Carl Went Down
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To my Triumph Talk family, I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the response from you all. The prayers, posts, phone calls, and emails are humbling and overwhelming. I have always known this was an unselfish, compassionate and caring group of folks; but the magnitude of it... 
! I humbly thank you. You have no idea how much your encouragement and humor means to me.
I am doing well, very grateful that I came through the ordeal relatively unscathed. As many of you have said, I was blessed and protected. It could have been much, much worse. I am frustrated at being limited and by not being able to ride. I am having trouble with the crutches because my right shoulder and ribs on my right side are sore. I can only get about ten feet before I have to rest from the pain. But that will get better. After today, the pain should start letting up.
I figured out how to prop my foot up on the desk tray and put the keyboard in my lap. Thus I can rest and check the forum.
I did have a bit of a get off Saturday. I had to brake really hard (read lock it up to miss an SUV that has no brake lights). By the time I realized the SUV was nearly stopped, I was closing in on it rapidly. It was quite a ride and not one I care to repeat! It could have been a whole lot worse.
With the brakes locked, the bike got squirrelly. I almost saved it; but alas, I high sided. Neither I nor the bike struck anything other than pavement. I am very sore and I have hairline fracture of my right ankle. As most of you know, I am an ATTGAT (all the gear, all the time) rider. My protective gear definitely did its job. After one and half somersaults (according to Mae Lyne and other witnesses), I landed on my right shoulder, and right elbow. The armor absorbed the greater part of the impact on my shoulder, elbow and hip and completely protected my knee. While sliding, I wore through all layers of the jacket and trousers on the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. I wore through the armor on the elbow and nearly through it on the shoulder. I was able to keep from rolling and just slide. I have major scratches on the right side of my face shield down to the bottom of the chin bar. My gear reduced my injuries by 70% or greater. I have a spot of pavement rash on my right elbow and just above my right hip at the belt line where the hip pad worked down during the slide. I was probably doing about 35 mph (56 kph), down from 55 mph (88.5 kph), when I was unceremoniously ejected from the bike. Other than the ankle, I could have walked away and ridden. I was blessed.
It was much more traumatic for Mae Lyne than it was for me. Mae Lyne, following me, saw the whole thing develop and go down. She had the presence of mind to turn on her hazard flashers and move to the middle of the road blocking both lanes and very well may have saved my life. I remember leaving the bike and sliding on the road. I guess I was unconscious for a few seconds. When I came to, I knew where I was and what had happened and I had an overwhelming desire to get out of the middle of the road! The ankle will keep me from riding for about three to four weeks – I will go positively crazy! Right now, I can’t drive a cage until I am allowed to put weight on the ankle.
As best I could tell in the hospital parking lot under the lights, the damage to Mae Lyne’s bike appears to be mostly cosmetic except the windshield, right mirror, throttle assembly, right brake lever and right brake pedal. The right silencer is scratched; but with the hack mounted, that won’t be seen. The front fender is scratched; but I will not worry about that until I have $$$$ to fix it. I hae not been able to navigate the four steps of our house to get out and look at it in the daylight. I will try that today.
I had just picked the bike up from the shop in Ocala and was returning home to mount the hack. After seven months Mae Lyne was finally getting her ride back and I had to go and dump it. I feel really bad about that.
Again, thank you all; you folks are the best!!!! Before I ride again, I will have new gear and a new helmet.
! I humbly thank you. You have no idea how much your encouragement and humor means to me.I am doing well, very grateful that I came through the ordeal relatively unscathed. As many of you have said, I was blessed and protected. It could have been much, much worse. I am frustrated at being limited and by not being able to ride. I am having trouble with the crutches because my right shoulder and ribs on my right side are sore. I can only get about ten feet before I have to rest from the pain. But that will get better. After today, the pain should start letting up.
I figured out how to prop my foot up on the desk tray and put the keyboard in my lap. Thus I can rest and check the forum.
I did have a bit of a get off Saturday. I had to brake really hard (read lock it up to miss an SUV that has no brake lights). By the time I realized the SUV was nearly stopped, I was closing in on it rapidly. It was quite a ride and not one I care to repeat! It could have been a whole lot worse.
With the brakes locked, the bike got squirrelly. I almost saved it; but alas, I high sided. Neither I nor the bike struck anything other than pavement. I am very sore and I have hairline fracture of my right ankle. As most of you know, I am an ATTGAT (all the gear, all the time) rider. My protective gear definitely did its job. After one and half somersaults (according to Mae Lyne and other witnesses), I landed on my right shoulder, and right elbow. The armor absorbed the greater part of the impact on my shoulder, elbow and hip and completely protected my knee. While sliding, I wore through all layers of the jacket and trousers on the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. I wore through the armor on the elbow and nearly through it on the shoulder. I was able to keep from rolling and just slide. I have major scratches on the right side of my face shield down to the bottom of the chin bar. My gear reduced my injuries by 70% or greater. I have a spot of pavement rash on my right elbow and just above my right hip at the belt line where the hip pad worked down during the slide. I was probably doing about 35 mph (56 kph), down from 55 mph (88.5 kph), when I was unceremoniously ejected from the bike. Other than the ankle, I could have walked away and ridden. I was blessed.
