Cautionary tale for new riders.
Discussion
Morning all,
Just wanted to get this down in writing, one for myself and two for anyone else it may help.
On Saturday, I ended up coming off my bike and colliding with a tree. I've sustained some fairly nasty injuries. Won't be back on a bike for at least 9 months and won't be driving a car for at least 3 months. I'm starting to walk again so that's a bonus. Consider myself very lucky.
First things first, collision 100% my fault. I don't remember it all completely but what I can piece together I had a combination of too much confidence, poor planning ahead, target fixation, lack of experience and pure panic. I've been riding a year and my confidence was far too ahead of my ability.
I approached an unfamiliar bend on a country road and realised I was alittle quick on entry (about 55/60), tipped the bike in and looked through the corner... Then realised the limit point was closing very quickly, the bend was tightening. Looked at the kerb my front wheel was now heading towards and in sheer panic sat the bike up and went hard on the front brake.
After that it all gets abit blurry. Police say I left the road, glanced off a telegraph pole and hit a tree head-on at about 40mph. One thing I remember clearly is the tree trunk heading towards my face and thinking, this is going to hurt.
I woke up in a ditch at the base of the tree, tried standing but my legs just wouldn't work, was on my left side but when I tried to raise myself my left arm buckled. Managed to drag myself 7 feet to the roadside on my right arm and waved down some help.
After that it's again all abit of a blur. I remember my wife arriving at the roadside with a friend and asking my friend how the bike was (prioritise eh?). Next thing I'm in an ambulance, then in hospital.
My gear saved my life. I had a good quality helmet which amazingly only snapped the visor and the airflow flap when it hit the tree. My back armour in my leathers took alot of damage and saved my spine from more damage than it took, hospital also reckon my leathers stopped a compound fracture on my arm. I had Covec armoured jeans on and only have some minor muscle damage in my hip.
So what's the moral to the story? I suppose, if you're a newish rider like me, don't be like me. Walk before you run, take it just alittle more steady. I've covered 3000 miles in my first year and thought I was absolutely fine now and knew enough to get myself out of trouble... I didnt, not by along shot and that cockyness has cost me.
The right gear is essential. My friend came to visit me, Ambulance taken my helmet to the hospital, he was looking over it and when he got home has swapped his cheapish helmet out for the same I had.
I know you experienced riders know all this and can hear the tuts and shaking heads from all the way over here, I get it, I really do. Stupid rookie mistake and I'm kicking myself (If I could!)
I actually feel abit better after writing this, brain keeps trying to fill the blanks in from the crash and isn't the nicest experience.
Anyways, I hope this just helps one person who is a new rider and decides to go for a morning blast, if they just ease off that throttle a second earlier after reading this.
Just wanted to get this down in writing, one for myself and two for anyone else it may help.
On Saturday, I ended up coming off my bike and colliding with a tree. I've sustained some fairly nasty injuries. Won't be back on a bike for at least 9 months and won't be driving a car for at least 3 months. I'm starting to walk again so that's a bonus. Consider myself very lucky.
First things first, collision 100% my fault. I don't remember it all completely but what I can piece together I had a combination of too much confidence, poor planning ahead, target fixation, lack of experience and pure panic. I've been riding a year and my confidence was far too ahead of my ability.
I approached an unfamiliar bend on a country road and realised I was alittle quick on entry (about 55/60), tipped the bike in and looked through the corner... Then realised the limit point was closing very quickly, the bend was tightening. Looked at the kerb my front wheel was now heading towards and in sheer panic sat the bike up and went hard on the front brake.
After that it all gets abit blurry. Police say I left the road, glanced off a telegraph pole and hit a tree head-on at about 40mph. One thing I remember clearly is the tree trunk heading towards my face and thinking, this is going to hurt.
I woke up in a ditch at the base of the tree, tried standing but my legs just wouldn't work, was on my left side but when I tried to raise myself my left arm buckled. Managed to drag myself 7 feet to the roadside on my right arm and waved down some help.
After that it's again all abit of a blur. I remember my wife arriving at the roadside with a friend and asking my friend how the bike was (prioritise eh?). Next thing I'm in an ambulance, then in hospital.
My gear saved my life. I had a good quality helmet which amazingly only snapped the visor and the airflow flap when it hit the tree. My back armour in my leathers took alot of damage and saved my spine from more damage than it took, hospital also reckon my leathers stopped a compound fracture on my arm. I had Covec armoured jeans on and only have some minor muscle damage in my hip.
