Went down hard on Gravel Sat.22nd

[V4ME]

Unfortunately, pulling into a conveienience store for fuel at 12pm doing 5 to 10 mph at the entrance I hit gravel and both tires slid out and I was thrown down hard. This happened with 3 other friends on the way to enjoy a relaxing Sat. nite at my mother in laws lakehouse in Interlachin. It was right after we stopped for breakfast and about 1/2 way to our destination. I went by ambulance to the hospital where I found out I broke my leg in 3 places and will need re-conctructive surgery on my knee and broke my left thimb and shattered the socket which will also require surgery. I am now , imobile , in a leg cast and hand cast taking pain medication until Thursday when the ball starts rolling to get me fixed. My bike suffered minimum damage and I know now if I had a crash bar instead of a engine guard my leg would probably be much better off.Also due to this being an entrance to a public area I have an attourney involved also.

I am also dealing with this syndrome should I ride again or hang it up, 3 weeks before this mishap I had a car pull out in front of me at night on a damp road, but I was able to save it. That alone really bothered me mentaly.

Riding means everything to me, it is my escape, and my love, but I am really going to have and need some time to sort this out . I would really like to hear from some of you that have had similar experiences and how you handle something like this. All I can do now is take 1 day at a time and get through the pain.

Last but very important, PLEASE FOR GOD'S SAKE LOOK OUT FOR GRAVEL AREAS, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAT TRYING TO RIDE ON ICE! I didn't even see the gravel that took me down, it looked liked bleached asphalt.

[BIG TOM]

SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR MISHAP BUDDY.. THANK GOD YOU ARE HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT...THINGS CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE...YES, IT CAN BE AN EYE AWAKING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE..ESPECIALLY IF YOU DID NOTHING WRONG AND DIDN'T SEE IT COMMING..KINDA MAKES YOU THINK REAL HARD ABOUT GETTING BACK ON THE BIKE..ALL I CAN SAY TO YOU IS IF YOU LOVE RIDING AS MUCH AS YOU SAY YOU DO ...ONCE YOU HEAL UP YOU'LL WANT TO GET GACK UP,I'M SURE...YOU'LL BE A LITTLE MORE NERVOUS AND THANT AI'NT A BAD THING..JUST SHOWS THAT YOU ARE HUMAN LIKE THE REST OF US... YOU 'LL HAVE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT ,IT SEEMS...BUT YOU'LLWORK IT OUT...GOOD LUCK AND HEAL FAST...

[sarges46]

That is some serious injuries for such a low speed crash!

 

I got thrown off mine much slower and didnt hurt at all but the bike took a cosmectic hit.

 

Our friend Bigbob is mending now from his high speed dump and is pretty sure he will ride again but believes it will be on a smaller bike. He's come along way from not wanting to ride to where he is now.

 

All I can say is to trust yourself and what you believe you are up to doing. If you think you have to turn your back on riding then we still support you. I can understand that it wouldnt be much fun anymore if you have more fear than enjoyment...it wouldnt make sense to continue.

 

I hope for a complete and successful recovery from you injuries. You have time to think about things and make the peace you need.

[Yammer Dan]

Get fixed and take time to think. You will think a lot. I never really thought I would quit but had some doubts. And I am still chasing ghosts. Never got to ride as much as I want this year but winter is really bugging me. I still don't relax and ride as I used to(riding like a old man). But there are times when I feel as I used to and these are enough to keep me going.

 

COME ON SPRING!!

 

I think it needs the tank filled up today!

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Ouch. Big time. Sorry this happened. Good luck on your recovery.

 

Hope you are able to ride again soon.

 

 

[Squidley]

Buddy,

I can relate to what your going through, you probably remember when Lonna and I wiped our bike out in Baton Rouge on January 2 of this year. I can honestly say that I was ready to get on a bike within 2 weeks after the crash. Get back on the horse as soon as possible, I do believe that statement. Lonna was a little more apprehensive about getting back on, but she trusts me and my ability, so she too got back on with me. Thats the only reason I bought a new Venture. If she would have called it quits, I would have bought a different machine.

I wont lie and say that crashing doesn't come into my mind, it does, more often than it did before. But I'll be damned if I let fear win, I don't back away from anything, and if I'm meant to die on a bike...then I will. I know there are others that have either triked their bikes or got rid of the scoot and purchased smaller convertables. They still ride with us and have lots of fun in their new ride, that might be an option for you.

