Woke up this morning to the maid ringing the door bell (ah' so annoying)! Have been tired and exhausted lately not getting enough sleep, the commute tiring me further and DIY projects running at home and elsewhere.
Didn't feel as fresh as one should normally feel in the morning. Plus missed my daily cup of coffee too (something that jump-starts the day if any doubts) as the milk decided to go bad. Was too lazy to go down and fetch another one as I thought I'd rather finish some more of the decorative lights I was fixing at home! As I got ready to get to work, Rosita suggested I take a day off and rest (and fix up those lights). I resisted. No particular work in office, but still decided to go. Made my way to the basement parking and as I started the bike I was still in two minds. Was even contemplating trying my hand at (the ever improving) public transport, but thought the wait times would be a further pain. Hence started and went off. On the way to work I realised I was not riding as I normally would. Some narrow misses (bumping into vehicles from behind) in traffic, which normally never happens. Also contemplated when to change my Tyres. 33000+ km, 5 yrs, those Zappers still have some life. They could go almost 10,000 more atleast! Today the traffic also seemed a bit too busy. Did I leave a few minutes late? As I approached the Marthahalli junction on (Old) airport road, I could see a pile up ahead. Hence decided to take the detour which I take rarely. It goes towards the new Logica building and then goes behind the old Airport into Yamalur village, over the sewage gutter and a mud track to finally reach my office building from behind. This road has been great fun most of the times as it is unpaved. And in the rain it can become tricky. Have got stuck in the muck once only to turn back before (http://flickr.com/photos/glifford/2722265462). It has been several weeks since the last shower so it has dried up and become fun. Kinda practice for Leh, if I ever get a chance :) As I took the road, I realised that the left side of the road was soaking wet. Some errant tanker was leaking away to glory as it was going along. So much that the entire left side was wet as if it were a shower! Most bikes were forced to ride on the centre of this undivided road. I was just contemplating at what rate (litres per metre of road) was the tanker leaking that it would take before that 12,000 (standard tanker size) litres would run dry. Would it even reach the destination with some water? It was then I noticed the speed breaker approaching hence I decided to slow down. Braked gently (maybe front) and before I realised I was losing grip. Tried to correct, couldn't. I was going to fall! Saw a bike approaching from the opposite side. I was running into him. I was down on the right. Fortunately the speedbreaker arrested my skid and I didn't run into that guy. I could feel my right hand almost going under his wheel. Fortunately he managed to swerve. I was fine. No pain or such. Got up, realised my bag straps had ripped off. I wondered if there was any laptop damage! Stood up, took off my helmet and told people who came to help I was fine! But I couldn't lift up the bike. Saw some shreds on my trousers' right leg and slight burning within. Took off my gloves. My right glove palm had taken some rip and had a hole. It had protected my palm that was scratchless. People picked up my bike and took it on the side. I told them I am fine and thanked them. Had to carry my bag which had no straps now. Saw my helmet. Scratchless again. It was a new one! Surprising. One guy returned with the right side rear view mirror. It had broken off :) Assessed rest of the bike damage. Not much. Headlamp glass broken, faring scratched. Leg guard scratched and brake pedal bent. Slight scratches on the brake lever and end weight. That's all. One well wisher stayed a while. He asked me to wait a while before I rode on. I did. Was contemplating returning home of going to office. With a strapless bag it was gonna be difficult to ride back 90% of my commute (15+km). So I decided to go ahead. Did what I never did before. Keep a bag on the tank and ride :(. Reached office, slight trouble putting on main stand as my right shoulder has a slight ache. Came up to office. Fetched the first aid kit and cleant the small knee wound. All this while I have been contemplating on Shash's words which I never wanted to believe in. As he had written somewhere "There are two kinds of bikers, those who have fallen and those who have yet to fall!" Today I joined the former group! My first moving fall on Scarlet since I bought her. Ofcourse have had parking lot skids when atleast one foot of my ground. Also contemplating on the factors that led to this. Was it only chance? Or was it a number of factors leading to this? Not at my best attention levels, missed coffee, tyres, taking a detour, water on the road etc. It sure is a good lesson to learn! May leave work early and head to Venkat's to drop poor Scarlet and take some advice :) Cheers, Glifford.
