They say that there are only two types of bike. The ones that have been dropped, and the ones that haven't been dropped yet. Which is why it's always a good idea to be sure you can pick up the bike you're riding if you should, somehow, drop it. Given what bikes weigh in relation to many bikers (especially ones like me), this can look like a tall order.
England has had a lot of rain lately, but it paused for the weekend, at least in my region. So, of course, I went riding, I parked up, kicked out my stand, which slid on a mud patch, recoiled in horror at the sliminess and folded itself back up. Of course, I was already leaning the bike onto it at this point, so the bike went over in slow, controlled stages. I got free easily enough, but was then faced with the task of picking it up again.
Heavy sigh, about a tenth of the weight of the bike (which is 700lbs, give or take accessories, so many times the weight of me).
Now, while I have never had to pick up this bike before, I do know the technique, so crouched down, with my back against the seat, gripped the chassis to either side and put my legs into it. This would have been easier with less mud or grippier boots, but you never get ideal conditions for these things. The key is to use the biggest muscles - legs - to do the work for you.
The bike has a small paint chip on the edge of the foot board and some cement mortar residue on the engine case. Plus, of course, the ubiquitous and iniquitous mud. That is the sum total of its trauma. My hamstrings, on the other hand, have yet to forgive me.
