PLEASE wear your protective gear 100% of the time!

[brightspark]

duplicate posting - sorry!

[brightspark]

Coming out of Nelson on the by pass & the traffic merges from 2 lanes to 1, I check the mirror, and look round. The car behind lets me in; current speed; 100kph. Half a k ahead, i can already see the rush hour traffic building, and I start to gently squeeze the brake. 5 seconds later, the slowing queue reaches the car in front of me, which i am already in the process of easing back from. speed now; about 60-70kph. I check the RH mirror & all I see are the blazing headlights of the car behind. I just have enough time to think "shit, he's gonna hit me" Then there is a bang, and I'm looking at the sky. The next thing is, I'm on the ground looking up, and someone asks me who the Prime Minister is - shit! how long have I been out?? Then they check my name & address. A doctor who was in the traffic behind checks my limbs and decides my left leg is broken. I tentatively wriggle my toes - yep, can stll feel them. St Johns & fire brigade turn up & i'm carefully put in a neck brace & taken off to Nelson Hospital, where the final diagnosis is a broken left wrist, 2 broken fingers on the right hand, and a badly briused left knee.
The roadside doctor could feel the protective knee pad on my gear shifting around in the pants & assumed it was my knee cap!. The outer material on each knee & elbow point on the Arlen Ness gear was torn, but the padding held out. Kevlar protection on the dririder gloves saved my hands from further damage, and I think friction from the impact is what caused the finger damage. Helmet visor went God knows where, but the severe scraping down the side of the helmet took the damage my face would have otherwise borne. RJays boots meant no ankle or feet damage whatsoever. GN250 was a write off, as was all the gear, which St Johns had to cut off to check my damage. AMI paid out full agreed price on the 20yr old bike - $1500 -4 days later, as well as $1000 tp replace the gear. The car driver has been charged with dangerous driving causing injury.
The moral of this tale? They used to take the mickey at work that I took such a long time to get ready to ride home each night, but I always said it was worth it, for when I came off, not if. I am currently into week 4 of my 7 weeks enforced leave, and the one finger typing is now fast enough to pass my experience on to you guys. It can happen in an instant, Its not your fault, and you can do nothing about it. Please, wear your gear!

[kiwifruit]

Ouch!
+1 on the gear
heal fast :)

[McJim]

Glad you're still here to type about it.

I got hit by a car just over a year ago - not as bad as you but from that day forward I switched from Cordura to Leather with armour.

[ghost]

faaarrrrrr...k, car drivers for ya. keep well

[vifferman]

I don't have to wear it in the shower, in bed, or at work, do I? :confused:

[jrandom]

Yowza! Heal fast mate. :yes:

This is why I never slow down at the back of traffic queues, particularly on motorways. Best course of action is to maintain speed and filter straight on into lane 1A or 2A to avoid getting collected from behind.

Still, getting smacked into while still travelling at 60-70kph is just taking the piss. One hopes that cage driver will get well and truly hammered in court.

:angry:

[breakaway]

Well done on wearing all the gears dude, it could have been real bad.

Heal fast mate :niceone:

[Maha]

60-70kph. It can happen in an instant, Please, wear your gear!

Doesn't take much to work out really huh?...a freind of mine had a bin at that speed back in Jan' and is still not 100%

[cold comfort]

With you on that one-bloody Nelson drivers. If they haven't got one foot in the grave they are terminally stupid (as an ex Nelsonian i know this to be true). Nelson apparently has one of the highest m/c crash rates in the country!!
As my bike got tired and decided to lay down in the gravel not long ago :innocent: was pleasantly surprised to see nil damage to myself and minimal to the gear. Full gear not fools gear eh?

[MyGSXF]

Please, wear your gear!

Sounds like you really are a brightspark :shutup: & your gear has saved your arse!! :Punk:

Have you got another bike yet????? or getting one soon????? If yes.. check out the link below, then give me a shout & I'll pass on all the info for the upcoming courses in Nelson!!!! :yes:



Nelson apparently has one of the highest m/c crash rates in the country!!

Unfortunately, yes :thud: That's why our local Council & ACC have combined forces, & subsidise rider training courses with Andrew & Lynne from Roadsafe in Wellington!!! :scooter:

http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/

I've done all the courses that have come down & run here.. & they are bloody brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :first: Booked in to do another one in Oct!!!!!!!!!! :banana: (thanks for the heads up cc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:2thumbsup.. catch up when you get up here!! :Punk:)

Jen :rockon:

[Steam]

Good to hear you are well. Great to see AMI is taking the proper value of the bike into account. Even a 20-year old GN has great resale these days!
Better luck with your next bike!

