Wake up call

[p.dath]

I was driving past Cycletreads today and I saw a bike pull out of Cycletreads today right in front of me. He was leaned over a little (turning right into the far lane) and as he was straightening the bike up to enter the lane the back stepped out terribly. Then it grabbed again causing the bike to almost high side.

The bike was some kind of cruiser, with a wide back wheel. Then he pulled into the Triumph dealership just up the road.

I swear I didn't breath for a couple of seconds watching the whole thing unfold. I fully expected he was going to come off. The guy wasn't doing anything particularly wrong beforehand. Felt like he was only doing about 30km/h. He wasn't being aggressive. I'm guessing he had just had a new tyre put on (just a guess).

Coming off at 30km/h is not such a big deal. Most likely the only serious injury would be his pride. Except in this case he had no helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, or any kind of protective gear on to speak of. I bet he didn't bother putting a helmet on because he thought he was just going across the road or something.

But can you imagine the potential head injury from a high side, even at low speed. Smashing you head into the tar seal from 2m under force. Bad.


And I thought phew! There's a lesson to be learnt here. Everyone has some right to decide the personal level of safety for themselves, but for me, spending 60s prepping to avoid a "lifetime" of being a vegetable is a great bargain.

I hope you take the live safety advert I saw today, and consider the possible consequence next time you take the bike somewhere with no protection.

[crazyhorse]

....... but for me, spending 60s prepping to avoid a "lifetime" of being a vegetable is a great bargain.


Not sure what you mean - but sounds like he was very lucky...... :yes:

[Hitcher]

Did you say all this to the dude in question today? If not then it's hard to see who or what has learned a "lesson". Preaching to the choir is largely pointless.

[onearmedbandit]

On an American forum I belong to this guy posted about his flatmate who moved his bike so someone could get their car out, hopped on it, backed out, rode over the curb, fell off and mr head met mr curb. The guy now suffers from a serious head injury, can't dress himself etc etc.

[p.dath]

Not sure what you mean - but sounds like he was very lucky...... :yes:

I mean I'm happy to spend a minute prepping by putting on a helmet and protective gear to avoid a potential head injury (and a lifetime of being a vegetable).


Did you say all this to the dude in question today? If not then it's hard to see who or what has learned a "lesson". Preaching to the choir is largely pointless.

I meant a lesson for myself. As in, reinforced my personal views on wearing protection.

The guys face looked shocked. He's an adult capable of making decisions for himself. It's not my place to tell him what "I think" he should be doing.

[Bikernereid]

+1 for prepping. I came of my bike on some gavel and even before my head hit the road I thought 'this is going to hurt'. Luckily my helmet took the damage and not my noggin!! I was just left with a nasty headache, some scrapped leathers and gloves, which was better than the alternatives.

[AllanB]

One should always wear protection - there are some pretty messed-up diseases out there.

[mattian]

atgatt versus no-atgatt is becoming a little bit like the waving thread fiasco. Should someone start merging all of these threads?

[vifferman]

But can you imagine the potential head injury from a high side, even at low speed. Smashing you head into the tar seal from 2m under force.
Yes.
My cousin died from tripping over getting out of his yacht onto the dock. He hit his head, and that was that.

[george formby]

Met a guy t'other day with bandages all over his shin & knees. Jumped on the bike to ride 50mtrs without his gear... I feel very, very uncomfortable riding without my safety gear on. My formative motorcycling years were spent pulling my bike out of hedges & ditches but
I always had good gear & never got seriously hurt. Long may that continue.

[PrincessBandit]

And I thought phew! There's a lesson to be learnt here. Everyone has some right to decide the personal level of safety for themselves, but for me, spending 60s prepping to avoid a "lifetime" of being a vegetable is a great bargain.



sorry, I thought you said "a lifetime of being a vegetable in the bargain bin". My bad.

[Maha]

He may have just got a new tyre/s put on?
The guys at Cycletreads often (if not always, and I have heard then say this) tell bikers to take it easy when exiting the the building with new tyres.
They said to me that they have seen so many almost (and a few that do) highside when leaving after having new tyres fitted.

[toycollector10]

The woman who campaigned for all bicycle riders to wear helmets: Her young son was stationary, straddling his bike and he lost his balance and fell over. Massive head injury and the rest is history.

I see all the cyclists in Christchurch not wearing helmets and I think about that.

A member of our riding group was T-boned in Ferry road this week. Apart from a broken collar bone and bruising he survived. He said his helmet took the full force of the landing.

Sorry, I am your nana!

[CookMySock]

You will probably discover he's a really experienced rider and he shrugged it off as "a wee slide - irrelevant - ignore." It's only the inexperienced that think little slides are near catastophes.

Steve

[DMNTD]

...Coming off at 30km/h is not such a big deal...

Take my word for it, they can hurt worse than faster ones :shutup:

[SMOKEU]

The back wheel of my bike stepped out at 80kmh on a wet road today. It was great fun.

