Executive summary: as soon as I pat myself on the back, I sprain my arm.
I have a motorcycle, and I ride whenever I can. That means I basically ride all the time. Anyway, it will come as a surprise to some of you, but I am what they call "anal retentive". Knowing the bike is more dangerous than a car (because I've researched it, of course), I do lots of things to mitigate that increased risk. My bike is red, and I wear this helmet and this one-piece riding suit:
The helmet is especially visible (the optic yellow and its height, as my head is taller than minivan roofs when riding).
As if all that weren't enough, I have a modulator gizmo rigged inline with one of my dual low-beam bulbs, which device flashes the beam four times per second. There's actually some debate among motorcyclists regarding modulators. Those who hate them (largely because they look dorky, I suspect) claim that those who run them get complacent and lazy, relying on gadgetry to protect them instead of staying alert and keeping their riding skills sharp.
So I'm thinking about the modulator as I ride in to work this morning, and how I have not had a single vehicle pull across my path since installing it several months ago. That reminds me of the naysayers, and I quickly assess my approach to riding over those months, decide I have not slacked off, but nonetheless remind myself to be ever watchful for the brain-dead. Then I return to thinking about how effective that little electronic device has been for me.
Not 30 seconds later, a full-size pickup pulls out in front of me at close range. Nothing blocking his view of me, his head had been pointed my way moments before he pulled out, but ... he apparently never saw me in all my red-with-flashing-halogen-light glory.
Our story ends happily. Having just reminded myself to be careful, I saw him waiting to make his left, slowed a little and covered the brake lever, and then nailed the brakes when he did pull out. He never stopped or even slowed. Fortunately, I've also been practicing the quick middle finger extension, which technique I employed with martial crispness.
