Everyday is not a lucky day, so as I didn't have mine today. Monday, morning traffic, and as usual I was riding to school. Since I was gonna attend the golf class which is held on the western side of the campus, I detoured 85-280 instead of bumpy 101. It was such a nice day today. Sunny all the way. Temperature was around 70. It just couldn't be better to ride like this. And this is the route I can ride with my eyes closed. Just because I am so familiar with it. After exiting 237, I entered the 180 tight turn onto 85. A turn for a bike is always a gift. I started to get exceited out of the boring high way traffic. Just rolling the throttle at my ease, I was on the very left lane within a blink. Just before I was about to speed, a crapy ass 95 (I guess) civic crawled right into my way. He probably hadn't realized that he's blocking an pissed-off biker. It didn't have to be the fact that splitting lanes is very legal in California. I simply pass whatever in my way. So I steered to his right and roll the throttle. Usually what would happen is that I pass him ruthlessly within the same lane, being as close as several inches. But today, I lost control. It might sound as simple as "lost control". But I am sure lot of things caused that. I am so experienced that it should never happen to me. But I guess I was wrong. Instead of going straight, I run right into the car on my right side. Luckily not directly, sort of parallel. I saw my bar end scratched and dented that car. And at the same time, my handle bar shaked like crazy for about a second. Remember, I was going 80 miles/hour. Well, I wasn't down. If I were, I'd be "smashing pumpkin" already. After that, we stopped on the road side and exchanged our insurance information. The driver was freaked out by hitting by a biker. Think about it, if a driver is involved in a motorcycle accident, he might well possibly face a life charge. I calmed him down and said a lot of sorry's.

 

That's it, I rode to school, played golf, had midterm, and rode back home. Now after 12 hours of the accident, I sit here, writing it down, and many things just rushed into mind. First of all, the reason I lost control is mainly because the bad road condition. The surface was far from flat and there is a vertical gap between the lanes. So once i crossed from the high to low, I could come back. My front wheel simply got stuck. I can totally avoid it by not splitting lanes. At least not there. I was doing something stupid, risking my own life. I was deeply shocked because I was so close to death. How I appreciate being alive now! I guess I'm gonna stop commuting on my motorcycle. It's not fun anyway. Driving a car definitely takes more time because I then don't have the previleges to use the carpool. But hey, I've got radio:) Giving up riding totally? I still can't. It's my passion, part of my life. Motorcycling has got me a lot: fun, friends, confidence, self-satisfaction, etc. It's not only a cool thing, it's life. There are only two kinds of people who ride motorcycles: who have crashed and who will crash. Now I am the former. And I'll try not to crash again. Always know my capability and ride within that. Don't push it, enjoy it.

 

This friday will be the first time I go to a track day. Life continues.