I'm fine, my bike's fine, but I got my curiousity answered about if I'd be able to lift it by myself or not. I can! That is good news. It wasn't even difficult, really.
We were back at Claudia's house and had stopped to open the garage door, and then I took the turn into the garage a leeeetle too sharply. The apron is pretty steep, and I went over. But I had one leg down anyway, so I could control it somewhat and let the bike down gently. And then picked it back up again before she got back to help me.
The funny thing about it is that we both put our bikes down for the first time today. We stopped at a gas station on the way out, and then she needed to run in and pick something up. She started leaning her bike without putting the kickstand down first, and realized too late to recover. So we both feel pretty stupid, but I don't feel quite as dumb as she does. I was at least moving.
I asked if she wanted help or if she wanted to try to lift it by herself first, and she didn't even want to try. She got a scrap on a metal cover, and lost the lens for her left rear turn signal, too, but there was no damage to the paint. So I think we both pretty much lucked out for the first time dropping our bikes. And, hopefully, had valuable reminders about being careful.
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my dad's criteria of what bike to buy included being able to lift it by yourself. He had a Honda 750, which I learned to ride, and yes, I could lift it. Posts: 2034 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I'd be impressed, but it's not like an ElJay-sized bike needs to be lifted all that far off the ground in the first place. The seat's what, a foot, two feet from the pavement?
Really, it's not uncommon at all. In my time owning a bike I have:
1) started backing up without taking the lock off the disc brake. When that rolled around to hit the front fork, the bike toppled. I'm told it was pretty funny to watch.
2) Put the kickstand down on my BRAND NEW BIKE and found out that it wasn't exactly like my old bike's kickstand. It wasn't all the way forward, so it wasn't "locked" into place. Folded back up neatly under the bike. Luckily I was right next to the lawn and the bike kind of landed on the grass.
3) started riding with the cable still on the back wheel. This was back when I still used a cable to lock the bike. I thought "hmm...I don't remember undoing the cable." Just then, the cable finally wound itself tightly around the back axle and made a bad noise. Thinking I'd basically destroyed my bike's drive mechanism and/or the rear brakes, I quickly unwound the offending cable, gave a few test movements, and rode off happily into the sunset.
4) Did exactly what you did, turning too sharply on an incline in front of the garage. Layed bike down.
I'm very happy to say I've never layed the bike down while under power at anything like real speed. I've had to make a few emergency maneuvers but both went off exactly like they showed us in the motorcycle traning class and I was able to avoid the racoon, pull out of a bad turn, and stay upright on a loose gravel road. Yippee!
Anyway, being able to lift your bike by yourself is a good thing. My current bike is too heavy by half for that. But then, you can always find someone willing to help.
It's just much more impressive to do it yourself.
Here's a potentially useful article for those with bikes bigger than they can lug: pick up your bikePosts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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Hehe - I assumed anyone picking up a bike would do something like that link shows, Bob. I didn't envision someone just deadlifting the bike up.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Yes, Punwit, you've discovered the real reason I joined Hatrack: My sisters had found a haven where they could hang out with their friends without me pestering them.
Younger Brother is a serious job, you know. There are standards.
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Glad to hear it, eljay. Neither dropping the bike (so benignly), nor having to pick it up, is something to fear. Here's the list I made a couple years ago of my then-to-date droppage incidents.
I've only had one other since: IN the experienced rider safety course, from forgetting to put the kickstand down before dismounting. That was a bit, um, embarrassing.
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I've never laid down a bike. *crosses fingers* I came close with my old bike twice, the first time i don't remember what happened, but it starting going and got pretty damn close to the ground, and I really thought I was going to let it go and somehow strained and managed to pull it back up. I was sore for days.
The second time I started turning down an immensly steep street, and halfway through the turn realized it was one way, and tried to stop. But the angle and steepness of the hill sent the bike down, managed to pull it up, but it was a scary moment. I envisioned the bike getting out of my hands and sliding horribly down the hill.
No incidents with the new bike yet. Hopefully it stays that way, I haven't got engine guards for it yet.
*Actually, I lied. I've never dumped a bike I owned, but the first time I ever sat on a friends bike, before I knew anything, after he quickly went over what each hand was supposed to do, I took a quick cruise around the parking lot of our house. Came up a little dirt hill, avoided a car, turned and then coming up on my friends and a few other bikes, freaked out, forgot what hand did what and froze, tried to stop with my feet and hit one of my other friend's bike. No damage was caused, but I felt like a huge moron, and it took a long while to live that one down.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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