So what's the moral to the story? I suppose, if you're a newish rider like me, don't be like me. Walk before you run, take it just alittle more steady. I've covered 3000 miles in my first year and thought I was absolutely fine now and knew enough to get myself out of trouble... I didnt, not by along shot and that cockyness has cost me.
The right gear is essential. My friend came to visit me, Ambulance taken my helmet to the hospital, he was looking over it and when he got home has swapped his cheapish helmet out for the same I had.
I know you experienced riders know all this and can hear the tuts and shaking heads from all the way over here, I get it, I really do. Stupid rookie mistake and I'm kicking myself (If I could!)
I actually feel abit better after writing this, brain keeps trying to fill the blanks in from the crash and isn't the nicest experience.
Anyways, I hope this just helps one person who is a new rider and decides to go for a morning blast, if they just ease off that throttle a second earlier after reading this.
So how is the bike?
Pretty common way to crash I believe. In a lot of cases the bike would probably make it round the corner but as soon as you look at where you're going rather than where you want to go it goes horribly wrong. Very easy to say in theory but hard to do in practice. Many of us have done similar at some point and just been lucky it was only bad enough to cause us to run wide in a corner with nothing coming the other way.
Hopefully a speedy recovery.
Pretty common way to crash I believe. In a lot of cases the bike would probably make it round the corner but as soon as you look at where you're going rather than where you want to go it goes horribly wrong. Very easy to say in theory but hard to do in practice. Many of us have done similar at some point and just been lucky it was only bad enough to cause us to run wide in a corner with nothing coming the other way.
Hopefully a speedy recovery.
I hope you are alright and recover well. This cautionary tale could be written just for me, as I've been riding a year, done about 2500 miles. This brings home just how inexperienced you and I really are. I thank you for writing it down and sharing.
I'm hoping to arrange some enhanced rider stuff with a local training school as the instructor is very good, and one of my major points I'd like to work on is nsl, country roads and specifically reading corners.
Again I wish you a speedy and full recovery.
I'm hoping to arrange some enhanced rider stuff with a local training school as the instructor is very good, and one of my major points I'd like to work on is nsl, country roads and specifically reading corners.
Again I wish you a speedy and full recovery.
Sorry to hear you've smashed yourself up mate, I think most of us have done similar as inexperienced riders.
Unfortunately no amount of experience can stop you making bad judgements, you just stand more chance of rectifying your cock up.
Hope you have a good recovery mate and if it makes you feel any better you'll be a better rider for it In the long run.
Unfortunately no amount of experience can stop you making bad judgements, you just stand more chance of rectifying your cock up.
Hope you have a good recovery mate and if it makes you feel any better you'll be a better rider for it In the long run.
RizzoTheRat said:
So how is the bike?
Pretty common way to crash I believe. In a lot of cases the bike would probably make it round the corner but as soon as you look at where you're going rather than where you want to go it goes horribly wrong. Very easy to say in theory but hard to do in practice. Many of us have done similar at some point and just been lucky it was only bad enough to cause us to run wide in a corner with nothing coming the other way.
Hopefully a speedy recovery.
Suprisingly, not bad!Pretty common way to crash I believe. In a lot of cases the bike would probably make it round the corner but as soon as you look at where you're going rather than where you want to go it goes horribly wrong. Very easy to say in theory but hard to do in practice. Many of us have done similar at some point and just been lucky it was only bad enough to cause us to run wide in a corner with nothing coming the other way.
Hopefully a speedy recovery.
Wife wheeled me into garage yesterday for a look. Every plastic panel is smashed and abit worried as the rear cowling looks twisted but suspect its just broken clips. Tank is pristine, exhaust is scuffed but undamaged, reckon front forks will be bent but can't check yet... I expected alot worse. Had engine crash bars on and they seem to have taken most the damage.
Once I'm able to stand for more than 30 seconds, mate is coming round and we are stripping it back to get a proper look at the frame etc.
Looking back, I think you're right. If I hadn't have fixed on the kerb and sat the bike up, it would have got round. Inexperience bite me!
andburg said:
no sanctimonious preaching, hope your recovery goes ok.
Thank you. I'm back in hospital again later this week for surgery on my arm, once that's done I'm hoping for a quickish recovery. CoreyDog said:
Wife wheeled me into garage yesterday for a look. Every plastic panel is smashed and abit worried as the rear cowling looks twisted but suspect its just broken clips. Tank is pristine, exhaust is scuffed but undamaged, reckon front forks will be bent but can't check yet... I expected alot worse. Had engine crash bars on and they seem to have taken most the damage.
