And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I was wearing my safety glasses at the pistol range one time shooting my single action army clone .45 with big old soft lead bullets. A big chunk of one bullet bounced off something and smacked me right above the eyebrow. Hard. Bled pretty bad. A fraction of inch lower and no safety glasses and it would have been game over for that eye at a minimum. Now I have that old time PPE religion.
I quit riding after too many years working around trauma medicine in hospitals. Somehow, the fun just went out of it when everyone else on the road is TRYING to kill you. And my EMT friends used to say they like helmets because it kept the pieces in one place and easier to clean up.
I was doing about 50 on an access road at NAS Kew West back in '67, when I went into a curve that had coral dust all over it. Bike went out from under me and I hit on my head, left shoulder and hip. If I wasn't wearing the helmet, I wouldn't be here. I had on a Levi jacket over a t-shirt and the rock and pavement took all the skin of my left shoulder and I had a black and blue mark on my hip for over 6 months. I rode that bike home from Key West to NJ in 68 and went overseas. When I got out in 69, I decided I was mortal and sold the bike.
I can relate... my ex-hubby was in a motorcycle accident. His helmet was destroyed. He was in a coma for weeks and several broken bones but eventually made a full recovery. If he hadn't been wearing the helmet he would have died, no doubt about it.
As my uncle (avid motorcyclist and owner and rider of many bikes - large and small) used to tell me before I got my ‘M’ endorsement - it’s not a matter of if, but of when. Ride long enough, and you will go down. Do NOT be afraid to sacrifice the bike to save yourself. Always be looking for escape routes to get out of the way of folks that don’t see you. Oh, and always assume that they do NOT see you, even if you appear to make eye contact.
These directives served me well. In nearly 10 yrs of daily riding (commuting, mostly) of > 60mi/day, I only put my bike down once - on purpose - to avoid getting run over by traffic. Neither I nor my bike were damaged beyond repair - in fact once my Adrenalin rush subsided, I got it back upright and continued to my destination. I count myself ‘lucky’, and still ride when I can. I get enough enjoyment to offset the risks - at least that’s my assessment. 😉
Yep. That's what mine looked like when I kissed the ass end of a buck at 50 mph.
ReplyDeleteSaving face?
ReplyDeleteI was wearing my safety glasses at the pistol range one time shooting my single action army clone .45 with big old soft lead bullets. A big chunk of one bullet bounced off something and smacked me right above the eyebrow. Hard. Bled pretty bad. A fraction of inch lower and no safety glasses and it would have been game over for that eye at a minimum. Now I have that old time PPE religion.
ReplyDeleteFor some, it's 'Why you wear a helmet'. For me, it's 'Why I don't ride motorcycles on the road'. I hope whomever had it on made it through OK.
ReplyDeleteI quit riding after too many years working around trauma medicine in hospitals. Somehow, the fun just went out of it when everyone else on the road is TRYING to kill you.
DeleteAnd my EMT friends used to say they like helmets because it kept the pieces in one place and easier to clean up.
Been there, done that, passed on the tee shirt as it was torn and bloody.
ReplyDeleteRevenge of the drunk and angry ex-wife?
ReplyDeleteI got run over in 1977. There were chunks big enough to stick my thumb in knocked out of my Bell Star 180.
ReplyDeleteI was doing about 50 on an access road at NAS Kew West back in '67, when I went into a curve that had coral dust all over it. Bike went out from under me and I hit on my head, left shoulder and hip. If I wasn't wearing the helmet, I wouldn't be here. I had on a Levi jacket over a t-shirt and the rock and pavement took all the skin of my left shoulder and I had a black and blue mark on my hip for over 6 months. I rode that bike home from Key West to NJ in 68 and went overseas. When I got out in 69, I decided I was mortal and sold the bike.
ReplyDeleteI can relate... my ex-hubby was in a motorcycle accident. His helmet was destroyed. He was in a coma for weeks and several broken bones but eventually made a full recovery. If he hadn't been wearing the helmet he would have died, no doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteAs my uncle (avid motorcyclist and owner and rider of many bikes - large and small) used to tell me before I got my ‘M’ endorsement - it’s not a matter of if, but of when. Ride long enough, and you will go down. Do NOT be afraid to sacrifice the bike to save yourself. Always be looking for escape routes to get out of the way of folks that don’t see you. Oh, and always assume that they do NOT see you, even if you appear to make eye contact.
ReplyDeleteThese directives served me well. In nearly 10 yrs of daily riding (commuting, mostly) of > 60mi/day, I only put my bike down once - on purpose - to avoid getting run over by traffic. Neither I nor my bike were damaged beyond repair - in fact once my Adrenalin rush subsided, I got it back upright and continued to my destination. I count myself ‘lucky’, and still ride when I can. I get enough enjoyment to offset the risks - at least that’s my assessment. 😉
Oh - and I’m also a STRONG proponent of full face helmets and other safety wear for riding on pavement (the only kind I do).
Delete