Close Call....common mistake!

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I really need to post our stories a little faster! The more time that passes the less I tend to remember. Sort of like those dumb bell weights in my basement--the longer they sit the heavier they seem to get! I was going through the pictures that I took on this year's trip and came across some from the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. I recall Brad and I were riding through Wheeling, West Virginia when traffic came to a stop. Brad was listening to the truckers talk on the CB radio and found an alternate route around all the traffic and across the bridge into Ohio. That CB radio helped us many times in the past to avoid traffic delays and speed traps while traveling on the highway. My FM radio only helped us once when we were riding through Toronto and the local radio announcer said there was some wire cable that fell off a truck and was in the middle of the fast lane. Luckily I heard the announcement and changed lanes. There are many riders not so lucky. While having lunch in New York this year we heard about a motorcyclist who was about 10 minutes in front of us who swerved to avoid a piece of furniture that fell out of a pick-up truck just in front of him. During the swerve he was run over by a tractor and trailer truck. We hear about accidents similar to this all the time. When you are out riding don't get in a hurry and stay alert!

I've been riding motorcycles since I was 10 years old...about 28 years now. Since I've transitioned from dirt bikes to street bikes I've taken a safety course about every other year. Mainly because it is a Marine Corps requirement for motorcyclists but I really enjoy taking the safety courses. I learn something new or develop my skills each time I take a course. It is fun to maneuver around all the cones in the parking lot and a good way to meet other safety conscious riders too! Anyway back to my story. During our 2009 trip I made a very bad mistake and luckily no one was injured. My mistake is a common mistake and the same mistake that Bruce Rossmeyer, the world's #1 Harley-Davidson dealer known for the famous Destination Daytona resort, fatally made in July of this year. We were in New Hampshire or Vermont I don't recall exactly but during lunch that day we met two local bikers named Cheech and Mo. I remember their names like Cheech and Chong...no offence guys (if you are reading this!). We were heading in the same direction and I was the lead bike. We were cruising down a country road about 50 mph and I must have been day dreaming in the warm sunshine. There was an F250 several car lengths in front of me. It slowed down and moved to the right side of the lane. There was a covered bridge gift shop to the right so I figured the F250 was going to slow and turn right into the parking lot. After all it changed lane position to the right portion of the lane. The truck put its left turn signal on but it didn't make sense to me because the truck clearly moved to the right side of the lane. In one instance I thought that perhaps the truck turned on the hazard lights and the right signal was burned out. I moved across the center line to pass the F250. Just as I was approaching the truck--it turned LEFT!! In an instant I could have been road kill and what about the bikes behind me? Clearly not a good situation!! All at the same time I rolled on the throttle, swerved further left, heard the trucks brakes lock up, saw the woman driver beating against the window (may have been flipping me off and cursing at me:) and noted that the bike behind me went around the truck on the right side. The other two bikes stopped. I was so angry at myself for leading the group into that deadly situation. The reality is one small unsuspecting split second decision can lead to a disaster! Ride Safe in 2010!!
Location: West Virginia, USA

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