Wake up call

**p.dath** · 24th April 2010, 16:01

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** · 24th April 2010, 16:04

Originally Posted by p.dath

....... 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......

**Hitcher** · 24th April 2010, 16:04

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** · 24th April 2010, 16:08

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** · 24th April 2010, 16:09

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

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

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).

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 24th April 2010, 17:15

+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** · 24th April 2010, 17:20

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

**mattian** · 24th April 2010, 17:23

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

**vifferman** · 24th April 2010, 18:20

Originally Posted by p.dath

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** · 24th April 2010, 18:22

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** · 24th April 2010, 18:43

Originally Posted by p.dath

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** · 24th April 2010, 18:45

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** · 24th April 2010, 19:09

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** · 24th April 2010, 19:18

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