LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Rarely do we do "one thing" so stupid and life threatening, even rarer do we do 2 stupid and life threatening things in one day, or perhaps even in our lifetime.
But - I was witness to someone so dense that they did 3, yes 3, "stupid and life threatening" things all in he course of a one hour period!
I am sad to say that person was me - and I thank the Lord that I am still alive to tell the story to someone. This is perhaps the only reason I am still alive!
The sad story of my stupidity:
I had just finished my "bike cycle rack insert" (see attached picture) - for my trailer the day before, and gave it a trial run to Gary's. It worked great!
The stupid part of the story all started the next day, on a beautiful sunny day after church.
I wanted to drive down to Carrier Park (about 30 minutes away) to do some power and speed testing on the enclosed track in that park.
I stuck my Vendetta in the trailer pushing the wheels down into the grooves between the 2x4's.
Nice tight fit. No need to tie anything down after all the trailer is 2 feet deep.
So I took off to Carrier Park and got on the interstate - Very busy for 2pm on Sunday afternoon, but it is after all peak leaf peeping season, so understandable.
I am driving about 65 mph, and am looking in my rear-view mirror at my Vendetta, wondering now: "if I hit a big bump could the bike ever pop loose and out of the trailer?"
I had not actually totally finished that though when to my amazement and dis-believe I saw the Vendetta suddenly lifting up in the air and dropping out of sight behind the trailer!
Heck, I didn't even hit a bump - it was all air!
I was beyond horrified - my beautiful red V20 bouncing and sliding down the Interstate with bumper to bumper traffic traveling 60+ mph!
I slowed down as much as I dared with the trailer and just so happened to be about 100 yards from an exit ramp.
I pulled over in the no-mans-land between the interstate and the exit ramp. Put my flashers on and got out of my car.
I look back about 150-200 yards: there was my poor red V20 lying in the middle of the 2 lanes of I26, with cars and trucks trying to dodge her as they sped by.
It is amazing to me that the traffic did not appear to hesitate or even slow down! It was more amazing that no one got in an accident with all the swerving and dodging going on.
I was obviously not thinking very clearly at this point in time. My only thought was to rescue my Vendettta!
She looked so frail and helpless lying there in the middle of the Interstate.
I started out towards her and was still amazed at the volume and speed of the cars and trucks as the sped by me - a pedestrian walking towards them.
No one even appeared to consider slowing down. It was dumbfounding!
As I got closer to the Vendetta and farther away from the exit ramp, I was suddenly overwhelmed with fear and confusion: It did not look like it would be possible for me to ever get out into the middle of the interstate safely. It was just bumper to bumper of speeding vehicles!
Suddenly one kind soul in the right lane started slowing down as she saw me and finally came to a complete stop about 100 feet or so past the Vendetta. Then the left lane stopped too. Obviously everyone behind them had no choice at that point.
I waved my thanks and apologizes at her and others as quickly ran past them to retrieve my poor baby! (briefly wondered if this was going to be on the evening news!)
I picked her up and quickly ran back to the safety of my car and trailer - the traffic resumed almost instantly.
I inspected the Vendetta briefly. Both tires flat. Lots of little scuffs and scratches on the wheels, skures, brake handles, derailleur, headrest, etc.- but I didn't note anything catastrophic.
I put the Vendetta back in the trailer and took a piece of wire rope in my car and tried to tie her down the best I could.
I got off the exit ramp and called Gary (BentAero) and told him what happened.
I was less than 5 miles away from him, so I drove to his place slowly and carefully.
When I got there, we took the Vendetta off of the trailer and inspected it more thoroughly.
Neither Gary or I could see anything really structurally wrong with the bike. Amazing but true!!
So we put it back in the trailer and strapped it down tight this time, and I tool off once again to Carrier Park.
Gary was going to follow in a few minutes with his Vendetta too.
20 minutes later I arrived at Carrier Park and unloaded the Vendetta. I had to put some different wheels on her because the 2 on her during the wreck had blown tubes now.
But I am happy to say that I was able to ride her on the track for a half hour or so, and everything seemed fine.
Gary rode behind me and said from what he could see everything looked nice and straight!
What a miracle!!!
As I was leaving the park and after I loaded the bike back up and strapped it back in, I noticed that the little hitch lock on the trailer was up.
My 3rd stupid life threatening mistake was found. I showed Gary and he couldn't believe it either.
What was I thinking when I loaded up everything: Obviously not much!
I had driving that whole way without the trailer tongue being locked down on the ball. I did have an emergency chain locked in between the trailer and the hitch, but even with that, if the trailer tongue would have popped off at 65 mph - it could have been disastrous with all that traffic!
My heart is racing just reliving this as I am typing it.
My 3 stupid things were:
I was just in too much of a hurry!
I am so lucky to be alive and even luckier that I did not cause anyone else harm. It was a true miracle.
I learned many things, mostly to be vigilant about tying and locking everything down. (I will double and triple check those things now)
I think even more than that, I will have a check in my spirit from now on when the traffic is backed up or someone does something I consider brainless: Instead of letting my road rage take over and get all upset, I will remember my extreme lack of judgement (brain-less-ness) and brush with death on the interstate and be more forgiving of others who might also not have made the best choice of decisions that day!
This was certainly an embarrassing story to recount to the tribe, but if it saves one of you doing just one of my stupid things, then it was worth all the the embarrassment.
Take Care - drive safe, ride safe.