All the best in your recovery, and as always, were here if you need to chat

[cecdoo]

Sorry to hear about your crash, I have been there and know how you feel, take your time as you recover, sounds like you will have a few months of re-hab before you need to make any decisions on riding, if you really love it you will probably get back on the bike. Good Luck in your recovery. Craig

[pegscraper]

Wow bud, sorry to hear about it. Rest up and just let the time pass and get better. Now isn't the time to answer for yourself whether to keep riding or hang it up. In the middle of the pain isn't the time to answer such a question.

 

Since you asked for others' experiences, here you go. Twenty-two years ago right before Thanksgiving, I was in a wreck that tore my right knee up badly. It required screws to put it back together. I was in the hospital for two weeks (I spent Thanksgiving in the hospital that year). Coming out of the surgery was excruciating, and the following months of physical therapy were painful and discouraging. My knee froze up and would not bend. At one point I virtually gave up on it, but the physical therapists did not. About that time they put me in for more surgery to break things loose. And they finally did, but was six months all told before I could walk again. Ever since that I have a real slow gait and walk with a limp that varies from not noticeable to some days pretty bad. But if I walk slow, usually it's not noticeable.

 

In the time it took me to get better, I can't recall that I ever pondered the question of whether to get back on a bike again or not. I just didn't think about it. By the following spring when I was released to walk, I was going stir crazy and couldn't wait to get out and just walk around the neighborhood. The bike hadn't been fixed yet, and it didn't need very much. But there was this dirt bike also setting there. It wasn't very long at all and I was out riding that around the neighborhood. The first time out on it, I came back and the smile on my face was so big that I knew I would never quit.

[Ozark]

Really sorry to hear of your accident. Right now you just need to get the injuries treated and take some down time to heal and reflect. Not going to tell you what you should do but know that we all support whatever decision you need to make. Good luck and stay in touch.

[frogmaster]

I was in the hospital for two weeks. Coming out of the surgery was excruciating, and the following months of physical therapy were painful and discouraging. But was six months all told before I could walk again.

 

Sorry to hear of your injury. I clipped up the above "QUOTE" and can second all the above from a Hockey Broken Leg. Physical Therapy hurts more than the original injury sometimes but the saying of no pain = no gain is VERY TRUE. Fight like hell in PT Sessions it is for your own good. On a side note if you are a bit heavy like me and could stand to lose some weight.... well your in luck YOU WILL LOOSE WEIGHT too LOL.:pushups:

[1BigDog]

Sorry to hear this Buddy. Right now all you need to do is to worry about getting yourself all healed up. The bike will be there when you are ready. Of course there will be some apprehension but that will pass as you get better. One suggestion is to take an MSF refresher course when you are able to. If you need anything let me know.

[Marcarl]

All good suggestions so far,

hang in there, worry about the bike thing later,,, find something else to keep you interested until then,,,heal well.

[pegscraper]

Sorry to hear of your injury. I clipped up the above "QUOTE" and can second all the above from a Hockey Broken Leg. Physical Therapy hurts more than the original injury sometimes but the saying of no pain = no gain is VERY TRUE. Fight like hell in PT Sessions it is for your own good. On a side note if you are a bit heavy like me and could stand to lose some weight.... well your in luck YOU WILL LOOSE WEIGHT too LOL.:pushups:

 

At the time, I did not need to lose any weight. But I did anyway. The hospital's food portions were not large enough to get me full. (I sure could stand to lose some weight now though.)

 

Once I got home, I did a lot of model cars to pass time. I'd get myself propped up at a table and sit there all day. People would come for a visit and bring a model for me. I have a closet full of them.

[flb_78]

Why do you need an attorney?

[painterman67]

I feel your pain. It took 20 years of mot riding and not looking back for me to get over my wreck. And fortunaely I was not injure except for road rash. A little old lady pulled out in front of me and I was doing 65 at the time. Totaled the bike and car,also my pride. i was just glad to be able to slide on body armor behind the car.

 

Relax and heel youo body. Take some time to heel your mind also. The reat will come around in time. Even when I got back on it took a while to get comfy. Since then I've laid her down once.(In gravel in front of 1oo other bikes.mostly Harley's). the trick for me was to jump up and cl;imb wright backon.

