Joined
·
20 Posts
I'm a newbie – just here, not to riding. It's always been motorcycles, from the Honda 50cc 'trail bike' of pre-drivers license time, or the Honda 350 of my early 20's or the dirt bikes of the 30's and the road bikes, up to and including an Aspencade of the 40's and then a cruiser style in the late 50's and a BMW GS in my early 60's. Now... it seems a scooter may well be on the way for my next adventures.
Just two years ago (June 2013) I could have easily died when a car driver “did not see him” and illegally made a u-turn in front of my GS. I was watching a loose dog on the side of the road as it seemed at the time that the dog was erratic enough in its movements that it might run out in front of my bike – so I did not even see the guy start his turn – there was no cross street – just a wide spot where he could easily make a u-ie.
45 MPH – T-boned his small car in the middle of the passenger side. An off-duty county sheriff was the 3rd car back from me and his report says I flew 45-50 feet and then rolled/tumbled another 45-50 feet. Bike totaled of course.
Last memory is looking at the dammd dog and beginning to shift focus back ahead – first memory is telling the paramedic that was cutting off my riding gear that my back hurt – a lot!
So... presuming that it took 8-10 minutes for the paramedics to respond, I've got no memory of any of it. There was no awareness of pain until I woke, so I suspect that's just about the same as being dead – no awareness. Glad I'm not dead. That would have been a drag, going to your own funeral and all that cremating and ashes scattering stuff. But, that's for another day (hopefully) far into the future.
Now – I'm freaking paranoid about doing everything practical to ensure that cagers are aware of my presence on a two-wheeler. These precautions will include bright front lights in an inverted triangle pattern, additional and flashing brake lights, a louder horn(s) and strategically placed reflective materials as appropriate.
I was ATGATT on the GS – well, except for jeans, as it was going to be hot that day. The only road rash was on my shins because I made a choice to not wear my riding pants. It'll be the same – ATGATT on the scoot.
Other injuries included fractures in my right wrist, left scapula and pelvis in seven pieces. Numerous bruises and nerve damage in my right thigh, running up into my groin. Wince and groan a little with me knowing that the BMW tank hump 'nudged' both testicles to take temporary residence inside my abdominal cavity. And yes, there's still no fun to be had from that.
Lucky? Fortunate? Blessed? Yeah, all of that and more. Because of the good helmet and riding coat, gloves and boots, I had no head trauma. Certainly lots of bruising, but no contusions or other open wounds on the body/arms/hands/feet. The fractured pelvis required 2 weeks in the hospital and then 8 weeks in a hospital bed in the corner of my son's living room. Another month learning to walk. Another 4 months building stamina to walk more than a few hundred yards. More months as the bones healed completely. Still more months as I stretched and exercised my way through pain sometimes bad enough to be incapacitating. But... time heals all wounds and after 24 months I'm 98% pain free and able to walk, talk and chew bubble gum at the same time.
The desire to 'fight' a big heavy bike has gone away – but the desire to be back on two wheels is still strong, and getting stronger the longer I am pain free.
Honestly, I admire folks that keep going when they're chronic pain sufferers – I had 22-ish months of it and it sucked rocks. I cannot imagine how people that cannot be freed from their physical pain cope with day to day life. Much respect to those that keep on keeping on.
So... that dammd crash interrupted “my plan” by two years. Time now to modify the plan and get on with it as best as possible given the new realities – physical and mental.
The plan was – and in large part still is – to travel the western US in my pickup towing my 5th wheel. Stopping here or there for as long as whim dictates. Ride the local 2 lanes to 'see the sights' and then move – 50 miles or two hundred and do it again until the urge to get up and go has got up and went. At that point we'll figure out a spot to settle that's sorta close to the grand kids and get on with being less nomadic. But until then I'll travel 8-9 months a year. Sometimes at/near some water and sometimes at/near some mountains. Likely I'll slow down and spend the winter holed up someplace where it does not get too cold to ride most days.
