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It was nice and warm and finally not raining at all. I had just done some maintenance work on the bike and added a few things to it, so I really wanted to go for a ride. I headed out and went south so I could take PA route 125 north. I had been told it was a good road for bikes. The road I took to get to 125 north from I-78 was really nice as well. Parts of 125 were really rough, and wasn't that great. Part of it was awesome though. I can only imagine that Deals Gap is kind of like 125, except much longer and more turns.
Well, I had just made it through one hairpin turn after cresting the mountain, and after a very short straight spot, was braking for the second hairpin turn. Just before the turn, the road crested again, and started heading downhill with an even sharper grade. That's where my rear tire started sliding and kicked out to the side. That's when I slightly panicked, and mostly let off the front brake because the rear brake freaked me out. I did not, however, let go of the rear brake. So I slid through the turn, through the other lane (no traffic luckily), and off the side of the road, going kind of sideways the whole time. When I hit the dirt and leaves, I guess that gave me enough traction to get the bike started going downhill again with the rear tire still locked. I slid to a stop with a pile of leaves and dirt in front of the rear tire from it being locked up the whole time.
Another rider had been behind me up to that point just by happenstance, and he stopped when he saw that happen. He asked if I was okay first. I got my helmet off and said I was just fine. Then started talking about panicking when my rear tire locked up and slid sideways, and then fixating. I'm not entirely sure I did fixate. Not visually anyway. I think my brain fixated on the rear tire. He said he did the very same thing one time, but he had to lay the bike down. He congratulated me on keeping the bike up. He was a friendly guy. I think him stopping and talking to me, even briefly, helped me from getting too freaked out afterwards.
Now for the one last piece of info which will get people to yell at me. I had ear buds in and was listening to mp3's at the time. If I hadn't been doing that, then I probably would've heard the warning signs from the rear tire BEFORE it kicked out sideways. I would still say that music would help me stay more alert and focused on long roadtrip routes, but there's a time and place for everything. Twisties is NOT a time for music.
The other lesson that I'm taking from this is that, at the very least when going downhill on a steep grade, I'm not going to use the rear brake for setting up for a turn. I believe the weight transfer from braking was already putting most of the weight on the front tire. When I hit the crest between downhill, and steeper downhill, that transfered enough weight off the rear tire that it locked up easily.
In case I didn't make it clear though, absolutely no damage to me or the bike. We're both fine. I was also wearing all the gear, although I don't have riding pants. I did take pics, but I'll add those later.
Be safe, everyone.
ygolohcysp
aka Dan
Well, I had just made it through one hairpin turn after cresting the mountain, and after a very short straight spot, was braking for the second hairpin turn. Just before the turn, the road crested again, and started heading downhill with an even sharper grade. That's where my rear tire started sliding and kicked out to the side. That's when I slightly panicked, and mostly let off the front brake because the rear brake freaked me out. I did not, however, let go of the rear brake. So I slid through the turn, through the other lane (no traffic luckily), and off the side of the road, going kind of sideways the whole time. When I hit the dirt and leaves, I guess that gave me enough traction to get the bike started going downhill again with the rear tire still locked. I slid to a stop with a pile of leaves and dirt in front of the rear tire from it being locked up the whole time.
Another rider had been behind me up to that point just by happenstance, and he stopped when he saw that happen. He asked if I was okay first. I got my helmet off and said I was just fine. Then started talking about panicking when my rear tire locked up and slid sideways, and then fixating. I'm not entirely sure I did fixate. Not visually anyway. I think my brain fixated on the rear tire. He said he did the very same thing one time, but he had to lay the bike down. He congratulated me on keeping the bike up. He was a friendly guy. I think him stopping and talking to me, even briefly, helped me from getting too freaked out afterwards.
Now for the one last piece of info which will get people to yell at me. I had ear buds in and was listening to mp3's at the time. If I hadn't been doing that, then I probably would've heard the warning signs from the rear tire BEFORE it kicked out sideways. I would still say that music would help me stay more alert and focused on long roadtrip routes, but there's a time and place for everything. Twisties is NOT a time for music.
The other lesson that I'm taking from this is that, at the very least when going downhill on a steep grade, I'm not going to use the rear brake for setting up for a turn. I believe the weight transfer from braking was already putting most of the weight on the front tire. When I hit the crest between downhill, and steeper downhill, that transfered enough weight off the rear tire that it locked up easily.
In case I didn't make it clear though, absolutely no damage to me or the bike. We're both fine. I was also wearing all the gear, although I don't have riding pants. I did take pics, but I'll add those later.
Be safe, everyone.
ygolohcysp
aka Dan
No pics yet
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