Lulu
Active Member
Well, as some of you know, Lulu and Chris X have had a few adventures already on Morag (F650GS) and Brian (Transalp) (not to mention the Skunk and Nessie) and a number of them have ended (or started with) Morag being parked horizontally. But nothing as scary as today, when Brian was the one to be parked horizontally at 50 mph plus on the A5. 
It's been a busy term, and what with family demands on top of work, it is to my shame that Morag has not seen the outside of her stable since October. Brian, on the other hand, has had the occasional forays into the great big yonder, as Chris has had (motorcycle) training duties.
Today, I had been due to be on babysitting duties in order to allow my son and his wife some downtime from a demanding two year old. However, that plan had been scuppered due to circumstances beyond everyone's control, so, as I was a bit nervous about taking Morag out after such a long period of inactivity, Chris and I planned a gentle local bimble to get me back on my wheels. Instead, however, I woke to a text from my son saying 'we're planning breakfast at http://www.supersausagecafe.co.uk/, (which is about 60 miles down the A5 from here): care to join us? Well, it would be rude to refuse, wouldn't it? So, with Brian and Morag saddled up we set out.
It was a hazy, cool morning, but promised to be a lovely day later. The roads were quiet and far from being nervous about getting back on, I felt at one with the bike, confident and enjoying every moment. In my mind's eye, it was already my best ride to date. I had no qualms as we sailed down the A5. We were nearing our destination, when on a stretch of single carriageway a few slow moving vehicles were causing frustration - speeding up and then suddenly slowing down with no apparent reason. Chris was poised to overtake, with me following his lead, when all of a sudden, I saw sparks ahead as Chris and Brian slid along the carriageway. My heart leapt into my mouth, and I really thought this would be a fatal accident. It's amazing how training springs into action as I pulled to a controlled halt at the side of the road, switched off Morag's engine, and (amazingly) saw Chris get up in one piece.
Thankfully, he and Brian had come to rest on our side of the carriageway, thus avoiding oncoming vehicles, and the vehicles behind us had come to a stop. Chris and I between us managed to get Brian upright, before it became apparent that Chris could do no more - the shock of what had happened had started to register. I started to push the bike to the side of the carriageway but was visibly struggling. A couple of lads from the car behind jumped out and pushed Brian to the side. Meanwhile a Ducati rider had also pulled over and came to assist. With a spanner, he quickly stabilized Brian's ailing wing mirror, and the young chaps from the car were solicitous and friendly. Despite Chris's protestations, I administered first aid to a bleeding cut on his right hand. But Chris declared himself to be "fine" and, after a few minutes to regain breath, insisted on continuing for the final 10 miles of our journey.
When we arrived at the SS Cafe "fine" turned out to be a bit of a euphemism - turned out that Chris had struggled most of the remIning distance with a left-hand thumb injury that made pulling in the clutch an extremely painful experience. Meanwhile, his right sleeve was ripped right through the bike jacket, fleece, and - skin, and he was bleeding from a wound on his arm. Meanwhile, Brian was suffering from smashed right-hand fairing, a detached screen and front fairing, and a busted hand protector. Plus possibly bent forks / bars, that left the handling less than perfect. However, Chris stoically refused medical assistance, and, after a bacon cob and coffee, declared himself "fit" for the return journey.
This went (thankfully) smoothly. We took it reasonably gently, and got back safely. However, Chris's gear is torn to shreds, and Brian is going to need some TLC. As is Chris, who is now starting to experience the full effects of bruising to both hands and the deep cut to his arm, not to mention all-over bruising. His protective gear is also in shreds - though it mostly did its job pretty masterfully.
Meanwhile, Brian needs mending. In particular if anyone had a right-hand fairing panel for a 650 Transalp, please get in touch. Meantime, big thanks to the Ducati driver and the lads in the car who stopped to help.
It's been a busy term, and what with family demands on top of work, it is to my shame that Morag has not seen the outside of her stable since October. Brian, on the other hand, has had the occasional forays into the great big yonder, as Chris has had (motorcycle) training duties.
Today, I had been due to be on babysitting duties in order to allow my son and his wife some downtime from a demanding two year old. However, that plan had been scuppered due to circumstances beyond everyone's control, so, as I was a bit nervous about taking Morag out after such a long period of inactivity, Chris and I planned a gentle local bimble to get me back on my wheels. Instead, however, I woke to a text from my son saying 'we're planning breakfast at http://www.supersausagecafe.co.uk/, (which is about 60 miles down the A5 from here): care to join us? Well, it would be rude to refuse, wouldn't it? So, with Brian and Morag saddled up we set out.
It was a hazy, cool morning, but promised to be a lovely day later. The roads were quiet and far from being nervous about getting back on, I felt at one with the bike, confident and enjoying every moment. In my mind's eye, it was already my best ride to date. I had no qualms as we sailed down the A5. We were nearing our destination, when on a stretch of single carriageway a few slow moving vehicles were causing frustration - speeding up and then suddenly slowing down with no apparent reason. Chris was poised to overtake, with me following his lead, when all of a sudden, I saw sparks ahead as Chris and Brian slid along the carriageway. My heart leapt into my mouth, and I really thought this would be a fatal accident. It's amazing how training springs into action as I pulled to a controlled halt at the side of the road, switched off Morag's engine, and (amazingly) saw Chris get up in one piece.
Thankfully, he and Brian had come to rest on our side of the carriageway, thus avoiding oncoming vehicles, and the vehicles behind us had come to a stop. Chris and I between us managed to get Brian upright, before it became apparent that Chris could do no more - the shock of what had happened had started to register. I started to push the bike to the side of the carriageway but was visibly struggling. A couple of lads from the car behind jumped out and pushed Brian to the side. Meanwhile a Ducati rider had also pulled over and came to assist. With a spanner, he quickly stabilized Brian's ailing wing mirror, and the young chaps from the car were solicitous and friendly. Despite Chris's protestations, I administered first aid to a bleeding cut on his right hand. But Chris declared himself to be "fine" and, after a few minutes to regain breath, insisted on continuing for the final 10 miles of our journey.
When we arrived at the SS Cafe "fine" turned out to be a bit of a euphemism - turned out that Chris had struggled most of the remIning distance with a left-hand thumb injury that made pulling in the clutch an extremely painful experience. Meanwhile, his right sleeve was ripped right through the bike jacket, fleece, and - skin, and he was bleeding from a wound on his arm. Meanwhile, Brian was suffering from smashed right-hand fairing, a detached screen and front fairing, and a busted hand protector. Plus possibly bent forks / bars, that left the handling less than perfect. However, Chris stoically refused medical assistance, and, after a bacon cob and coffee, declared himself "fit" for the return journey.
This went (thankfully) smoothly. We took it reasonably gently, and got back safely. However, Chris's gear is torn to shreds, and Brian is going to need some TLC. As is Chris, who is now starting to experience the full effects of bruising to both hands and the deep cut to his arm, not to mention all-over bruising. His protective gear is also in shreds - though it mostly did its job pretty masterfully.
Meanwhile, Brian needs mending. In particular if anyone had a right-hand fairing panel for a 650 Transalp, please get in touch. Meantime, big thanks to the Ducati driver and the lads in the car who stopped to help.