But - I was witness to someone so dense that they did 3, yes 3, "stupid and life threatening" things all in he course of a one hour period!
I am sad to say that person was me - and I thank the Lord that I am still alive to tell the story to someone. This is perhaps the only reason I am still alive!
The sad story of my stupidity:
I had just finished my "bike cycle rack insert" (see attached picture) - for my trailer the day before, and gave it a trial run to Gary's. It worked great!
The stupid part of the story all started the next day, on a beautiful sunny day after church.
I wanted to drive down to Carrier Park (about 30 minutes away) to do some power and speed testing on the enclosed track in that park.
I stuck my Vendetta in the trailer pushing the wheels down into the grooves between the 2x4's.
Nice tight fit. No need to tie anything down after all the trailer is 2 feet deep.
So I took off to Carrier Park and got on the interstate - Very busy for 2pm on Sunday afternoon, but it is after all peak leaf peeping season, so understandable.
I am driving about 65 mph, and am looking in my rear-view mirror at my Vendetta, wondering now: "if I hit a big bump could the bike ever pop loose and out of the trailer?"
I had not actually totally finished that though when to my amazement and dis-believe I saw the Vendetta suddenly lifting up in the air and dropping out of sight behind the trailer!
Heck, I didn't even hit a bump - it was all air!
I was beyond horrified - my beautiful red V20 bouncing and sliding down the Interstate with bumper to bumper traffic traveling 60+ mph!
I slowed down as much as I dared with the trailer and just so happened to be about 100 yards from an exit ramp.
I pulled over in the no-mans-land between the interstate and the exit ramp. Put my flashers on and got out of my car.
I look back about 150-200 yards: there was my poor red V20 lying in the middle of the 2 lanes of I26, with cars and trucks trying to dodge her as they sped by.
It is amazing to me that the traffic did not appear to hesitate or even slow down! It was more amazing that no one got in an accident with all the swerving and dodging going on.
I was obviously not thinking very clearly at this point in time. My only thought was to rescue my Vendettta!
She looked so frail and helpless lying there in the middle of the Interstate.
I started out towards her and was still amazed at the volume and speed of the cars and trucks as the sped by me - a pedestrian walking towards them.
No one even appeared to consider slowing down. It was dumbfounding!
As I got closer to the Vendetta and farther away from the exit ramp, I was suddenly overwhelmed with fear and confusion: It did not look like it would be possible for me to ever get out into the middle of the interstate safely. It was just bumper to bumper of speeding vehicles!
Suddenly one kind soul in the right lane started slowing down as she saw me and finally came to a complete stop about 100 feet or so past the Vendetta. Then the left lane stopped too. Obviously everyone behind them had no choice at that point.
I waved my thanks and apologizes at her and others as quickly ran past them to retrieve my poor baby! (briefly wondered if this was going to be on the evening news!)
I picked her up and quickly ran back to the safety of my car and trailer - the traffic resumed almost instantly.
I inspected the Vendetta briefly. Both tires flat. Lots of little scuffs and scratches on the wheels, skures, brake handles, derailleur, headrest, etc.- but I didn't note anything catastrophic.
I put the Vendetta back in the trailer and took a piece of wire rope in my car and tried to tie her down the best I could.
I got off the exit ramp and called Gary (BentAero) and told him what happened.
I was less than 5 miles away from him, so I drove to his place slowly and carefully.
When I got there, we took the Vendetta off of the trailer and inspected it more thoroughly.
Neither Gary or I could see anything really structurally wrong with the bike. Amazing but true!!
So we put it back in the trailer and strapped it down tight this time, and I tool off once again to Carrier Park.
Gary was going to follow in a few minutes with his Vendetta too.
20 minutes later I arrived at Carrier Park and unloaded the Vendetta. I had to put some different wheels on her because the 2 on her during the wreck had blown tubes now.
But I am happy to say that I was able to ride her on the track for a half hour or so, and everything seemed fine.
Gary rode behind me and said from what he could see everything looked nice and straight!
What a miracle!!!
As I was leaving the park and after I loaded the bike back up and strapped it back in, I noticed that the little hitch lock on the trailer was up.
My 3rd stupid life threatening mistake was found. I showed Gary and he couldn't believe it either.
What was I thinking when I loaded up everything: Obviously not much!
I had driving that whole way without the trailer tongue being locked down on the ball. I did have an emergency chain locked in between the trailer and the hitch, but even with that, if the trailer tongue would have popped off at 65 mph - it could have been disastrous with all that traffic!
My heart is racing just reliving this as I am typing it.
My 3 stupid things were:
- Not tying down the bicycle in the trailer,
- Walking out in the Interstate full of speeding traffic, and
- Not locking down the trailer tongue to the hitch.
I was just in too much of a hurry!
I am so lucky to be alive and even luckier that I did not cause anyone else harm. It was a true miracle.
I learned many things, mostly to be vigilant about tying and locking everything down. (I will double and triple check those things now)
I think even more than that, I will have a check in my spirit from now on when the traffic is backed up or someone does something I consider brainless: Instead of letting my road rage take over and get all upset, I will remember my extreme lack of judgement (brain-less-ness) and brush with death on the interstate and be more forgiving of others who might also not have made the best choice of decisions that day!
This was certainly an embarrassing story to recount to the tribe, but if it saves one of you doing just one of my stupid things, then it was worth all the the embarrassment.
Take Care - drive safe, ride safe.
