♦ nivek ♦ Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Done escorting the remains, kept protesters wayyyyy the fuck away. On way home. "Shit happens" Friend, "gunner", Ernie, and his scooter took a hella hit. ********************** Then I found a Truck Posted By: navygunner Date: 10/6/09 19:05 We had 2 riders go downafter the escort for SGT Smith. Melissa Bell and Gunner were bothtraveling with others back to Louisville just outside Brandenburg on1638 in the East Bound Lanes. A Car heading Westbound stopped quicklyto turn into a Gas Station and a Tractor Trailer attempted to stop. TheTractor Trailer jack knifed on the wet pavement and entered the EastBound lane. Melissa hit the front of the Tractor Grill, bumper and turnsignal and ended up in the grass sliding for about 100 ft. She wasmed-evacted via Ambulance to University of Louisville Trauma Centerwith a possible ( now confirmed ) broken leg, and a nasty gash in herleg. Gunner was able todump his bike and the bike went under the tractor trailer. Gunner (always in those full leathers and full helmet) slid along the groundand was able to get up and walk away from it - bruised but OK - can'tsay the same for his bike. REMINDER: Ridingmotorcycles is inherently dangerous and riding in the rain requiresextreme caution. Neither of these riders did anything incorrectly. Theywere below the speed, staggered, proper and complete PPE and drivingcautiously. You can do everything correctly and circumstances can stillput you on the ground and in the hospital - I am so very thankful thatthis did not end any worse - just goes to show - you never know whatcan or will happen. Please put out to your folks as a Safety Reminder and Join me in wishing Melissa and Gunner a speedy recovery. Will Arnold Anvil7 Kentucky State Captain Patriot Guard Riders Ride Safe folks, the fuckin' cagers could care less.. kevinL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franko47 Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Glad to hear your friends are going to be OK. We've had some controversy up here in BC this summer about how loud that "motorcycle/chopper" (forgive my terminology) machines can be; they claim that it's safer since the noise let's everyone know there's a bike coming......for now they're letting it go. Do you have noise limits down there for loud bikes ? Is it different for urban and rural areas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♦ nivek ♦ Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 Folks, Pics post wreck of her bike. Ernie's machine and he slid under the trailer, came out with road rash on paint, broken little odds and ends, bikers ouch where he bounced off pavement. Work/home safe pics, no blood or guts.. Ride safe folks. Ernie and Melissa were "Tailend Charlies" for procession, biker folks riding slow and in formation. Car driver made some fast bad choices, "in a hurry!!!", caused this chain reaction. Flags that hit ground or were contaminated were given to local American Legion for proper disposal. Word from the PGR contact is that Melissa is in a cast, waiting to stabilize more before repairs to her open fractured (compound for we old medics) leg can begin. Otherwise the serious end of things done, things as good as they might be. Watch out riders... Fuckin' cagers could care less where we are. kevinL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Glad to hear that everybody came out intact. Fuckin' cagers could care less where we are. Got that right. Bikes are a lot of fun- I'd like to have one. But I value my hide and my intact bones. And I can only imagine the whining that would commence if I brought home anything with two wheels. The wife would be pissed on several levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vomit Comet Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Well... ...I've always wondered. I know it's more dangerous to be on a bike than in a car. But is it physically/mentally easier? Like if you're just going along on a dirt road real slow and nobody else is around, or something like that. I've never had a driver's license before and I can't drive a car. I've been thinking about getting a small little bike (one of the ones that's too little for the freeway/highway) or maybe a little scooter and putting around on minor surface streets to see if I can... uhhhhh... build myself up. My motor-cordination is all fucked up (Asperger's Syndrome). It doesn't mean I can never learn, but I just have a fucking fucking fuck of a time learning compared to the average person. I've always wanted to be able to drive. I can't even ride a fucking bicycle. Well, I haven't since I was 11, and I was always getting in horrible wrecks. I've been thinking also about getting a unicycle. It's actually safer than a bicycle once you learn, but of course it takes longer to learn and you break your ass a thousand times while learning. I figure if I could get the hang of a fucking unicycle, a car wouldn't be too remote of a possibility anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shyone Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Well... ...I've always wondered. I know it's more dangerous to be on a bike than in a car. But is it physically/mentally easier? Like if you're just going along on a dirt road real slow and nobody else is around, or something like that. I've never had a driver's license before and I can't drive a car. I've been thinking about getting a small little bike (one of the ones that's too little for the freeway/highway) or maybe a little scooter and putting around on minor surface streets to see if I can... uhhhhh... build myself up. My motor-cordination is all fucked up (Asperger's Syndrome). It doesn't mean I can never learn, but I just have a fucking fucking fuck of a time learning compared to the average person. I've always wanted to be able to drive. I can't even ride a fucking bicycle. Well, I