[wbks]

On a 250?... That's pretty hardcore. Did you have your elbow down at the same time?

[FJRider]

On a 250?... That's pretty hardcore. Did you have your elbow down at the same time?

Stuff the elbow ... did he have a KNEE down ... :lol:

[wbks]

You're not hardcore until you need elbow sliders. Of course, you will prob' lowside and get the marks that way, but I still think that's more hardcore than putting new sliders on a grinding wheel to get that authentic look

[Mully]

No, no, no. All wrong!!

What you're meant to do is come onto KB and start a thread with a title along the lines of "To the idiot on the XYZ Bike outside Cycletreads today" and then talk about his lack of gear, nearly highsiding and so on and so forth.

And then some people will come along and say "ATGATT Grr. What an idiot. ACC."
Then some others will come along and say "Personal choice, let he who rides decide"
Then a couple will come along and say "They might not be a KBer anyway"
Then Skyryder will come along and say "John Key made him ride with no gear"

Tis the KB way.........

[Toaster]

He may have just got a new tyre/s put on?
The guys at Cycletreads often (if not always, and I have heard then say this) tell bikers to take it easy when exiting the the building with new tyres.
They said to me that they have seen so many almost (and a few that do) highside when leaving after having new tyres fitted.

It is not just new tyres either. Cold tyres easily do the same thing and can spin up easily wih a fistfull of lovin on the gas.... especially on the higher powered sporties.

[Toaster]

.... talk about his lack of gear, nearly highsiding and so on and so forth.

And then some people will come along and say "ATGATT Grr. What an idiot. ACC."
Then some others will come along and say "Personal choice, let he who rides decide"
Then a couple will come along and say "They might not be a KBer anyway"
Then Skyryder will come along and say "John Key made him ride with no gear"

Tis the KB way.........

Funniest thing I have read here in a while!

[shafty]

I also, have heard of a Guy who, having arrived with mates at their destination for the day, jumped on his bike to zip across the carpark to the Bottle Store, no skid lid, tipped off and died - not sure if a 3rd party involved, scary scary. So the lid at least.......

[Usarka]

I met a guy who died after hitting his head on his yoshi's while trying to oil his chain.

[Mully]

This reminds me of the Four Yorkshiremen

"Bloody looxury, I knew someone who died buttering his toast. Knife slipped, stabbed his dog. Dog bit his neck and he died of blood loss."

[jeffs]

No, no, no. All wrong!!

What you're meant to do is come onto KB and start a thread with a title along the lines of "To the idiot on the XYZ Bike outside Cycletreads today" and then talk about his lack of gear, nearly highsiding and so on and so forth.

And then some people will come along and say "ATGATT Grr. What an idiot. ACC."
Then some others will come along and say "Personal choice, let he who rides decide"
Then a couple will come along and say "They might not be a KBer anyway"
Then Skyryder will come along and say "John Key made him ride with no gear"

Tis the KB way.........

You missed the" Abusive reply" if you want to quote the full KB way :)

[Big Dave]

No, no, no. All wrong!!.

You aren't advertising to a standing army; you are advertising to a moving parade. Three million consumers get married every year. The advertisement which sold a refrigerator to those who got married last year will probably be just as successful with those who'll get married next year. An advertisement is just like a radar sweep, constantly hunting new prospects as they come into the market. Get a good radar and keep it sweeping. David Ogilvy.

[doc]

.... especially on the higher powered sporties.

you mean a 1200 not an 883 aye ? :yes:

[davereid]

Yes.
My cousin died from tripping over getting out of his yacht onto the dock. He hit his head, and that was that.

Thats because if the injury is caused by the head hitting the ground, the height above ground when you commence the fall is the important thing.

It matters not if you fall off a motorcycle, pushbike, boat, or just trip over drunk.

The impact with the ground is caused by acceleration due to gravity...the vehicle speed is not relevant...

[Dave Lobster]

No, no, no. All wrong!!

What you're meant to do is come onto KB and start a thread with a title along the lines of "To the idiot on the XYZ Bike outside Cycletreads today" and then talk about his lack of gear, nearly highsiding and so on and so forth.

And then some people will come along and say "ATGATT Grr. What an idiot. ACC."
Then some others will come along and say "Personal choice, let he who rides decide"
Then a couple will come along and say "They might not be a KBer anyway"
Then Skyryder will come along and say "John Key made him ride with no gear"

Tis the KB way.........

Then Mashman telling us how much better it would have been without money.

[Swoop]

The guys at Cycletreads often (if not always, and I have heard then say this) tell bikers to take it easy when exiting the the building with new tyres.
Quite true. New tyres fitted recently and specific mention was made, as were the other times when I've had new rubber fitted there.

[Mully]

Quite true. New tyres fitted recently and specific mention was made, as were the other times when I've had new rubber fitted there.

I like their sign on the wall: (not verbatim)

"Please take care on your new tyres. If you fail to heed this advice, we have a large selection of levers, mirrors and indicators to choose from"