It was much more traumatic for Mae Lyne than it was for me. Mae Lyne, following me, saw the whole thing develop and go down. She had the presence of mind to turn on her hazard flashers and move to the middle of the road blocking both lanes and very well may have saved my life. I remember leaving the bike and sliding on the road. I guess I was unconscious for a few seconds. When I came to, I knew where I was and what had happened and I had an overwhelming desire to get out of the middle of the road! The ankle will keep me from riding for about three to four weeks – I will go positively crazy! Right now, I can’t drive a cage until I am allowed to put weight on the ankle.
As best I could tell in the hospital parking lot under the lights, the damage to Mae Lyne’s bike appears to be mostly cosmetic except the windshield, right mirror, throttle assembly, right brake lever and right brake pedal. The right silencer is scratched; but with the hack mounted, that won’t be seen. The front fender is scratched; but I will not worry about that until I have $$$$ to fix it. I hae not been able to navigate the four steps of our house to get out and look at it in the daylight. I will try that today.
I had just picked the bike up from the shop in Ocala and was returning home to mount the hack. After seven months Mae Lyne was finally getting her ride back and I had to go and dump it. I feel really bad about that.
Again, thank you all; you folks are the best!!!! Before I ride again, I will have new gear and a new helmet.
I always did the same thing Carl....when i dropped a bike the first thing i'd do if i wasn't so injured as to not be able to walk was to go look at the bike. The one time i didn't was when i was too injured, and at that point you really don't care ! But golad you're doing so well, and hey....the bike isn't even bad....now thats some luck !!! Get well soon Carl...
PS: And coincidentally as i was typing this with the radio on, the news was giving stats on how many people have died on bikes !!! Not being one of those stats is enough for you to jump for joy right there ! So many people will never feel anything again let alone joy...Glad you weren't one of those Carl...
PS: And coincidentally as i was typing this with the radio on, the news was giving stats on how many people have died on bikes !!! Not being one of those stats is enough for you to jump for joy right there ! So many people will never feel anything again let alone joy...Glad you weren't one of those Carl...
Great to hear that you're up and about a bit Carl. Remember, wounds heal and chicks dig scars! lol
ATGATT is well, you can't compare. I know my jacket and boots are a bit stuffed after my dump, then again that's their job. I hate to think how many skin grafts I would've needed without them.
Take it easy and get all mended properly before you climb back on a bike.
...
ATGATT is well, you can't compare. I know my jacket and boots are a bit stuffed after my dump, then again that's their job. I hate to think how many skin grafts I would've needed without them.
Take it easy and get all mended properly before you climb back on a bike.
...
triple trouble
Member
Glad to hear that you are okay and healing well Carl. As has been said before, bikes can be fixed. ATGATT is right on. I had a real low speed crash a few summers ago when a girl on a bike cut me off. It was a steaming hot summer's day in mid July but I chose to wear the gear. I couldn't believe how much I hurt and how sore I was for a couple of weeks after even with a thick leather jacket and high boots. The boots were burned from my Norton's exhaust pipe and my jeans were scorched inside them. I hate to think what my leg would have looked like without protection. Heal well and hope you're back in the saddle soon,
Sunshine Jim
Member
eya ol timer!
glad you made it.
good thinkin on yer sweeties side too. :ya2:
been there done that, last one was on ice in Forks Washington
managed to stay flat and watched a one ton truck wheel go by my face 3 inches away.
the sore will take a while to go away of course, but you should be back by spring.
shame about the bike. seems like getting em out of the shop is danger ous.
thank gawd fer leathers and helmets eh? hate pavement rash myself.
i'm getting to the point where i hate driving around 'cages'.
get well quick, take the time to heal up tho! :y115:
glad you made it.
good thinkin on yer sweeties side too. :ya2:
been there done that, last one was on ice in Forks Washington
managed to stay flat and watched a one ton truck wheel go by my face 3 inches away.
the sore will take a while to go away of course, but you should be back by spring.
shame about the bike. seems like getting em out of the shop is danger ous.
thank gawd fer leathers and helmets eh? hate pavement rash myself.
i'm getting to the point where i hate driving around 'cages'.
get well quick, take the time to heal up tho! :y115:
R
RAFIKI
Guest
Hey Man
This is bad news but glad to hear that you are on the mend.The importance of good gear has been proved once again
Go well
This is bad news but glad to hear that you are on the mend.The importance of good gear has been proved once again
Go well
Again, I thank you all for your support and well wishes.
Mae Lyne definitely protected me with her quick thinking and strategic stopping. I lay facing down the road in the direction was traveling. I could not see behind me and I was struggling to clear the cobwebs. I had an overwhelming desire to get out of the road as I was ling right across the center line. When Mae Lyne appeared and told me she had blocked the road, I quit struggling to get up. I had visions of those tires rushing past me and over me!!
