camper4lyfe: (Default)
camper4lyfe ([personal profile] camper4lyfe) wrote2008-07-09 07:19 pm

Just had

one of the scariest moments of my life.

I'm heading to Vermont tomorrow for my best friend's wedding. Since this is probably the last time I'll be in Vermont in the near future, I'm taking my bike with me, but since I have other things to do, the bike's going up in the back of my truck.

I've got an aluminum tri-fold ramp that I got from Harbor Freight. It's got rungs like a ladder.

This is not the first time I've loaded my bike this way: Back my truck up to the hill around the parking lot, set ramp out so the slope isn't too steep (my truck sits up pretty high, and if I don't do it this way, the headers rub at the top), then ride the bike up into the bed of my truck and tie her down.

I don't know what went wrong this time, but the bike ended up stopping, I lost my balance, and in the process of trying to catch myself/the bike, my foot went between one of the rungs, and I somehow stopped before my foot hit the ground, pulled it out, and got out from under the bike. As I'm going down, I realize that there's no way in hell I'm going to stop it, so I just let it go and get out of the way.

AMAZINGLY enough, there doesn't seem to be ANY damage to the bike, minus a couple scratches on one of the engine covers, and a gaping hole in the ramp where I think my peg feeler drove itself through.

It's been about 15 minutes and the adrenaline's still just a pumpin' away.

The only thing I can figure that caused it to happen is the fact that it just finished raining, so the tires were wet from riding through the grass, and I didn't hit the ramp quite straight.

[identity profile] cuffshiker.livejournal.com 2008-07-09 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Scary! Glad you are ok. Ive used that very same idea (backed up to a hill to lessen the degree angle of the ramp) for loading my ATV. While I have not had this happen, I will learn from your experience and pay attention!

[identity profile] camper4lyfe.livejournal.com 2008-07-09 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Loading the ATV is a piece of cake...it can't fall over to the side, though I HAVE gone over the FRONT of a trailer before, right smack dab in between the trailer and my parents' Tahoe. Now THAT was a scary ride.

[identity profile] cuffshiker.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
YIkes! Mine *just* fits between the truck wheel wells... Ive skidded up them too! Not fun!

[identity profile] camper4lyfe.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Mine (03 Warrior) fits quite nicely, and I can even close the tailgate!

My friend's (96 Lakota) fits better in my truck because it's got enough ground clearance that I can load the ramps UNDER it, whereas with mine, I have to bungee it in.

[identity profile] belleaire.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Oh good grief -- my heart is pounding just from READING what you did! I was just waiting for you to say you had a spiral fracture in your leg. I'm glad the bike is okay, too!

[identity profile] camper4lyfe.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
I'm still amazed that neither of us got seriously hurt (me or the bike).

My knee's a little sore from getting smacked on something (handle bars as I jumped off maybe), and my shoulder's a little tight from trying to catch it, but all in all, I made out pretty damn lucky.

[identity profile] highrider.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
Glad you're OK!

[identity profile] motomuffin.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
And I have to say, since you've verified your still-alive-ness, that i find it very funny that you were

Loading Bike
Things Went Wrong!
Had a Fall
Everything OK?
I Think So -- THUS I MUST NOW BLOG ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE!!
*wanders inside and sits down at 'puter*

[identity profile] camper4lyfe.livejournal.com 2008-07-14 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
I was by myself and needed to express myself. I was rather worked up.

[identity profile] skyes.livejournal.com 2008-07-10 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Gah! I'm glad that you're okay! Scary stuff!