This ain't right.

I must be living wrong, or something.

Here I sit at home, off work for the past three weeks, and docs say I'll
be off four to six more. I crashed a motorcycle. Well, a minibike. A
XR100 to be exact.

Had a practice day at a local 1/4 mile short track three weeks ago.
There were about 50 riders there. Bikes ranging in size from PW50's to
CRF450's. I put in about 50 laps on my vintage flattracker, then decided
to have some fun on my daughter's XR100.

At an incredible speed of approximately 20 mph the bike, for no
particular reason that I can remember anyhow, high sides me, slaps me
down shoulder first onto turn two.

When I woke up two days later in ICU, I was told that I almost died. My
right collar bone shattered. Six broken ribs. Broken back. Bruised
heart. My chest cavity filed with blood and both lungs collapsed. I
actually stopped breathing for awhile, but they cut my chest open to let
the blood out so my lungs could fill back up.

Yes, I was wearing full protective gear!

I'm a freaking mess!

So tell me, is this a sign? Should I stop racing all together, or just
leave the minibikes to the kids? This is my first serious accident in
over 35 years of riding motorcycles, and I want to keep it the last. Did
the law of averages finally catch up to me and blindside me?

 

Sorry to hear about your crash.

These things are very unpredictable, one thought I hate about motorcycles...
as much as I love them. The last time I had a crash, I was very lucky and
shell-shocked, because I could have really hurt myself. Moreover, one thing
that gives me pause for thought is that, while I have a good eye and ride
far more conservatively these days, I must openly admit I am just not as
quick as I used to be, and I wonder how much of a liability that is. I keep
myself in shape, and yet I have to say that while riding my bike I am
starting to feel like I am tad more static and slightly slower in reaction
than I used to be. Track-days are a clear indication for that, I do not
react to occasional sliding quite as smoothly as I used to. It's been
gradual, but if I turn the clock back 10 years I have to admit to it.

I just turned 43. I am a bit of a workout addict and my weight has stayed
quite constant since my early 30s (and is still lower than in my early to
mid 20s), and in fact of anything I am stronger now... I am just not as
fast. Damn. Because that comes along with less flexibility, and less of an
ability to "bounce off" when somethng happens. It sucks. Food for thought,
on occasion, but as is usual in human nature I keep on doing the stuff I
have done all along: I ride bikes, I scuba, I surf, I work out almost every
day... the little setbacks add up, and I fear the day that a big setback
inevitably joins the mix...

Just nurse yourself back to full health. Then you can decide what to do.
Here's goo recuperative karma your way!

Riding motorcycles, we will all eventually fall. We can just hope it doesn't
hurt too bad. You paid your dues, and then some, it would seem to me. In any
case, all the best.

 

And I thought *his* post was sobering...

Respect.

 

Mike Corey laments:

[bashed up body details deleted]

Yow. Heal up quick.

I don't believe in signs. You crashed and got hurt. You
can give up riding and live in a bubble of nice soft stuff
or you can continue to hang it out once in a while.

My sig tells you which I prefer.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.

P.S. broke the end off my distal fibula, tip of
my lateral malleolus, snapped off last weekend at
the Mid-O AHRMA vintage races. Still finished and am
leading the +50 intermediate MX championship
points. Crutches suck but they're way better than
waking up in hospital like Mr. Corey.

 

Mike,
I feel your pain. With years of riding and some track time, the only
time I've ever gotten hurt was in the middle of town at 25 mph (the
famous idiot making a left turn and saying "I didn't see him"). But
I've been a state trooper for 20 years and I've learned one thing for
sure: it dosen't matter how careful you are, sometimes it just happens.
Don't let it get you down and look at the bright side, you'll be ready
to go next riding season......

 

Mike,
I feel your pain. With years of riding and some track time, the only
time I've ever gotten hurt was in the middle of town at 25 mph (the
famous idiot making a left turn and saying "I didn't see him"). But
I've been a state trooper for 20 years and I've learned one thing for
sure: it dosen't matter how careful you are, sometimes it just happens.
Don't let it get you down and look at the bright side, you'll be ready
to go next riding season......