haven't since I was 11, and I was always getting in horrible wrecks. I've been thinking also about getting a unicycle. It's actually safer than a bicycle once you learn, but of course it takes longer to learn and you break your ass a thousand times while learning. I figure if I could get the hang of a fucking unicycle, a car wouldn't be too remote of a possibility anymore. I don't know about motorcycles since I can't drive one, but I suspect that if a bicycle is a problem, a motorcycle would be for similar reasons. How about a "Segway"? I hear they're fast and require very little coordination. I haven't ridden one of them either, but the principle seems simple enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vomit Comet Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I'm trying to work my way up to driving a car. I don't know that a Segueway would be a good challenge. I think if I tried to climb onto a bicycle right now and I had a perfectly flat and empty parking lot, I could probably make it to the other end, putting my foot on the ground only two or three times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRDWarrior Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Well... ...I've always wondered. But is it physically/mentally easier? NO!!!!! It is CONSTANT work - in fact there were days leaving work or school where I had to take 20 minutes to get my head in the game before getting on the bike. Everything becomes a much larger hazard - that rock in the road, the oncoming cager (who can't manage to pull their head outta their ass far enough to notice you), the coyote running in front of you, a corner that was a little tighter than you expected - all of these things that may be nothing more than a smudge on your bumper suddenly can mean your life. Bikes are dangerous - and the cars are out to get you - not on purpose, but that's how you've gotta approach it otherwise you'll be grill meat. A simple misjudgement in skills, road conditions, a bit of target fixation or anything else for that matter can have you on the ground. I've crashed three times (two low sides, one high side, none above 45 miles an hour) - I've come out relatively unscathed, but the last one was ONLY because I was wearing full leathers, full face helment, and boots. Came out with a busted up toe and some bruises - but my helmet chin ate the pavement (anything other than a full face and I may have broken my jaw or knocked out some teeth), gloves took a beating, and leathers still wear the scuffs where the knees pads and elbow armor took some hits - after flipping over and chasing me down the road my bike was worse for wear - fixable, but it's still wearing the memories of that day in a couple places. But I LOVE riding, and if I die doing it, I'll have died happy. There's no other feeling like it in the world, but no matter how careful you are, riding an appropriate bike and well within your skill levels, at some point you're gonna go down - hopefully you'll be able to pick up the bike and ride away, but the other extreme is always a possibility. Watching me ride you may not get that I approach it this way - admittingly I lane split (legal here - or should I say not illegal) fairly fast, but not at high speeds (if traffic's over 55, I won't split unless someone is freaking me out and I want away from them), I can handle a spirited B paced ride, and can't wait to do some track days when I get the $$ (in the meantime settling for taking tips and suggestions from regular track attendees I ride with). But I'm not out to drag knee on the street or do other things that are just kinda stupid unless you're in the proper environment. Kevin, glad your friends came out relatively okay on this one - healing thoughts for Melissa. It can happen to the best riders...glad this one has a somewhat happier ending, hopefully she'll be able to get out and ride again someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vomit Comet Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Okay, I see what you mean. What about riding a scooter at very low speeds on minor surface streets? Like, 15 to 20 mph, 35 mph max. I am trying to find a way to work my way up to a car. The main reason a car fucks me up is because my sense of space, my sense of self... gets totally thrown off. I get totally alienated from my sense of the physical world when I'm in that box moving at high speeds. For example, the fact that the front end blocks the view of where my feet would normally be really freaks me the fuck out. What about tooting around on a dirt bike out on some dirt track somewhere? If little kids can do it, maybe I can? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight-mindwanderings Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 VC, while I don't have as much issue as you have, I do have some spacial awareness problems that make it difficult for me to drive a car so I sort of relate. It sucks because I am unwilling to drive places I am not familiar with, especially on high speed highways and high traffic areas. I am careful (overly so sometimes) but I still have a difficult time judging the space. In any case, I hope you can work up to a car. My brother has aspergers (sort of... long story) and has driven a bit. He plays a lot of video games so I think that helps, but he is certainly not coordinated enough for my parents to let him drive over 30mph. At least he has a free bus pass. I think driving is overrated and the less I do it, the better. Every time I drive I constantly feel like I am about to die - I could never ever ride a motorcycle. Husband wants a motorcycle. Not going to happen though, sorry darling! I'm such a worry wort. I am glad those in this accident are okay - motorcyclists scare me because it seem so dangerous. I am glad its fun enough to be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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