I started to do that on a small scale in the summer of 2012. Found I liked it so much that I upgraded all the vehicles and was preparing for a lot of great riding in the summer of 2013. Did fine until the crash. Loved traveling and riding the local twisties so much that we'll give it another go with a Burgman 400 as the steed of choice.
Hi-Ho Silver! or some such silliness.
Leo
Just two years ago (June 2013) I could have easily died when a car driver “did not see him” and illegally made a u-turn in front of my GS. I was watching a loose dog on the side of the road as it seemed at the time that the dog was erratic enough in its movements that it might run out in front of my bike – so I did not even see the guy start his turn – there was no cross street – just a wide spot where he could easily make a u-ie.
45 MPH – T-boned his small car in the middle of the passenger side. An off-duty county sheriff was the 3rd car back from me and his report says I flew 45-50 feet and then rolled/tumbled another 45-50 feet. Bike totaled of course.
Last memory is looking at the dammd dog and beginning to shift focus back ahead – first memory is telling the paramedic that was cutting off my riding gear that my back hurt – a lot!
So... presuming that it took 8-10 minutes for the paramedics to respond, I've got no memory of any of it. There was no awareness of pain until I woke, so I suspect that's just about the same as being dead – no awareness. Glad I'm not dead. That would have been a drag, going to your own funeral and all that cremating and ashes scattering stuff. But, that's for another day (hopefully) far into the future.
Now – I'm freaking paranoid about doing everything practical to ensure that cagers are aware of my presence on a two-wheeler. These precautions will include bright front lights in an inverted triangle pattern, additional and flashing brake lights, a louder horn(s) and strategically placed reflective materials as appropriate.
I was ATGATT on the GS – well, except for jeans, as it was going to be hot that day. The only road rash was on my shins because I made a choice to not wear my riding pants. It'll be the same – ATGATT on the scoot.
Other injuries included fractures in my right wrist, left scapula and pelvis in seven pieces. Numerous bruises and nerve damage in my right thigh, running up into my groin. Wince and groan a little with me knowing that the BMW tank hump 'nudged' both testicles to take temporary residence inside my abdominal cavity. And yes, there's still no fun to be had from that.
Lucky? Fortunate? Blessed? Yeah, all of that and more. Because of the good helmet and riding coat, gloves and boots, I had no head trauma. Certainly lots of bruising, but no contusions or other open wounds on the body/arms/hands/feet. The fractured pelvis required 2 weeks in the hospital and then 8 weeks in a hospital bed in the corner of my son's living room. Another month learning to walk. Another 4 months building stamina to walk more than a few hundred yards. More months as the bones healed completely. Still more months as I stretched and exercised my way through pain sometimes bad enough to be incapacitating. But... time heals all wounds and after 24 months I'm 98% pain free and able to walk, talk and chew bubble gum at the same time.
The desire to 'fight' a big heavy bike has gone away – but the desire to be back on two wheels is still strong, and getting stronger the longer I am pain free.
Honestly, I admire folks that keep going when they're chronic pain sufferers – I had 22-ish months of it and it sucked rocks. I cannot imagine how people that cannot be freed from their physical pain cope with day to day life. Much respect to those that keep on keeping on.
So... that dammd crash interrupted “my plan” by two years. Time now to modify the plan and get on with it as best as possible given the new realities – physical and mental.
The plan was – and in large part still is – to travel the western US in my pickup towing my 5th wheel. Stopping here or there for as long as whim dictates. Ride the local 2 lanes to 'see the sights' and then move – 50 miles or two hundred and do it again until the urge to get up and go has got up and went. At that point we'll figure out a spot to settle that's sorta close to the grand kids and get on with being less nomadic. But until then I'll travel 8-9 months a year. Sometimes at/near some water and sometimes at/near some mountains. Likely I'll slow down and spend the winter holed up someplace where it does not get too cold to ride most days.
I started to do that on a small scale in the summer of 2012. Found I liked it so much that I upgraded all the vehicles and was preparing for a lot of great riding in the summer of 2013. Did fine until the crash. Loved traveling and riding the local twisties so much that we'll give it another go with a Burgman 400 as the steed of choice.
Hi-Ho Silver! or some such silliness.
Leo
.