On another forum, I was asked what gear I was wearing. I decided to post that here. I was wearing a Fulmer modular helmet, a Modus. I was wearing a Triumph Raptor vented jacket - the same as Chris was wearing when he went down near Deals Gap - and Triumph Raptor vented trousers. It was in the low 80's; so I was wear summer gear. I had on Justin work boots, 8 inch.
I have read a lot of negative stuff posted on various forums about textile riding gear. Well, mine did not get hot, melt, burst into flames, disintegrate and all of that bull. And I definitely had a good slide down new asphalt. Where a leather jacket and trousers could probably be patched and used again (after replacing the armor), the textile is a one time use, throw away. However, it is less expensive, lighter and much cooler in Florida's heat and humidity than leather is.
I will replace the gear with quality textile. It worked! My gear was purchased in June 2004. The helmet was a year old.
Oh, and the horror stories about modular helmets coming open in an accident didn't come to pass either. My helmet stayed locked until I opened it.
As someone pointed out, the weakest link in my protection was my boots. I have a pair of cold weather motorcycle boots; but in warm weather, I wear my work boots. Chances are that had I been wearing motorcycle boots with ankle protection, I would have been out riding this afternoon instead of sitting at the computer with my foot propped up. I'm not complaining; I'm glad to able to sit in front of my computer! But I will add a good, comfortable warm weather riding boot to my riding gear.
Mae Lyne definitely protected me with her quick thinking and strategic stopping. I lay facing down the road in the direction was traveling. I could not see behind me and I was struggling to clear the cobwebs. I had an overwhelming desire to get out of the road as I was ling right across the center line. When Mae Lyne appeared and told me she had blocked the road, I quit struggling to get up. I had visions of those tires rushing past me and over me!!
On another forum, I was asked what gear I was wearing. I decided to post that here. I was wearing a Fulmer modular helmet, a Modus. I was wearing a Triumph Raptor vented jacket - the same as Chris was wearing when he went down near Deals Gap - and Triumph Raptor vented trousers. It was in the low 80's; so I was wear summer gear. I had on Justin work boots, 8 inch.
I have read a lot of negative stuff posted on various forums about textile riding gear. Well, mine did not get hot, melt, burst into flames, disintegrate and all of that bull. And I definitely had a good slide down new asphalt. Where a leather jacket and trousers could probably be patched and used again (after replacing the armor), the textile is a one time use, throw away. However, it is less expensive, lighter and much cooler in Florida's heat and humidity than leather is.
I will replace the gear with quality textile. It worked! My gear was purchased in June 2004. The helmet was a year old.
Oh, and the horror stories about modular helmets coming open in an accident didn't come to pass either. My helmet stayed locked until I opened it.
As someone pointed out, the weakest link in my protection was my boots. I have a pair of cold weather motorcycle boots; but in warm weather, I wear my work boots. Chances are that had I been wearing motorcycle boots with ankle protection, I would have been out riding this afternoon instead of sitting at the computer with my foot propped up. I'm not complaining; I'm glad to able to sit in front of my computer! But I will add a good, comfortable warm weather riding boot to my riding gear.
I am just sore - mostly from using the crutches and from using my arms to pull/push myself up instead of using my legs. I have a followup appointment Friday on my ankle. I should know then how long I am grounded or "caged". Thanks for asking.
But it's a 
sore ain't it ?! :y115: Sore is the absolute bottom of the injury scale, so if you gotta be injured thats the best way to go. :ya2: So glad you're ok and the bike isn't bad either.
sore ain't it ?! :y115: Sore is the absolute bottom of the injury scale, so if you gotta be injured thats the best way to go. :ya2: So glad you're ok and the bike isn't bad either.
Carl thanks for posting your gear configuration it sure helps other when it comes to purchasing the correct stuff. I am still a leather rider sort of old habits and seeing how it protected me when I went down sort of makes me stick to it. It does get hot in summer but I like hot so that is ok for me :y18:
Carl, I'm glad to hear that your modular helmet stayed in one piece. Mine did too when I ended up face down in that Peruvian concrete drainage ditch.
They may not be the safest helmet ever made but they aren't that bad either.
My HJC was about five years old and it did its job. Because of its age and one crash only per helmet, I left it behind in Peru. I'll get a new one in the spring which will have the latest technology.
They may not be the safest helmet ever made but they aren't that bad either.
My HJC was about five years old and it did its job. Because of its age and one crash only per helmet, I left it behind in Peru. I'll get a new one in the spring which will have the latest technology.
Rocky, I bought an HJC modular today for Mae Lyne. I tried it on as a replacement for my Fulmer and it fit and felt really good. This one has the drop down sun visor. It felt lighter than my Fulmer, so I had Mae Lyne try one. She loved it. It is a half pound lighter than our Fulmers. She has degenerative disc disease in her neck and she needs a lighter helmet. Since her Fulmer will fit me, I will take over her Fulmer and she has a new HJC. I had the get off and she got the new helmet.
I think that any accident that will cause the modular helmet to fail would probably be fatal anyway. I am not at all concerned about their safety.
I think that any accident that will cause the modular helmet to fail would probably be fatal anyway. I am not at all concerned about their safety.
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