Fear

[MDHCO]

Deer, drivers on cell phones, gravel or oil spills, speed traps, old men wearing hats in light colored minivans, what sets off the alarms?

[Sport-Touring]

[scubadoguk]

I take the veiw they are all poor drivers and some a lot more than others also I am always reminded that I may have the RIGHT of way but they have the TONNAGE

[Bodhi]

The only thing to fear is fear itself.

Really - I didn't make that up!

[atypical1]

Gravel still makes me nervous. I am cool with poor drivers (I expect everyone to be a poor driver), cops, etc. But gravel always makes me more cautious than I need to be.

[bubba zanetti]

Spills. I hit one two years ago .. ouch.

[Thor]

Gravel still makes me nervous. I am cool with poor drivers (I expect everyone to be a poor driver), cops, etc. But gravel always makes me more cautious than I need to be.

I think it is O.K. to be cautious around gravel.  I still like to slide through it every so often.

I don't get full on fear, but I did scare the crap out of myself this year.  I just got a new camera and was looking at a house with a business sign on it out in the middle of nowhere as I rode by thinking it might make an interesting picture.  When I looked up there was no road and just trees.  Either their wasn't a sign or I missed it.  I jumped like someone jumped out of the closet as your about to go to bed!

Fortunately, I could tell that the road turned to the right and I heeled it over and made the turn.

I don't look at things to take pictures of anymore.  I stop and turn around if I think it might be interesting.

[Bodhi]

Seriously - I've been a few situations where clear split-second thinking and fast reaction saved my ass. I'm not saying I'm technically a great rider, but I am saying that keeping a cool head can get you out of some bad situations where a panic reaction may not. Twice in the past three years I was involved in a hairy situation involving wheel lockup or a car moving into my path without warning, and survived without going down. Lucky? Maybe.

But I noticed even in these critical situtations, my heart rate didn't fly off the scale, I didn't panic and squeeze the brakes. I distinctly remember thinking through my options and course of action: ease off the brakes a little, straighten out, clutch in, brake, glance to the left, ease off brake, swerve into safe area in the paved median, brake to a stop. I was a bit surprised my heart wasn't going nuts. I just sat there for a few seconds thinking "holy $&#%" - like in those VW commercials. I don't know where this coolness comes from - practice, skill, or more likely just an innate thing. It honestly seemed like a better rider had taken over for me.

I'm not trying to boast, I am trying to say that keeping cool when you need to be able to think and react quickly is essential. Fear - when it paralyzes you IMO is a big killer.

Poor drivers is my choice from your list of external things to be "afraid" of. You just cannot predict this hazard in advance, you can only assume the worst from every driver and scan around and always have a plan B ready.

[Leanintree]

I'm up for 'poor drivers', but with one caveat... I expect a lot of drivers to be piss poor at operating their vehicle, but what freaks me out is Uber-agressive drivers that put many people at risk. 65 in a 30. switching lanes like its Nascar. Smoking the tires at stoplights. Erratic lane position. Bombing down packed streets, tailgating anyone who can't or won't get over.

Don't get me wrong, I may go faster than traffic, but I don't try to force people out of my way. The obvious powerr tripping meth-smoker freaks me out. I'll take any option to get away from them, be it slowing, turning, twisting on it or selecting alternate routing. I can envision way to many bad scenarios growing out of being anywhere near these fruit-loops.

I can foresee problems and solutions with dumb people. Dumb *angry* people are a different story.

Leanintree

[Mr Sunshine]

Not one thing.  It depends what I see when I am out there.


You can't pigeon hole this sort of thing.

[Guy]

All if these, if it is unexpected. When, the animal/cop/driver blindsides you, completely from out of left field. It can make the heart race.

[Black Ice]

Deer or other critters--Not a real big problem.  Sure it's unnerving rolling through the roads around here during elk season, but there's usually a chance to avoid them.  And if they take me down, at least I'll have meat in the freezer.  Gotta look on the bright side ya know.  

Cell phones/Poor drivers--Same thing, really.  I expect every cager out there to be a total fucktard at all times, and therefore, it's not really a scary concept.

Leo with a laser--He can laser me all he wants...I got photon torpedoes under the fairing.  So wassup now, bee-yotch?

Gravel or oil spills--That's scary.  I've had too many instances where I just ate pavement with no warning at all.  Gravel is one thing, but black ice, diesel and oil can sneak right up on your ass.  It's the one thing you can't anticipate until you're already skidding down the road.  Not cool.  

[mtrider16]

Well I put down deer and critters.  While I agree with lots of the other answers, with my current ride the critters seem to be the most likely danger.

David

[lrhzed]

since i live on several miles of dirt/gravel it doesn't bother me unless its wet/slimy  but if you ever had a deer jump over your front fender or ran over 2 turkeys and a dog in 2 days (somebody was trying to tell me something) you just can;t avoid critters even at 15 mph. but all of it could be a problem if your not paying attention!

[reppans]

Deer.... by far.

Already hit 3 on a motorcycle, 2 more in cars.  Can't even count the close calls.  Everything else..... I find reasonably predictable.

[stewm_21]

The gravel and oil do give me pucker but slow inputs and patience get me through.  Deer- I'll +1 on the meat benefit but I just hope they act like deer and run away or freeze and I can go around the back side.  The one that gets me is the 16-20 y/o that want to play NASCAR and ride my ass or flip lanes like they own the road/know what they are doing and everyone will get out of their way- hate those guys.

[Andrew]

"Fear is the mind killer"  


Gravel and oil spills do make me a bit unsettled.

[blackwing]

Poor drivers.
After being rear ended and squished between two cars,I'm getting more and more paranoid about riding in cities or heavy traffic.

[rodm850g]

Guys,
I voted other because there wasn't one for log trucks...over here in Eastern,N.C. we have these vehicles that  Ican't for the life of me know how they get an inspection decal.....crap always falling off....debris, logs! thas all

[Bodhi]

What about the skillions of dump trucks this new housing bubble has put on the road. They have all this junk and small rocks flying out of the back and a threatening sign: KEEP BACK 300 FEET - NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BROKEN WINDSHIELDS.

[morayman]

What scares me most is this time of year here in Florida is Snowbirds.We get all the really old Snowbirds comming down here for the winter and they are either looking around at everything,still driving like they're in the "Back Forty",or just can't drive worth a shit.If you live in Fl. I'm sure you know what I mean.It's the best time of the year to ride,but you have to be extra careful!