[brightspark]

Thanks for all the good wishes- yep, saw a 6 mth old VTR250 with only 120k ( yes, 120) on the clock on trademe & it was local & $1500 less than new list price, so that's now in the garage waiting for my hands to heal emough to actually ride the thing - oh, and I need to replace all my gear first! - As for the Road safe course - I did the beginners one as sponsored by Tasman Council, Last yr, and have just got the paperwork for doing the advanced course in Oct. Excellent course - should be compulsory for all new, or occasional riders.

[Warr]

.....That's why our local Council & ACC have combined forces, & subsidise rider training courses with Andrew & Lynne from Roadsafe in Wellington!!! :scooter:

http://www.roadsafe.co.nz/

I've done all the courses that have come down & run here.. & they are bloody brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :first: Booked in to do another one in Oct!!!!!!!!!! :banana: (thanks for the heads up cc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:2thumbsup.. catch up when you get up here!! :Punk:)

Jen :rockon:
Anyone from Waikato know of similar courses ?

[deanohit]

I don't have to wear it in the shower, in bed, or at work, do I? :confused:

Smartarse,:killingme

Good to hear your doing ok there Brightspark. ATGATT always pays of in the end aye.:scooter:

[MyGSXF]

As for the Road safe course - I did the beginners one as sponsored by Tasman Council, Last yr, and have just got the paperwork for doing the advanced course in Oct. Excellent course - should be compulsory for all new, or occasional riders.

Great to hear you've got a new bike all ready to go!!!! :scooter: & also that you did the course last year!!!! :Punk: Might see you at the Oct one then!!!! :yes:

Jen :rockon:

[MyGSXF]

Anyone from Waikato know of similar courses ?

Give Roadsafe a shout Warren.. :yes: They may be able to put you onto someone else up your way.. or even ask them, if you can round up a group of people, if they would come up for a weekend!!!! worth asking!! :Punk:

Jen :rockon:

[McJim]

Anyone from Waikato know of similar courses ?

There's also the BRONZ Ride Right Right Safe course in Auckland once a month. It's only an hour's ride from Hamilton.

[Warr]

There's also the BRONZ Ride Right Right Safe course in Auckland once a month. It's only an hour's ride from Hamilton.
Good idea Jen. Email sent.
Was thinking of the likes of the "On Road" course for my daughter and son.
And yes AK is just up the road, may make some inquiries in that line regard also.

[Grub]

I don't have to wear it in the shower, in bed, or at work, do I? :confused:

Well no, but you do have to wear protection during sex.

[brightspark]

Well no, but you do have to wear protection during sex.
for the same reason - in case you fall off??

[cold comfort]

Does anyone in Nelson have any sugestions re fiscally prudent bike hire for the Road Safe day? Would love to ride up but just can't spare the time.( Looking forward to the Staging Post however whe i do have the leave.)

[swbarnett]

Glad to hear you're relatively OK and on the mend!

Point well made re ATGATT.

I had this exact situation on Friday going south past Onewa Rd just north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. I was under full emergency braking (front, rear and engine through every gear) as I'd just realised the traffic ahead was stationary. As I was breaking I moved so that I was just to the right of the dotted line as I saw in my mirror that the van behind me didn't have the room to stop. They skidded under heavy braking and spun into the median barrier. Had they maintained a straight line they would've gone right past me. However, because I was well to the side they would not have hit me. Also, If they'd veered in my direction, because I was between lanes, I had the option of splitting past the stopped cars (something I have done in the past).

[McJim]

Well no, but you do have to wear protection during sex.

I'm married, fixed and monogamous. Why do I still need to wear a Shoei in bed?

[Macktheknife]

Very pleased to hear you are healing well and not too badly hurt by this experience. Gotta love good gear huh?
Get well soon and keep your great attitude going.

[Manxman]

faaarrrrrr...k, car drivers for ya. keep well

farcanal...here, here.

[MyGSXF]

Does anyone in Nelson have any sugestions re fiscally prudent bike hire for the Road Safe day?

Hi M.. Ya could try Thunderbike.. 03 548 5787 explain what it's for.. ya know.. grovel & beg.. :shutup:

I'll make a couple of enquiries for you too.. :sherlock:

Jen :rockon:

[mbazza]

Hi Brightspark, thanks for the great write up and the reminder. 20 yr old GN $1000 pay out! Hell. Good luck to you, Cheers. :wari:

[cold comfort]

cheers Jen-got a good offer from Ian at Thunderbike for a V-Strom. Not so thrilled about the $4000 excess though:shit: