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#1 Unread post by **Kal** » Sun May 29, 2005 1:31 pm

Dropped CeeGee Thursday night.

Coming off of a curving slip road <B430> onto a dual carriageway <A34> I was looking too much at the traffic checking for the spot to slip in to and not enough where I was going.

I was turned around so far that I straightened the bike out so itwas heading across the cariageway at a near right angle to traffic.

I slammed the breaks on to avoid becoming a hood ornament. I mentioned that I wasnt paying enough attention to where I was going and to much to what was on the carriageway?

If I hadnt have done I might have noticed that there was gravel and tarmac debries all over.

Short version is I dont remember anything between the handlebars snapping back into the left side of the tank and watching the gravel slide across my visor as I slid towards the carriageway.

We stopped together at the very very edge of the carriageway. I jumped up pulled the bike up and back before switching of the engine. Petrol was spilling out of my tank because since it got vandalised its only had a temporary cap.

As I was upright, the bike was upright and neither of us appeared to be dead despite how close we came I did the "I'm alive and that hurts" dance in the space between the slip road and the carriageway.

It was during this slightly embarresing bit that a van driver pulled over to make sure I was okay. He was really cool and made sure I was okay and that the bike was before he left. Turns out he rides a Harely and his son rides some sort of 125 cruiser. I kicked over the bike before he left ans as she came straight on he said "where would we be without Hondas?"

CeeGee lost a rear indicator lense, part of the rear bodywork might need replacing - I havent checked the mountings yet.

So anyway, Visor appears to be a rightoff, as do the jeans I was wearing <the eBay auction I was bidding in for a pair of reinforeced bike jeans finished that night> My leather has a paper thin patch on the shoulder where the road almost went through.

New bike boots <BMF last weekend> are pretty scuffed up but stick out so far from my legs that between them and the body armour I wear under my leather my legs hardly touched the floor. Result one grazed knee. If it werent for the hard shell body armour I'd have broken my collar bone and the leather might well have given way completely.

As it was I ached and felt a bit bruised so I got up on the bike and banged it into Oxford, spent a couple of hours doing what I had to there and then tried coming home. I say tried because my hand had swelled up. I manged to make it all the way down the B430 to the M40 services. I'd done something like 40-60 miles after the accident. The last twenty or so I was leaning on the throttle because I couldnt grip and was adjusting the throttle periodically with my left hand and had minimal control of the bike.

I phoned Jules when I got to the services and she came out to pick me up. The services people were really nice when I explained what happened and not only promised to keep an eye on my bike but also gave me free drinks.

By the time Jules arrived my hand had swollen to the point I was sweating and feeling sick. We went straight to casualty when we got back to Leicester where we found out that I have broken the Scaffoid in my wrist <you wouldnt believe how long this has taken to type wearing a cast>

Duken was kind enough to come down there with us last night and ride my bike back <once we had removed the loonie plates and replaced the shattered indicator lense>

For the record I was wearing

Helmet £35.00 with out which I'd have lost my face
Padded Leather jacket £20.00
Hardshell body armour £40.00 without which I'd have broken a collarbone
Normal Jeans £10.00
Mid shin motorbike boots £10.00
Motorbike Gloves £25.00 the palms of which are scuffed but still servicable

Total cost of gear £140.00 or about $196.00us

Without it I would have still been in hospital today talking skin grafts and all sorts of other nonsense. There is no excuse for the riders I've seen since who are cruising around wearing Helmet, Shorts, Trainers and nothing else.

Especially as the last time I glanced at my speedo before braking I was only doing 40mph.

So anyway, the bike is fine, I am fine except for the wrist <which will take 8 - 10 weeks to heal they tell me> and a terrible need to get the bike out again as soon as possible.

mswarrior · #2 Unread post by **mswarrior** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:29 pm

Wow!! Glad your ok.

New Mastercard comercial,

All the gear you had cost= $$$$$

Still having your skin = Priceless

varenka · #3 Unread post by **varenka** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:23 am

That is a rough story, but it sounds like it could have been much worse. Three cheers for the prudence of decent armor.

Since you had to get right back up and on the bike to finish your ride, I'll be interested to hear if you find it hard to get back on the bike later. This seems to be a recurring theme with bikers - ouch I crashed and got a ride home, now that I've been bitten, I fear the beast kind of an idea, as opposed to ouch I crashed but I had to ride home, so I guess I'll get a new signal lamp and hit the road again.

#4 Unread post by **Kal** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:54 am

I'm itching to get back on. Jules has said that I'm in trouble if I get CeeGee out while still in cast.

Today is day four of being off the road and its driving me up the wall, am trying to convince Duken to let me go pillion on the back of his.

That said I can feel the fear building so the sooner I get back on the better. Idont like being afraid of anything.

As it is I'm taking advantage of the downtime to give CeeGee a through service and maintainence.

XJRJohn · #5 Unread post by **XJRJohn** » Mon May 30, 2005 7:50 am

sorry to hear about your off mate.keyokes bin trying to get in touch wiv you about the ke.hope you didnt want it too much,i just broke it up and took it to tip.he had to be out today.hope the wrist heals ok.and why didnt you let us know you were at bmf?xjrjohn

#6 Unread post by **Kal** » Mon May 30, 2005 10:39 am

Thats cool, would have been good to get it if I could but its all been a little mental over here organising next Friday.

Its actually worse than that John, Jules and I piled down Sunday lunchtime, met up with Duken, Steve & Shaun to check out Nadia at the HOC stand before storming around the ground on epic shopping trip - they'd completely forgotten you and Keyoke type was going to be there as well so I am not the only blonde!!!

Did you see the Trail-Blade and the CGracer at the HOC stand?

CentralOzzy · Mon May 30, 2005 10:51 am

Kal wrote:....am trying to convince Duken to let me go pillion on the back of his.

Now this IS Brave!

Sorry you came off.....

rnr262 · #8 Unread post by **rnr262** » Mon May 30, 2005 3:28 pm

Glad you are okay, save the broken wrist. Sounds like it could have been much, much worse.

I've been looking at jackets with armor the past few days. Your post has me convinced to just order one tonight.

Toyuzu · #9 Unread post by **Toyuzu** » Mon May 30, 2005 6:19 pm

Kal,

Didn't you crash once or twice before too? It seems you're trying to get all the crashing out of the way right off the bat, so you can get on with enjoying the ride.

#10 Unread post by **Kal** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:42 am

Met up with Duken and a couple of other friends yesterday. Went on a blast from Nottingham to the Six Hills Bike meet.

Lots of bikes all very cool. Had a great time. Hated every minute of being pillion but at least I was on a bike.

This was my first crash. Previously CeeGee has been the victim of an attemtped theft and vandalism, followed by a large 4x4 mounting her while she was parked.