15 Bikes: 14 (Bombay Pulsars) plus the lead bike is Me
Originally uploaded by Captain Nandu Chitnis, BikeNomads
2007/05/28
15 Bikes: 14 (Bombay Pulsars) plus the lead bike is Me
15 Bikes: 14 (Bombay Pulsars) plus the lead bike is Me
Originally uploaded by Captain Nandu Chitnis, BikeNomads
2007/05/25
2007/05/20
"CRASH: 28 April 2007
I had crashed my bike with wife Medini, riding as pillion, 28th April 2007.
At that time and later, I was confused why an upright bike had crashed at all. Doc Arnob had suggested that I visit the crash site and study the road conditions to get an answer.
VISIT TO CRASH SITE: 16 May 2007
It has taken two weeks of visits to Doctors to make me ride fit. I finally took off at 7 am on 16 May to visit the crash site, some 5.8 kms off Amby Valley, Lonavala.
This time I did a right hook, in that I approached the crash site from the Pune-Lonavala-Amby Valley route. The road was rocky and deserted but the scenery was magnificent. I passed a beautiful bungalow and realised that I was on my way, 5.8 kms short of the site. I passed through thickly wooded areas. The road was constantly “S” bends. I kept a sharp watch on the Speedo, always riding 2nd/3rd gear so that I had enough traction and control on the bike at all times. Some 2 kms from the crash site, I felt my noose bleeding. I flicked open the visor, touched my nose, no blood. This was a memory flash back of 28th April. Some 1.2 kms away, I felt my knee hurt. Again memory flash back. Some 500 mtrs away, I was on a beautiful shaded “S” bend. I felt ghosts all around me. Then I passed a structure along a bank of a river and realised that that was where my bike ended after sliding. …Eerily, this structure was a ghat for cremating dead bodies. No wonder, the ghost likes feelings!
Some hundred meters away was the place where the bike had skidded.
ROAD CONDITIONS
I rode the bike some two kms further and started to approach the crash point, simulating the run of 28th April. I did this run on 3rd gear, at about 30/40 kmph. Parked the bike, took photographs of the road. I realised why I had crashed.
ANALYSIS
As is evident from the pics, the road though metalled, was in a bad shape.
1. 28th April: My Speedo was not working.
2. Bad dipping road demanded that I should have been riding on 3rd/4th gear, speed no more than 40 kmph. On 28th April, I was definitely riding 50/60, on the fifth gear! Poor traction, a small pebble (?), bike skid, end of story n analysis.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
1. Have upgraded helmet to AGV.
2. Wear elbow and knee protectors.
3. Have ordered tailor to make trousers and jacket, with leather padding at impact zones.
4 Speedo operational.
5. Understood the importance of correct use of gears and traction on such roads.
6. Have first aid kit in tank bag now.
I had crashed my bike with wife Medini, riding as pillion, 28th April 2007.
At that time and later, I was confused why an upright bike had crashed at all. Doc Arnob had suggested that I visit the crash site and study the road conditions to get an answer.
VISIT TO CRASH SITE: 16 May 2007
It has taken two weeks of visits to Doctors to make me ride fit. I finally took off at 7 am on 16 May to visit the crash site, some 5.8 kms off Amby Valley, Lonavala.
This time I did a right hook, in that I approached the crash site from the Pune-Lonavala-Amby Valley route. The road was rocky and deserted but the scenery was magnificent. I passed a beautiful bungalow and realised that I was on my way, 5.8 kms short of the site. I passed through thickly wooded areas. The road was constantly “S” bends. I kept a sharp watch on the Speedo, always riding 2nd/3rd gear so that I had enough traction and control on the bike at all times. Some 2 kms from the crash site, I felt my noose bleeding. I flicked open the visor, touched my nose, no blood. This was a memory flash back of 28th April. Some 1.2 kms away, I felt my knee hurt. Again memory flash back. Some 500 mtrs away, I was on a beautiful shaded “S” bend. I felt ghosts all around me. Then I passed a structure along a bank of a river and realised that that was where my bike ended after sliding. …Eerily, this structure was a ghat for cremating dead bodies. No wonder, the ghost likes feelings!
Some hundred meters away was the place where the bike had skidded.
ROAD CONDITIONS
I rode the bike some two kms further and started to approach the crash point, simulating the run of 28th April. I did this run on 3rd gear, at about 30/40 kmph. Parked the bike, took photographs of the road. I realised why I had crashed.
ANALYSIS
As is evident from the pics, the road though metalled, was in a bad shape.
1. 28th April: My Speedo was not working.
2. Bad dipping road demanded that I should have been riding on 3rd/4th gear, speed no more than 40 kmph. On 28th April, I was definitely riding 50/60, on the fifth gear! Poor traction, a small pebble (?), bike skid, end of story n analysis.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
1. Have upgraded helmet to AGV.
2. Wear elbow and knee protectors.
3. Have ordered tailor to make trousers and jacket, with leather padding at impact zones.
4 Speedo operational.
5. Understood the importance of correct use of gears and traction on such roads.
6. Have first aid kit in tank bag now.
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