 

hope this helpsand if you want someone to talk to my number is in my profile.

 

David

[skydoc_17]

Hey Buddy,

Both Jean and I were saddened to hear of your accident. We both hope that you heal quickly and fully. As we read your post Jean reminded me that " If a woman could remember what it felt like to have a baby, EVERY woman on the planet would only have one!!!" I guess the point is that time will help you forget this event and if your love of riding is as strong as you say it is, then when the time is right, your love of riding will outweigh the fear of crashing. Or as my daddy used to say "If it didn't kill you son, It will sure as hell make you stronger!" If this post put a smile on your face, good! You're on your way to recovery, If a day comes when riding your scoot with the wind in your face and the Florida sun shinning on your back puts a smile on your face, then double good!

As long as YOU can look yourself in the eye every morning in the mirror, and be happy with the decision you made, the rest of us will stand by you cause that what friends do for each other.

Just my thoughts,

Earl and Jean

[bryan52577]

Sorry to hear of your mishap. I am an old Iowa farm boy that grew up riding in plowed fields, hay fields & gravel and dirt roads. Rode down gravel roads "new gravel" at 50 & 60 mph with the back end just swaying from side to side. (Young and stupid!) Learned all about gravel, some times the hard way.

Now days I hit corners so if I see gravel on the pavement I can still go upright and still make the corner. I have learned never to trust the corners. In the northern states they sand here in the winter and, well come spring a lot of the sand it still on the road. Not in the car tracks but where the state says you are to ride a motorcycle (middle of the lane). "You know where all the oil from cars and trucks drips, where all the dead animals wind up, where all the clods, rocks and anything that two wheels don't like, winds up!" You just learn to go slower, not lean as much and a void fast starts and stops till the heavy spring rains come and washes the sand off the roads.

If I get my say so about it, I will teach my grand kids to learn to ride on the same stuff I did. I honestly think I learned the best way. I have rode with others that I was behind of, and in front of, that went down cause they didn't know what to look for as for signs in the road.

 

Good luck and yes get back on as soon as you can. Just think of it as a learning experience. And NOW you know, if it looks ODD, don't take the chance!

[Guest Oldsalt]

Buddy,

 

I can relate to what your going through, you probably remember when Lonna and I wiped our bike out in Baton Rouge on January 2 of this year. I can honestly say that I was ready to get on a bike within 2 weeks after the crash. Get back on the horse as soon as possible, I do believe that statement. Lonna was a little more apprehensive about getting back on, but she trusts me and my ability, so she too got back on with me. Thats the only reason I bought a new Venture. If she would have called it quits, I would have bought a different machine.

 

I wont lie and say that crashing doesn't come into my mind, it does, more often than it did before. But I'll be damned if I let fear win, I don't back away from anything, and if I'm meant to die on a bike...then I will. I know there are others that have either triked their bikes or got rid of the scoot and purchased smaller convertables. They still ride with us and have lots of fun in their new ride, that might be an option for you.

 

All the best in your recovery, and as always, were here if you need to chat

 

Not to hijack this thread but I was curious about your statement:

 

If she would have called it quits, I would have bought a different machine.

Since I am now single, too old, and too ugly to have a need to for the rear seat, what bike did you have in mind in case Lonna didn't get back on? I assumed 'the ride' or comfort was why most of you all went the RS route, whether 1up or 2up. Thanks,

 

John

[Squidley]

Not to hijack this thread but I was curious about your statement:

 

If she would have called it quits, I would have bought a different machine.

 

Since I am now single, too old, and too ugly to have a need to for the rear seat, what bike did you have in mind in case Lonna didn't get back on? I assumed 'the ride' or comfort was why most of you all went the RS route, whether 1up or 2up. Thanks,

 

John

 

 

John,

The comfort of the Venture was the reason that I bought them, for both of us. I have ALWAYS wanted an ST1100, or in this case it would have been an ST1300. I still like to play in the twisties, and I wouldn't have needed all the bags on a bike going solo. The RSV is a great fit for Lonna and I, but for solo riding I would like somthing a bit lighter and more nimble.

[Black Owl]

It's been about 3 years since I went down due to gravel in a curve that ended up putting me into the ditch.

