay, so I pulled out of the gas station and turned down the road to head home, but I saw in my mirror that my wife had to wait for a car to pass before she got out of the gas station parkin lot, so I slowed and sat at the curb for a few moments until I saw her pull out, then I don't know what happened. I've taken off from a dead stop hundreds (maybe thousands) of times and never come close to tipping the scooter. I don't know if it was a loss of balance, me not paying attention, or something on the road surface, but whatever it was, I missed the right-hand brake and slipped the throttle and it overpowered my left-hand brake and I went swerve/swerve/slide.
The whole time I was thinking to myself, "Self, let go of that handlebar and fall away," but my body wouldn't do it, so I ended up face down as the scooter slid into the curb. I was only going a couple miles an hour, obviously, so I wasn't really hurt--scraped up one knee and my shoulder's a little sore, but otherwise fine. One tiny rip in my rain pants, but the rest of my gear is fine.
The scooter, of course, looks like a crack addict took a bench sander to it. I'm sure most of you know the kind of scrapes I mean; nothing broken, just looks like crap where it skidded on the asphalt.
No damage to the scooter structurally. And three different people were around me in a matter of a few seconds, asking if I was okay and making sure there was no traffic coming. I eventually convinced them that no, nobody hit me, and no, I didn't need an ambulance. But it was really gratifying to see people concerned for my well-being. One lady even offered to tote the scooter home in the back of her truck.
So my wife pulled the car up behind me, freaking out. Everybody calmed down, we inspected the scooter, started it up, and went to drive home again.
But the car wouldn't start. Dead battery.
Are you kidding? She had the flashers on for like 90 seconds, and we haven't had any electrical issues before, and I tested that battery a couple months ago.
It's okay, though, because I have one of those little jump-start things in the trunk. Except that we'd hauled home pumpkins the other day and I hadn't bothered to put the jumpstarter back in after we unloaded them.
Anyway, some guy pulled over and gave us a jump and we finally went home, half an hour later than planned.
I learned three things from this.
1. Don't just think about contingency plans (like a gas can or charger); actually put those plans into use!
2. I need to get real armored riding gear. Sliding at 5 mph still stings the next day; what if I take a slide at 30? I always wear a full-face helmet and pants and shoes, but I've occasionally gone without a jacket, and I've never had armored jacket or pants. I've always intended to get some, but never actually sat down and paid out the cash for it. Well, guess what my wife and I are doing tonight?
3. People are actually willing to help each other. And that's always good to have reaffirmed.
So I hope y'all learn from this. I've never laid down the scoot or run out of gas on any vehicle anywhere ever, but it happened to me last night. So take stock of your safety and preparedness, because it's a matter of time until you regret it.
Scoot safe, everyone!
I got off work a little late, so I went to my wife's work and met her there so we could go to the grocery store before heading home. As we were heading home, I thought to myself, "Self, you ought to put some gas in the tank." But of course I didn't. And just one block down the road, out of gas. Never happened to me before. I think I got the invincibility syndrome.
The real irony is that over a month ago I picked up three one-gallon gas cans at a yard sale. The idea was to keep one in each scooter and one in the car trunk so we'd never have to worry about running out of gas. But I was waiting to put the gas can in the scooter trunk until I got saddlebags so I could move all the crap that was in the trunk already into the saddlebags, blah blah blah. Just never got around to ordering them, so no gas can.
Anyway, I pushed it a block and a half to the gas station, not so bad. Okay, so I pulled out of the gas station and turned down the road to head home, but I saw in my mirror that my wife had to wait for a car to pass before she got out of the gas station parkin lot, so I slowed and sat at the curb for a few moments until I saw her pull out, then I don't know what happened. I've taken off from a dead stop hundreds (maybe thousands) of times and never come close to tipping the scooter. I don't know if it was a loss of balance, me not paying attention, or something on the road surface, but whatever it was, I missed the right-hand brake and slipped the throttle and it overpowered my left-hand brake and I went swerve/swerve/slide.
The whole time I was thinking to myself, "Self, let go of that handlebar and fall away," but my body wouldn't do it, so I ended up face down as the scooter slid into the curb. I was only going a couple miles an hour, obviously, so I wasn't really hurt--scraped up one knee and my shoulder's a little sore, but otherwise fine. One tiny rip in my rain pants, but the rest of my gear is fine.
The scooter, of course, looks like a crack addict took a bench sander to it. I'm sure most of you know the kind of scrapes I mean; nothing broken, just looks like crap where it skidded on the asphalt.
No damage to the scooter structurally. And three different people were around me in a matter of a few seconds, asking if I was okay and making sure there was no traffic coming. I eventually convinced them that no, nobody hit me, and no, I didn't need an ambulance. But it was really gratifying to see people concerned for my well-being. One lady even offered to tote the scooter home in the back of her truck.
So my wife pulled the car up behind me, freaking out. Everybody calmed down, we inspected the scooter, started it up, and went to drive home again.
But the car wouldn't start. Dead battery.
Are you kidding? She had the flashers on for like 90 seconds, and we haven't had any electrical issues before, and I tested that battery a couple months ago.
It's okay, though, because I have one of those little jump-start things in the trunk. Except that we'd hauled home pumpkins the other day and I hadn't bothered to put the jumpstarter back in after we unloaded them.
Anyway, some guy pulled over and gave us a jump and we finally went home, half an hour later than planned.
I learned three things from this.
1. Don't just think about contingency plans (like a gas can or charger); actually put those plans into use!
2. I need to get real armored riding gear. Sliding at 5 mph still stings the next day; what if I take a slide at 30? I always wear a full-face helmet and pants and shoes, but I've occasionally gone without a jacket, and I've never had armored jacket or pants. I've always intended to get some, but never actually sat down and paid out the cash for it. Well, guess what my wife and I are doing tonight?
3. People are actually willing to help each other. And that's always good to have reaffirmed.
So I hope y'all learn from this. I've never laid down the scoot or run out of gas on any vehicle anywhere ever, but it happened to me last night. So take stock of your safety and preparedness, because it's a matter of time until you regret it.
Scoot safe, everyone!
