I hope the rider comes through OK, and wish him all the best. How lucky was he that your nurse trained god daughter was on hand. He just made a bad choice which I can't say I haven't done on occasion myself. Awful for everyone who saw it and is ultimately affected.
Having an *off* is a real hit and miss affair, ive come off at stupid speed and got up thinking WTF just happened and walked away body intact and pride busted to hell....but i walked away, yet as said, 10-30mph can in certain circumstances kill or maim badly, its luck of the draw....simple! Another instance i know of, GF's aunt, in a Jaguar, only one wearing a seat belt, hit the back end of a stationary truck...she died, all others in the car not wearing a belt got thrown free..........tiz luck of the draw people !!! The game is to reduce the odds in your favour, its as simple as that
Absolute numpties , I had my first off a few months ago went round a bend and for some reason I accidentally jammed my foot on the rear brake which I didn’t realise bike slid sideways and I held it and then suddenly rear tyre found grip so flipped me off at maybe 50 or 60 slammed the deck slid for a bit was amazed to get up , the slide had rubbed off all the leather on one glove and made a very small hole in my actual palm a few mm , slammed my shoulder had armoured leather jacket on ,and leg when I hit the ground and scraped top layer of my leathers on knee and one boot , if I hadn’t have had the proper gear on I’d have been a right mess as it was I was just banged up a bit , it’s about 6 weeks since and I can still feel slight soreness so I’ll never ride without all the proper stuff on no matter how hot it is it’s just not worth it
For me its about damage limitation, popping to Tesco through the village at 30mph = an armoured textile jacket. On the race track or 3 hour ride to Skeggy = full leathers. Blistering speeds on main roads wearing no protective equipment is unfair for the services that have to scoop someones dumb ass off the road, its unfair for people around also, no parent should be asked "daddy, why is that mans head on backwards"
You can preach all you like and the people that know will nod sagely and agree with you but people smoke, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, eat crap and don’t exercise in the full knowledge of what the potential consequenses are to their health and wellbeing. Until you can change the rediculous mindset that “oh it won’t happen to me” you will continue to see people needlessy die or suffer life changing injuries. They made the wearing of helmets mandatory (except for Sikhs who wear turbans) so perhaps it’s time to do that with PPE regulation conforming motorcycle gear. Andy
I will wear what I want on my bike as long as I am legal. I will not even listen to anyone else who thinks that they have some sort of moral control over what i wear. If I was worried about risk then i would never ride a bike again. You can watch any TV program and see what smoking does to an individual, but I bet there are many on here who chose to smoke. I would not tell them what to do. Again it is the individual who makes the choice and nothing to do with anyone else.
So my lycra shorts and top won't do much when I'm pedaling along at 30mph ? Best get the leather one piece romper suit on and go for a pedal, that'll make me sweat!
I'm sure all you lot that went to WDW never ventured out in t-shirts, or saw many in shorts...its only UK who seem obsessed with power ranger kit. Its your life, your skin, do what you like just dont moan (pun intended) if it all goes pear shaped. And I have sympathy for any rider taken out by another road user. Could be buck naked with a pineapple up their arse: would still deserve sympathy
I had one at 18 in Colchester .. car pulled out on me and I’m told my bike converted his Morris marina into a convertible .. I woke up in hospitial still with my helmet on which they were about to cut off I pleaded with them not too, it was an AGV Ago replica, they cut it off anyway.. the pain from that hurt more than the broken pelvis and dislocated leg tbh... well, that was until they decided to put my leg back in position before, taking me in theatre to plate my pelvis... blood clots under all my finger nails which they removed via hot wire..my blue Barry Sheene replica gloves where shredded too.. Still looking on the bright side, the bang on my head didn’t seem to have any long term lasting affects!!!!! ? I’m sure you’d agree...x
Its not even that great scooping people up in full leathers, at least they hold all the bits together having done this several times, the thought of riding in anything less than half decent full protective gear, minimum kevlar jeans and jacket for me on the scrambler, is silly.
We all have a choice.....Wear what you like not what people advise you to wear. I reckon if you ask that chap who slid down the road on his arse if he’d do it again in shorts and t shirt what do you think his reply would be...
I came off 6 weeks ago at about 60 on a left hand bend,wearing full leathers boots gloves etc.broken shoulder blade skin off the backs of both hands and off shoulders badly bruised leg and foot from being under the bike.Still can't use my arm properly.woudn't consider riding without protection.Hope the guy recovers o.k.
If you are wearing shorts or flip flops etc then you should ride accordingly. That means not overtaking or high speeds. Simples.
As others have said, its usually the sudden stop that is the most dangerous although slides on unprotected flesh can be dire also. I have experienced a sudden stop whilst off-roading and my life was saved by a Leat neck brace. On the track, I have experienced many a slide at speed (over 100mph on a couple of occasions) and survived most of those with nary a scratch or even a bruise; so yes protective equipment is fantastic. However, I have also ridden in shorts and a tee shirt (and trainers, not flip-flops!) so I can't claim to be totally ATTGAT. As with any activity or action, it's up to the individual at the time to make assessments and decisions, balancing risk and reward. Sometimes we get it wrong and fortunately, very often get away with it. This guy didn't and one can justifiably criticise his assessment of risk but that doesn't in my mind preclude sympathy.
I would question your authority to tell me what to wear and how to ride. If that is your opinion then fair enough. Anyone who smokes, is overweight or takes part in any risky sports should worry about themselves and not others. There are too many people in the UK who think that they have the right to tell others what to do.
