Are you guys superstitious when it comes to riding?

[Düb Lüv]

Here's a story...

I was briefly married as teenager; married on 8 April 1978.

My brother was killed on 8 April 1980.

In the Navy I reported aboard a ship from Hell on 8 April 1982.

The ship pulled into Jacksonville, FL for emergency repairs (we were based in Little Creek, VA) and put me out on the pier with a transfer, and only 12 hours notice, on 8 April 1983.

A few years after leaving the Navy I was unemployed and unable to find work for a number or years.  I finally just went to college for a number of years, followed by more time unemployed trying to find work.  Finally got my first real job on 8 April 2002.

Upon reflection I realized that I had been unemployed (without a real, non-temp, full time job) for 8 years, 8 months, and 8 days.

What does it all mean?

Absolutely nothing.

 

my anniversary is on 8/8/08. wooogedy boooogedy. 

[DoubleEagle]

my anniversary is on 8/8/08. wooogedy boooogedy. 

I'm sure the Myans would have had something to say about that !

Dolph     

[Popeye the Sailor]

my anniversary is on 8/8/08. wooogedy boooogedy. 

It'd more accurately reflect the average marriage if it was two years, two months, and two days earlier.

[koko64]

I try not to be supertious when it comes to riding and crashing.

I've had 2 bad crashes where multiple broken and crushed bones were involvled.

1st bad crash , I went over a rise about 70 mph on a country road and was immediately confronted w, a  90 degree decreasing radius lefthand curve that I got target fixated and didn't make the curve and slammed into a small ditch then a hillside.

7 broken Ribs plus a punctured Lung and badly sprained Ankle. Full gear.

Second really bad crash , I believe some old " Hill Billy " heard me coming through a valley and up a hill then as I approached him from about a 1/4 mile away as he set in his pickup waiting to pull out on to the road I was on , I saw him and slowed down .

He pulled out and then went about 50 yards and put on his left turn signal and turned 3/4s of the way left onto and other road and then just set there.

As I went by him I made sure I missed him and next thing I know I'm starring at 3 people looking down at me .

My bike had in missing this truck hit something on the edge of the road which 'caused it to go airborne , turn on it's right side at about 50 mph and land on top of me and slid 100 yards in the middle of the road. I got knocked cold. Full gear on.

No citations were issued.

I think he was trying to kill me ...but I should have waited until he made the full turn before proceeding.

The guy in the truck said he got scared when he heard me coming and froze.??

I have negative thoughts many times before a ride so I would rather say a prayer and put my faith in God and my riding abilities and use what I have learned over the years.

Dolph

Double Eagle that's a big time crash!

My first crash was within six months of getting my learners permit. A prime mover tip truck was parked on a hill. The park brakes failed and it rolled down onto the road and took me out. I was doing 45mph (75kmph) and center punched it. Fortunately, I hit the side walls of the big dual wheels, probably the 'softest' part of the truck. As I lay there gasping for air, thinkng I was going to die I swear I heard a voice say, "It's not your time yet". I don't understand it as thousands of babies in developing countries are going to die from dirty water tonight, yet I know what I heard and it was a profound experience. I only sustained bruising, cracked ribs and a torn ligament in the knee. Was it Providence or sheer dumb luck?!

My mother has folksy, village religion from the old country and she has dreams and stuff and knows what I've been up to! That crash was a secret. She knew about the crash the moment I had it. The Force is strong with her!

My mum made me promise to cross myself every time I go out to ride. My brother and I ride and the poor woman must spend alot of time praying for us.
I feel strange if I dont make the cross and a quick prayer now so I do everytime I ride.

[koko64]

While the first might have been mostly the old man's fault, it doesn't mean that it was unavoidable on your part.  What could you have done differently?  Made yourself more visible?  Looked farther ahead to anticipate potential stupid moves from unaware drivers?  Practiced your emergency braking beforehand?

With the second one, perhaps you had enough time to get over the first crash mentally and started to get a bit overconfident?

Try to learn something from your previous mistakes, rather than just blaming bad luck and the stars lining up the wrong way.  Oh, and if something inside is telling you not to ride right now, listen to it, you're probably right - you may just not be in the right mindset for riding safe.

Very true.
I'm both religious/superstitious and a skeptic at the same time! That'll teach me for studying comparative religion and secular philosophy at University! !
A guy once said to me to pray like it all depends on God and prepare like it all depends on Mankind. Gotta satisfy both the primal subconscious and the rational mind.

[Ratfink749]

Men, after going to the bathroom, Tuck it to the left, Going to the right apparently causes low sides at the track on brand new bikes.      

[Lor]

My first was me vs. a Peterbilt dump truck that jack knifed into my lane and hit me head on, on the 90th day of ownership.
So I wait a few years before getting another bike, again on the 90th day, I'm crossing an intersection and an old guy in a F-550 blows the stop sign and runs me over.
So for the longest time I said I'm done, but if I ever climbed back on an iron horse it would be nothing but a duc. With the mindset of, if the 3rd time is the charm at least I'd go style.
We've made it past the 90th day this time, and I stumbled across a reply to a post here, that said if you make it thru 3, then your good to go.
I'm going with that mind set now, a bit more positive then the negative thinking of 3rd time's the charm.

[sfarchie]

Not superstitious, but I now listen to my 6th sense. My senses *tingled* 4 times since I've been riding and all 4 times something went wrong.

1. Had a bad feeling, but took my vintage scooter out. Hit by a left hand turning limo. Fractured wrist, right fib, torn ACL
2. Listened to my 6th sense (sort of) and told my friends I will ride slow...ended up going down a 20' ravine
3. Told all my friends something's wrong. Rode slow most of the trip till I decided to cross the DY...got a ticket
4. After MotoGP Laguna I felt it bad. Instead of riding to work, I took my Xootr (like a Razor). Hit a sidewalk lip and crashed.

Bottom line, if my 6th sense kicks in again, I'm staying off ANYTHING 2 wheels!

[causeofkaos]

just in case anyone was wondering ended up doing 3 weekend rides in august without incident.
2 of them from Taft through 33 to santa barbera and back.
1 to SLO through old 58 and back.
"made it through 3 so good to go"
ha ha lets not jinx it right.