Bike vs Sheep, Masterton 19/01/2013

[jimbo_on_travels]

Hi everyone,

I thought it would be good to finally post in here after a long time lurking now that my typing and writing ability has improved.

I'm the guy from this article on stuff --> http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8210...risly-accident

I have gone over the incident in my head hundreds of times and looked at it from every possible angle (including Katman perspective) and can honestly say I was doing absolutely nothing wrong. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only thing I can take away from this is to not go down the back roads of Wairarapa anymore and just stick to the cafes. I don't want to ever repeat my stay in hospital.

To summarise the accident; I was with a group of 4 other riders and was heading out to Masterton via backroads, when a large sheep darted out in front of me from the long grass at the side of the road. I never saw it and never braked. I took the sheep's head clean off and as a consequence went over the handlebars and slid down the road for 100m on my front and knocked out for 3mins. My 2009 R1 (loved that bike) carried on into a culvert before flipping end over end into a paddock. I have no memory of the accident other than turning left at Wainuioru and next waking up in hospital strapped to a neckboard. 4 days in hospital and I came out with bruised intestines, dislocated left thumb, chipped bone in right ankle and concussion. My gear saved my life (+ incredible luck and guardian angel); out of the group I think I was the only one wearing full leathers and a separate back / chest protector (Icon Field Armour). My leather jacket rode up in the slide, but the Armour took the hit and saved me from further injury. The previous day I had been to Motorad and bought an Arai RX7 GP helmet for $1000 - turned out to be the best investment I've ever made. It was the first helmet that actually fitted me in all my years of riding.

I've attached pics including the crash damage pics and gear pics (plus one pic in all her glory). It is my view that good gear gives you a fighting chance at sticking around; hopefully this post might convince others too. I'd also like to say that after reading the trauma that Katiepie went through a couple of years back, her event completely changed how I approached riding and my view of gear too.

[Xsannz]

Wow.

Insane amount of damage.

Glad your ok.

[Dragon]

I was out on the ride aniversery day same roads and was warned about sheep in regards to your accident good to hear your ok, we had sheep run out on us as well.

There is risk involved with riding anywhere hope you have a quick recovery and are out riding again when your ready

I still need to get a back protector and sort out the zips that join my jacket and pants :s

[Asher]

Interesting story, defiantly shows what good gear can do.

I did however find it interesting that the article says you were riding a powerful bike and suggests you were speeding. The writer and farmer obviously couldn't understand that a bike going 100kmh could cut through a sheep.

I wonder if the farmer found and hid the head to make him immune from any possible charges of having sheep loose on the road.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Interesting story, defiantly shows what good gear can do.

I did however find it interesting that the article says you were riding a powerful bike and suggests you were speeding. The writer and farmer obviously couldn't understand that a bike going 100kmh could cut through a sheep.

I wonder if the farmer found and hid the head to make him immune from any possible charges of having sheep loose on the road.

the farmer is probably skull fucking it as we speak.

and you Mr Rider were going 100kph. if that was the speed limit. Until SCU or someone proves otherwise.

Then deny till you die.

Hopefully it hasn't turned you into a vegetarian. Lamb is very good value at the moment.

[Devil]

How the hell did you slide down the road for 100m if you were doing anything even remotely near the speed limit?
How? Seriously.

[duckonin]

To take the head off a sheep you must of been low flying. To kill it yes, after hitting it, but the other to remove it's head !!!!!!!!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Sorry to hear of your accident. Never nice. I have an email I'd like to share regarding roads over that way...

Hi Pete,

Thanks for offering to get the word out about slowing it down through Gladstone in the Wairarapa. I think we all know there are some great roads - BUT - it's not safe to race up and down them. There are horses, kids, stock, pets, people, farm vehicles - you name it. Everybody is getting angry about the number of bikes belting up the straights because they are, quite honestly, frightened about the consequences. We are all turning into angry fist-wavers over here : )

Now we are really grateful for the fact that you are all courteous when you see us out along the road or on foot with our large furry mates - but what we need everyone to realise is that we are there behind - and affected by the crazy noise - even when you dont see us. Also you need to realise that vehicles, and trucks floats containing horses are going in and out of the drive several times a day. It woudnt take much of a screw-up for someone to end up in bits under one of those vehicles. It would be hideous. We at the riding school are so frustrated by the people that wind it up going past the yard - the backfiring alone is terrifying for horses and the people that are handling them. Imagine a 6-year old child sitting on a pony startled by that. not cool.

Pleeeeease, dont wind it up past our homes and businesses. It's awful. I imagine, if you put yourself in our position, there's not a single one of us that would accept a bunch of vehicles doing that up and down the suburban street we live on...we be out there to sort it out in a second.

On a positive note - THANK YOU to the many people who slowed to pass the gate on Waitangi Day. I was there early preparing a horse for travel, and I heard bike after bike slow quite dramatically when they saw our sign. Hugely appreciated, and it didnt go unnoticed. ..maybe we could work on slowing down a little before that, and accelarating out a little more..conservatively - the property runs along the roadsides for a quite a way - almost to the Millars road corner you see.

Thanks and best regards,

Maggie, and the owners, grazers, and clients of Panorama Equestrian Centre, Longbush Road, Gladstone.

[unstuck]

Best sheep exploding episode I have seen would be when, I think it was Carlos Sainz hit a sheep in the Rally of NZ. Fuck that was cool.

[Grizzo]

Best sheep exploding episode I have seen would be when, I think it was Carlos Sainz hit a sheep in the Rally of NZ. Fuck that was cool.

The Red Mist!

[oneofsix]

How the hell did you slide down the road for 100m if you were doing anything even remotely near the speed limit?
How? Seriously.

To take the head off a sheep you must of been low flying. To kill it yes, after hitting it, but the other to remove it's head !!!!!!!!

Interesting questions and I will admit to not knowing the answers but I do suspect they show a general misconception about speed and crashes. Most crashes the happen "at 100k" the collision occurs at somewhat less than the stated speed whereas in this case there was no slowing so the rider was thrown down the road at 100k, if he had been accelerating then the energy would have been greater than if he was doing a steady 100k. Also hit correctly with the energy in a largish bike plus rider doing 100k over the relatively small area of a front tyre knocking the head off the sheep would seem possible if a bit unexpected.

It will be interesting to see what SCU have to say.

[unstuck]

The Red Mist!

Thats the one.

[Crasherfromwayback]

.

It will be interesting to see what SCU have to say.

Well I can say I was stupid enough as a youngin to part company with my GPZ1100 @ around 180kph. I went around 150m on my arse/side...the bike went 185m. The police estimated my speed at around 160-180 kph. I was impressed, though very sore and missing a lot of meat and a broken wrist. Just wearing jeans and a leather jacket of poor quality . All I could afford back then. Twas on coarse chip in the dry.

[jimbo_on_travels]

Thanks Pete for the email. I'll fwd that onto the Wellington based FB groups and BRONZ / Byron as well.

I've since bought a house with the insurance money (probably safer for me than getting another R1) and will keep my remaining R6 for runs to cafes and possibly Manfeild when I'm 100%. Still need new gear though :/

[Crasherfromwayback]

Thanks Pete for the email. I'll fwd that onto the Wellington based FB groups and BRONZ / Byron as well.

I've since bought a house with the insurance money (probably safer for me than getting another R1) and will keep my remaining R6 for runs to cafes and possibly Manfeild when I'm 100%. Still need new gear though :/

Good on ya for sharing the email mate. No one would like the concience of getting a youngin squashed by a scared horse.