I was backing her bike down a steep gravel driveway as a dozen times before, and since I was test driving her bike after a handlebar adjustment, Iwas over-confident with the smaller lighter bike and figured I would just whip outta the drive after visiting my Dad telling him we were going to ride this morning if he wished to come.

He was already back inside (thank goodness) as I rolled down the drive backwards. then all the sudden as I dont know what happened, I suddenly was in a bad lean and I guess since I was backwards I must have steered the wrong way and bam- eating gravels- bike was still running, I quickly turned it off- "so DAD wouldnt notice" then with strength of 10 men grabbed the handlebars and set up the bike, and cranked it and tore outta there as fast as I safetly could!!! mirror glass hanging down from the brand new mirrors I recently installed that I told her to be so careful not to let the bike fall down and break, as she like me is a new rider.

I felt so tiny when I told her what I had done, luckily there was only a small scratched area on the side of the new paint I just put on and unbelievably she took it well and seemed to not even be upset at all with me, but now she jokes that I cant ride "her" bike anymore lol!

She said I would have cursed at her had she done that, I had no comment as I couldnt say how upset I may have been after spending months fixing and painting it, but I know I would be mostly glad that she was Ok and the bike second, but I may have took it hard, she is right. So this helps me feel even smaller in this respect of how she showed me how childish I can act sometimes, but off the subject now I see,

anyway, other than a few minor rock/glass scrapes on my arm, no injury, and helmet didnt touch the ground- didnt want to buy a new one lol, so my arm took the fall-should have been wearing my jacket, yes I know, but as they all say, it was only a mile down the road, what can happen?

anyways

comments?
similar experience?

Hate to hear about this beavis, but glad you are ok and that bike is not "too" bad. Also glad that wife didn't kill you...would hate for that to happen before we get to ride together. Just make sure doesn't want to test drive your bike any time soon. :)

I hear that on the test drive my bike any time soon LOL

Sorry to hear about your mis-adventure, at least you weren't hurt too badly, except your pride.

I feel for ya! lol Dropped my bike 3 times before I learned I had to put both feet on the ground for a stop. Then treated mine like a dirt bike when I turned off onto a dirt road too fast....that wasn't pretty! Just glad you are ok, bikes & parts can be replaced. :-)

Beavis,

I'm sure that you felt really bad. I always hate to do anything that might mar the looks or my bike or cause it's performance to suffer. Still, I would feel even worse if I did something that damaged someone else's ride. I can appreciate how you must feel. Yet, we are all human, and subject to do things that we regret.

The cosmetic damage to the bike can be repaired. Once the repairs are done the bike will probably look as good as ever. Don't minimize or fail to appreciate the fact that you weren't hurt. Concentrate on enjoying your bikes and each other's company.

Ratty

First, glad you are ok, and thanks for sharing this with us. Experiences like this are always so frustrating, and we get down on ourselves about them. The one good thing from experiences like this is they aren't in vein if we learn from them, about what not to do and about ourselves, so we can become not only better riders, but also better persons. Your sharing of this story helps us too, as we can reflect on how we might also have responded and learn from your hard lesson.

Thanks again
RB

... snip...

I felt so tiny when I told her what I had done, luckily there was only a small scratched area on the side of the new paint I just put on and unbelievably she took it well and seemed to not even be upset at all with me, but now she jokes that I cant ride "her" bike anymore lol!
... snip

anyways

comments?
similar experience?

Glad you liked to hear my story, It makes me feel better about it and doesnt bother me like it did that day. I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
:) beavis :)

Beavis,
Hey, it happens! I learned the hard way that the most likely time you will drop a bike is when it's going to cause the most embarrassment possible, so with you being on her bike, after telling her not to drop it, it was just bound to happen. Glad to hear you are alright though. Sometimes people aren't so lucky. That's how my brother got his 6 fractures two weeks ago...on her bike, expecting it to handle like his does. So, you're a step ahead of the game, being relatively uninjured, aside from your pride.
Mine was bruised pretty badly last week when I dropped my bike at the end of my road and because it was lying downhill I wasn't able to pick it up by myself and had to politely endure a lecture from a kind stranger who stopped to help and let me know that is why HE is too smart to ride a bike, because he sees people like me! Ah well, we live and learn. I'm glad you and the bike made it through without any greater injury and as a woman, I'm kinda tickled to think your wife really has something great to hold over your head for a while!! hehe
Talie

Yes it would seem she does indeed have something on me now......
:(

he he

Sorry to hear of that Beavis. At least you were not hurt except for a scratch or two and the bike was not damaged too bad. Probably the worst for wear is your male pride. And it must be difficult to reach the pegs now at only two inches. Ha!
There is a post, number ??? on the yahoo site where I did something similar at a local gas station.

Doh! I wonder how long it's gonna take you to work that 'debt' off. :)

Talie, and all you lady riders and 2 inch riders,you don't have to put up with ignorant people giving you a hard time about not being able to handle your ride. YOU CAN pick up the bike yourself. It is all in the technique. See the new thread I have started on this.

RB

Beavis,
...snip...
Mine was bruised pretty badly last week when I dropped my bike at the end of my road and because it was lying downhill I wasn't able to pick it up by myself and had to politely endure a lecture from a kind stranger who stopped to help and let me know that is why HE is too smart to ride a bike, because he sees people like me! Ah well, we live and learn.... snip

I dropped mine twice then figured out the dumb thing I was doing and haven't had any problems since. It's interesting how little damage dropping the bike actually does to them. They're tough little nuts, for sure. Glad you're ok.

If it makes you feel any better...my wife dropped mine.

Ya know, I would be the same way...upset about damage after I worked so hard on it.

I don't think it has anything to do with "being childish"... she's not the one who spent hours and hours working on the bike, it's easy for her to be calm and point out your character flaws... what happens when you wreck something she's been working on?

wow, that brings back memorys, i did actually sell that bike, after getting her another bike just before the gathering last year, and she now rides a VN 700, which also i have done a lot of work on, and am still doing work on. buying a set of floor boards from knifemaker and putting new foam grips on as well. so far so good, niether one of us have dropped a bike since, and knock on wood-hope not to after these pieces go on it.

All bikes will be dropped eventually, it's just a matter of time. A couple years ago I did it right in front of Starbucks when I walked away without putting the stand down. I heard a big crash behind me. Not much damage; bend pegs, bent clutch lever,etc. But irrepairable damage to ego................