wEAR YOUR GEAR!!!

[HEELSFAN]

Hey guys, as some of you may know I totaled my M50 back in May. Now that I am finally back to work I just wanted to mention How my gear kept my injuries from being much worse.
I was on my way to work when a guy in a mini van pulled out in front of me to make a left turn. I was going about 45 mph and was only about three car lengths away. I didn't even have time to hit the brakes. I hit the van and went over the hood. I was wearing my riding jacket ( Tour Master Mesh Style), full face helmet and riding gloves.
I ended up breaking my left wrist and turning it backwards on the arm, broke my right Femer bone and shattered my right knee cap. This was a pretty bad day that could have ended MUCH WORSE. After a week in the hospital I was sent home and able to look at the gear I was wearing. There is no question in my mind that the helmet saved me from a serious head injury and judging by the impact marks on the elbows and forearms of the riding jacket that it had saved me from shattering those bones as well.
Looking back the only thing I could have done differently would have been to be wearing riding pants with the corrects pads!!!! I still would would have broken the femur, but would have saved the knee which has been the biggest problem.

I still have a 4-6 weeks more of physical thearpy before I can get the leg over a bike, but you can bet that when I ride my next bike out of the dealer I will be one of those ATGATT guys.

[blackie1491]

Hope everything goes well for a fast recovery.

We all need a headsup reminder about the benefits of wearing gear.

Ride safe.

[4W4K3]

Glad you did not take a serious head injury, that would have been terrible. I always thought a double layer pair of Dickies, or denim jeans would be enough for riding...guess not!

[87gsxrnut]

Yeah man! Glad you had it on!

- Nut

[BlaznBlu]

Was going to make a comment about having to double layer your Dickie to go riding, but since this is a serious thread, can't go there.


Glad to hear you're hanging in there and getting better. Keep up the hard work now, your body will thank you later. Hard to say if riding pants would have saved your knee, 45 MPH is pretty tough, but it probably would have been a benefit.

I'm interested in your P.T., send me a PM about where you are going if you don't mind, I know a few people down there.

Good luck for a full and speedy recovery.

[kiyofox]

I had a minor wreck about 6 weeks ago. Was going 30 mph, hit a pot hole, the bike went right, I went left. Slid about 30 feet, I was wearing denim jeans that were in good condition (not old or had holes or anything) and as far as I can tell they tore right thru like tissue paper as soon as I hit the street.
I normally wear my riding pants (joe rocket ballistics), but that day I did not. I had all my other gear on. But from now on I will *always* wear my pants. Because I was wearing jeans I got some pretty good abrasions on my knees, and a good patch of road rash on my thigh. If I would have had the pants, those injuries would not have occurred.

[Rockhead]

Originally Posted by kiyofox

I had a minor wreck about 6 weeks ago. Was going 30 mph, hit a pot hole, the bike went right, I went left. Slid about 30 feet, I was wearing denim jeans that were in good condition (not old or had holes or anything) and as far as I can tell they tore right thru like tissue paper as soon as I hit the street.
I normally wear my riding pants (joe rocket ballistics), but that day I did not. I had all my other gear on. But from now on I will *always* wear my pants. Because I was wearing jeans I got some pretty good abrasions on my knees, and a good patch of road rash on my thigh. If I would have had the pants, those injuries would not have occurred.

Dude you should have started your own thread with this one. "Ouch" That doesnt sound like a minor wreck to me.

[Time4me2ride]

Heelsfan, I am glad you're up and around. My first M50 was totalled out from under me by a cager also. That helmet probably saved your life, Kudos to good gear and kudos to you for having it on.

I've got to agree with Rockhead, a get-off at 30mph is not minor. Hope you're healed up as well Kiyofox.

Ride safe.

[HEELSFAN]

Originally Posted by Time4me2ride

Heelsfan, I am glad you're up and around. My first M50 was totalled out from under me by a cager also. That helmet probably saved your life, Kudos to good gear and kudos to you for having it on.

I've got to agree with Rockhead, a get-off at 30mph is not minor. Hope you're healed up as well Kiyofox.

Ride safe.

That was not one of my better days.

[Trapper]

Thanks for the post HF. Glad you made it through. Have you got a new bike yet? Do you have any second thoughts about riding again?

[maddog20/20]

Wish you the very best with your recovery!