 

Took me a while to get over the apprehension of hitting gravel in a curve, but one does get over it. I think that was also a major reason for my downsizing to the Virago 1100.

 

Going to the 1100 put the fun back in riding...

[Eddy]

Buddy,

Sorry about your wreck just thank GOD you're ok!! My wife did the same thing you did earlier this year but was injured near as badly. On August 4th, I just about totalled my 07 Venture and I wasn't hurt very bad either. I thought this was a wakeup call and pondered if I should give a a life of riding at 59 years of age. As I got back on the bike, I was a small bit tentative but it went away rather quickly. I do watch others more closely now but I'll ride as long as I can. I won't be pulling a trailer behind me any more though. Prayers for you for a quick recovery and you'll be fine.

Eddie

[CrazyHorse]

John,

 

The comfort of the Venture was the reason that I bought them, for both of us. I have ALWAYS wanted an ST1100, or in this case it would have been an ST1300. I still like to play in the twisties, and I wouldn't have needed all the bags on a bike going solo. The RSV is a great fit for Lonna and I, but for solo riding I would like somthing a bit lighter and more nimble.

 

 

Them are good bikes. Gravel that craps bitten me a few times mainly from the front tire washing out in it on the ground before you know it. Never had much problem with the rear wont take you out as fast.

[Redneck]

I'm sorry to hear of your accident and injuries and I hope you make a full and fast recovery.

I'm also sorry to hear you have hired an attorney to attempt to make some one else pay for your mistake.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I too believe that a rider should always be mindful of anything on the pavement that could cause problems. Its part of riding. I didnt want to mention the reference to an attorney, until some others had a chance to comment on that.

 

In May of 2007, I dropped my bike on some loose gravel. I was riding my ElectraGlide, and misjudged my level of traction. I was only traveling at about 10 mph when I goosed the throttle and we fell over sideways like we were hooked up to a chain. I had a gal on back, and we hit the ground pretty hard. It tore off the skin on my left knee, and bruised her left ankle, but other than wounded pride on my part, that was about it.

 

Sure, I could have blamed it on the van driver in front of me that was taking too long at the entrance gate, or the parking attendant who was holding up traffic, or the grounds keepers for the deep loose gravel at a motorcycle event, or even blame the gal riding with me for throwing off my balance! I could blame the Harley for not having knobbies on the rear, or having too much un-controllable torque.

 

Its real easy in todays world to try to find fault. But I blamed no one but me. I screwed up, and all the onlookers knew it. Luckily we didnt break any bones, and the only damage done to the bike was a small patch of scratched up plastic on the left lower fairing and scratches on the highway bar.

 

I cussed profusely, waved off the well-meaning guy who was trying to right my bike by pulling up on the saddlebag lid, and backed up to the bike and lifted it, and we were on our way.

 

Point is:

 

Gravel is a part of riding, and it is a part of any entrance of just about any gas station or c-store. Whats the owner supposed to do about that? Sweep it hourly? Was he somehow negligent? I could understand if there were pieces of broken concrete with steel rebar poking up, or a big oil spill, but c'mon, suing the guy for something that isnt his fault?

 

Thats what YOUR insurance is for.

 

I do hope you recover, as I said in my earlier post. And I hope you can ride again one day, if that is your desire. But you may have to evaluate your riding abilities, confidence, and skill levels, as any of us do, and choose the correct vehicle for your future. It may be a bike, or a trike, or maybe a 4 wheel convertible.

 

Main thing is, don't put yourself in another situation like that if you can possibly avoid it. Next time, it might be a more tragic outcome.

 

(rant mode off!)

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2008 by tx2sturgis

[Guest RomTom]

Went down hard on Gravel Sat.22nd

 

Hi everyone, I just joined today and this is my first post. I hope I am doing it right.

 

I may have some constructive input here, perhaps, as I have something similar going on in my own life. So I am going through some similar doubts, as to whether or not to continue riding.

