Nearly Trashed on Garbage Day

[Guest]

Out for an early morning ride down a narrow curvy two-lane road through the Santa Monica Mountains. Really pleasant ride. Limited traffic, nice set of twisties, one with the bike into a series of alternating leans. This is why we ride! Entering into a left bend, notice a large stopped green truck in the opposite on-coming lane. Of course, garbage day. Suddenly, a large black colored Jeep SUV darts out from behind the truck, accelerating directly at me. WTF!!!! Frozen for a split second, no flashes of my life before me, just a panic. Finally, composed enough to try to slow and move to the right, although not really knowing how much space I have. Jeep squeezes pass me, bullet dodged. Could have been road trash because our combined speed is around 50 mph. So count this as a blessing. My riding buddy sees all from behind, honks as the SUV passes, heading off with no acknowledgement of what transpired.

The good: live to ride another day. Any survival is good.
The bad: another stupid cager out to get me. Not much one can do.
The ugly: my response. Should have taken the truck as a warning sign, should have prepared just in case, should have responded sooner with an evasive move.

Hope I have learned from this experience.

[anthonygs1000]

I am Glad to here the story from you ! and not the news paper

[dorkburger]

Yeow, Crash averted ,lesson learned . I'm glad you're ok.

[bruin]

Reminds me of one of my close calls last summer. Some old guy pulled off the shoulder just beyond a corner. I was ready for a car to come around the corner but I was not prepared for the 18 wheeler that came through the corner right down the center of the road. He saw me and left enough room for my bike but I would have been in serious trouble if I were in a car. There was about 6 feet of room between his trailer tires and the ditch.
Glad you made it through to tell the tale.

[azr]

Thanks for sharing, I'll put that info in the vault.

[pmong]

Thanks for your support and well wishes. I just needed to vent. There are things we know we should do, and many of them requires experience to sink in. Riding safely in a dangerous world is one of the latter. The more I ride, the more experience, and the better I become ... so long as I survive.