[HEELSFAN]

Originally Posted by Trapper

Thanks for the post HF. Glad you made it through. Have you got a new bike yet? Do you have any second thoughts about riding again?

Haven't replaced the bike yet? Still deciding on what to get. I want the FJR1300 , but still looking around. I have a while to go before my leg is strong enough and the knee is stable enough to ride again.

I haven't really had any second thoughts about riding, but I will not use my next bike to commute back and forth to work. I'll just head inland away from traffic on the weekends and if it gets to hot to wear ALL the correct gear then the bike will sit in the garage.

[arkieollie]

Glad to hear you're doing well.

[SNAFU]

Wish you have a Speedy recovery.

I see majority of Riders including the Scooter's wearing just t shirts and shorts and I'm not sure if they ever really think of the consequences if they were to go down.

I must admit I have thought of not wearing my Jacket when it gets too hot out but I end up wearing it anyways. Thanks for the Post, it's a good Wake Up Call to wear your gear.

[vhmike73]

Welcome back Heelsfan, and get well soon.

Good to know the gear saved you some trouble...now get that knee squared away and get back on the bike!

[Mavman]

Glad to have ya back heelsfan!

Sounds like things are coming along ok....hope the knee continue's to get better for ya and enable's you to get a leg over and back in the saddle.

Take care dude.

[chrisan]

get well soon. I feel your pain. I had a crash two weeks ago which I survived easily with only a broken collar bone.
I know that the cruser guys wear jeans, but as you already know it is not enough. MAybe you may try one of those dirt track knee gurad that you can wear under the jeans. they saved the knee of a friend of mine a year ago /he was wearing jeans too at the time/
As of me I am paranoid regarding wearing my riding gear. I have a full rasing suit for the weekends and a lether pants and jaket for commuting
needless to say if I hadn't had my gear two weeks ago I would have had injured ankle and knee wrist knucles in addition to my collar bone, plus all the road rash and god know what more..
Wear your protective gear at all times indeed

[CruisingRam]

Guys- try the icon field armor lines- you can wear it over or under clothes, it is abrasion tough stuff, and when worn in conjuction with leathers- is damn near Motogp tough- and, if you want the bad ass look- it is killer when worn by itself over and (in the case of the underarmor shorts I wear) under your regular clothes on hot days!

Only drawback to the arm and shin/knee guards is thier relatively small size- I like to lift heavy things, and have about 18" biceps, and had the nylon socks cut and reattached bigger by my ma (she has been altering my clothes my whole life- what would we do without our Mamas?) The vest is pretty cool, I have a 52" chest, and it fits pretty snug, but is not too long in back, so it doesn't jam me in the pelvis when I move.

[techgesture]

Heelsfan -

You have that you live in Fort Myers... I just moved from Cape Coral/Ft Myers area back in November to Charlotte, NC. So glad I left... people dont know how to drive down there.

In your case I think is very close to my theory. People in Florida take it for granted that the roads are flat and mostly straight. So they look for a second, if they dont see anything they just go (because it's flat).

Since moving here to North Carolina, people just wait that extra second. I didnt understand it at first... the I think I figured it out. There are so many twist and turns and hills up here, people are used to waiting to "see" if somone is going to come around a curve, or over a hill.... so they wait that extra second.

- You dont have that in Florida -

I personally didnt even dream of buying a bike when I lived down there. People just DONT know how to drive, they dont wait, and they are very impatient... more than anywhere else... and I have traveled most of the Central - Eastern US major cities.


I also noticed Heelsfan that you have a Carolina Panthers logo for your Avatar. Are you originally from this area? (I never got into Tampa, Miami or Jacksonville either myself) Im now a dual fan... Redskins and Panthers.

[HEELSFAN]

Originally Posted by techgesture

Heelsfan -

I also noticed Heelsfan that you have a Carolina Panthers logo for your Avatar. Are you originally from this area? (I never got into Tampa, Miami or Jacksonville either myself) Im now a dual fan... Redskins and Panthers.

I grew up in Burlington NC, which is just east of Greensboro. The company that I work for relocated us down here about 3 years ago. I am a diehard Panthers fans as well as the Carolina Tarheels (HEELSFAN).

I you ever want to watch a great basketball game I would suggest a trip to Chapel Hill. Assuming tickets are available.