 

It's like this... A year ago I got diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told me speed was of the utmost importance and an intense program of radiation and chemo was quickly begun. For a year or so previous to this cancer diagnosis I had been battling diabetes. I was nealy 300 pounds at 5'9" and my doctor was upset with me that I could not seem to diet and lose weight. The cancer tumor was on my neck. The radiation burned my throat and I soon was unable to swallow food. I went eight days without a crumb before they installed a g-tube which enabled me to insert cans of formula directly into my stomack. I was losing weight faster than I ever believed possible. I lost over a hundred pounds in about four months and finally, a year later now I am down to 145 pounds. My tumor is gone and the doctor says he expects the cancer is gone forever. Here's hoping. The radiation therapy was the most excruciating ordeal I ever have been through. They didn't mince words. They told me it would be that, and they were one hundred percent correct. One other good thing was that losing over 150 pounds cured my diabetes. Cancer cured my diabetes. If that doesn't beat all! Back in July I bought a 1983 Yamaha Venture Royale in near new condition, and only 38,000 miles. What a beauty of a bike. I needed cheering up. I was in intense pain every day at that time and could not talk. So I bought the bike. I hadn't had a big bike since selling my Goldwing back in 2003. I really missed riding. I figured I would heal better if I was riding every day, I am 61 years old and I have been riding motorcycles since I was fifteen. I knew riding a big bike every day would help me heal better than juat about anything. But there was a problem. I had spent much of the recent months in bed. I hadn't been doing anything strenuous. I was way out of shape. I had lost well over a hundred pounds, and a lot of that was muscle. The Venture Royale weighed almost half a ton. My wife is big: well over two hundred pounds. So I had to support the nearly half ton of the motorcycle plus her 200+ pounds whenever we came to a stop. Usually it was okay. All my years of riding experience were not forgotten. But occasionally, she would shift her weight in just the wrong way and I could not compensate adequately and the bike would fall over on its side. In all my years of riding I have never had a problem like this. I have been strong all my life. Strong enough to handle my motorcycle with my wife on it. We have been married for 33 years and have had a big motorcycle of one kind or another most of those years. So it was scarey and embarassing. To have this bike fallin over. Plus it was so heavy that I could not lift it back up by myself. She and I could do it together though. My first worry was whether this might ever happen while we were underway. Aside from one near-bad moment, which I caught and turned out all right, the bike only fell over when we were stopped. Usually as I was trying to get the kickstand down. It fell over three times during the first month I owned it. So I told my wife, sadly, that I could not take her on the bike with me anymore, until I had recovered my strength sufficiently. She loves to ride. We share everything. Always have. But she understood. So I rode the bike nearly every day and she stayed home. Whenever I needed something at the store or whatever. I got stronger every day. And the bike never tipped over as long as it was just me on it. So now it is December again, a full turn of the calendar since my diagnosis. I have begun taking my wife along on the bike again. Today we went downtown and shot some pool together, and home again. My strength has pretty much returned. I am not as strong as I used to be, but I take it easy and drive very carefully. I am generally a safe driver. No tickets. No accidents. A clean slate for many a year. But it was quite un-nerving there for awhile to actually have my motorcycle tip over. Our daughter really reprimanded me for trying to ride, back in July when she heard about it falling over. "You can't even ride that thing! What are you doing on it?!" So embarrassing! But I knew it would be okay as long as I rode alone until I got my strength back. A man has to know his limitations. Getting old is for the birds. Add natural diseases to it and you really got to look out. I feel good though that I have beaten diabetes, and also beaten cancer, and now at 145 pounds I am healthier than I have been in scores of years. Still - I did have a near miss last week. A close call. While riding all by myself. If I had been a younger man, and without all the experience that I have under my belt, I probably wouldn't have been able to have handled the bike as deftly as I did and get myself through in one piece. No need to describe the incident. I think we all have had a close-call or two. We learn from them. Hopefully they are few and far between. I came home with new resolutions. No more riding when I am tired. No more riding when the weather is too cold. (And that includes no riding when there is ice on the road.) No more riding in the cold rain. It was okay when I was a young man. But it takes a lot more at 61. I don't like it when my rear wheel squirrels around sliding on oil and rain. I used to handle a big bike easy as pie in such moments, but now I have to be more careful.

 

There comes a time when we may or may not decide it is best to give up this thing that we love with all our hearts. Riding. We have to think long and hard about it. We needn't give it up too soon. Not if we are able to abide with the resolutions we lay down for ourselves, as we grow older, and our bodies and minds change. Good luck to all of you when it comes time for each of you to make your own similar decisions. All the best,

 

RomTom