It's lesson-for-all-of-us time. I make these comments in all sincerity and not to be a jerk.

If you cannot avoid a collision with a vehicle in front on you, you were 'tailgating' and the collision was your fault. It was not the fault of the guy in front of you who stopped quickly. This person may have had a good reason to do so (avoiding a animal in the road, for example).

Minimum you should have is a two-second gap between you and the next thing ahead of you. Better is a 3 or 4 second gap. I'm getting older and my reaction time is not what it used to be. I go for 3 or 4 second gap.

Also, riding in a group of bikes takes training and is something I prefer not to do for the very reason that you provided. I used to race bicycles. Unless the group is well disciplined and used to the behavior of others, crashes result.

I do hope everyone heals well. Damage to the bikes can be fixed (that's only money).

Glad you came out as well as you did. Personally don't like riding in a group. Much rather go my own way, "ride your own ride". Heal quickly.

BuckRYCA wrote on 10/04/10 at 10:09:09:


I agree with everything you said except for the animal bit ... Smaller than a dog I won't even try to avoid it .... Many people die trying to avoid animals that wouldn't have even changed their trajectory.

One thing I will add is also "Always have a way out",   Like what was said visualize crash scenarios in your head and make sure you have an escape route.

Heal up and you'll be back in the saddle in no time :thumb

jsarsfield wrote on 10/04/10 at 12:45:18:


I don't know. I'm a firm believer in practicing what you want your reactions to be. I know a lot of people advocate aiming for center of mass on animals smaller than you.
I think that if you force your brain to make a decision (is it too big to ride through or not?) you are just slowing yourself down and you are putting yourself at potential risk - how do you know that you aren't going to get knocked over. I personally know someone that was knocked down by a chunk of gravel on the road, a deer, a dog, etc.  If you always decide that you are going to run over everything that gets in your way, you're going to lose. So personally, I've made the advance decision to steer around things when possible, when I have to react to a situation where I can't steer around, I slow down as fast as possible, and I practice these things. I did recently find out that if I am slowing down, I can still look for opening to steer through.

Heal quickly and get back up when you can!!

When your going down a road in a car or motorcycle you can be at least 50 yards behind the cars in front of you, Theirs no reason to be closer. So really your husband was to close to the cars. You can slow down so that there is a distant between you and the cars.If another car passes you and gets in between you slow down some more.

  Tucson driving must be like driving in Asia or India