Once I'm able to stand for more than 30 seconds, mate is coming round and we are stripping it back to get a proper look at the frame etc.
Rear subframe is easy to replace if that's twisted, so long as there's no damage to the frame pretty much anything else is fixable. Unlike with humans, sounds like your gear did its job pretty well.Once I'm able to stand for more than 30 seconds, mate is coming round and we are stripping it back to get a proper look at the frame etc.
So have you tried wheelieing the wheelchair yet?
CoreyDog said:
Morning all,
Just wanted to get this down in writing, one for myself and two for anyone else it may help.
On Saturday, I ended up coming off my bike and colliding with a tree. I've sustained some fairly nasty injuries. Won't be back on a bike for at least 9 months and won't be driving a car for at least 3 months. I'm starting to walk again so that's a bonus. Consider myself very lucky.
First things first, collision 100% my fault. I don't remember it all completely but what I can piece together I had a combination of too much confidence, poor planning ahead, target fixation, lack of experience and pure panic. I've been riding a year and my confidence was far too ahead of my ability.
I approached an unfamiliar bend on a country road and realised I was alittle quick on entry (about 55/60), tipped the bike in and looked through the corner... Then realised the limit point was closing very quickly, the bend was tightening. Looked at the kerb my front wheel was now heading towards and in sheer panic sat the bike up and went hard on the front brake.
After that it all gets abit blurry. Police say I left the road, glanced off a telegraph pole and hit a tree head-on at about 40mph. One thing I remember clearly is the tree trunk heading towards my face and thinking, this is going to hurt.
I woke up in a ditch at the base of the tree, tried standing but my legs just wouldn't work, was on my left side but when I tried to raise myself my left arm buckled. Managed to drag myself 7 feet to the roadside on my right arm and waved down some help.
After that it's again all abit of a blur. I remember my wife arriving at the roadside with a friend and asking my friend how the bike was (prioritise eh?). Next thing I'm in an ambulance, then in hospital.
My gear saved my life. I had a good quality helmet which amazingly only snapped the visor and the airflow flap when it hit the tree. My back armour in my leathers took alot of damage and saved my spine from more damage than it took, hospital also reckon my leathers stopped a compound fracture on my arm. I had Covec armoured jeans on and only have some minor muscle damage in my hip.
So what's the moral to the story? I suppose, if you're a newish rider like me, don't be like me. Walk before you run, take it just alittle more steady. I've covered 3000 miles in my first year and thought I was absolutely fine now and knew enough to get myself out of trouble... I didnt, not by along shot and that cockyness has cost me.
The right gear is essential. My friend came to visit me, Ambulance taken my helmet to the hospital, he was looking over it and when he got home has swapped his cheapish helmet out for the same I had.
I know you experienced riders know all this and can hear the tuts and shaking heads from all the way over here, I get it, I really do. Stupid rookie mistake and I'm kicking myself (If I could!)
I actually feel abit better after writing this, brain keeps trying to fill the blanks in from the crash and isn't the nicest experience.
Anyways, I hope this just helps one person who is a new rider and decides to go for a morning blast, if they just ease off that throttle a second earlier after reading this.
I am really sorry to hear this, and simply hope a) you make a fast and full recovery, and b) get back on the bike as soon as you can and rebuild your confidence and skill. Be well.Just wanted to get this down in writing, one for myself and two for anyone else it may help.
On Saturday, I ended up coming off my bike and colliding with a tree. I've sustained some fairly nasty injuries. Won't be back on a bike for at least 9 months and won't be driving a car for at least 3 months. I'm starting to walk again so that's a bonus. Consider myself very lucky.
First things first, collision 100% my fault. I don't remember it all completely but what I can piece together I had a combination of too much confidence, poor planning ahead, target fixation, lack of experience and pure panic. I've been riding a year and my confidence was far too ahead of my ability.
I approached an unfamiliar bend on a country road and realised I was alittle quick on entry (about 55/60), tipped the bike in and looked through the corner... Then realised the limit point was closing very quickly, the bend was tightening. Looked at the kerb my front wheel was now heading towards and in sheer panic sat the bike up and went hard on the front brake.
After that it all gets abit blurry. Police say I left the road, glanced off a telegraph pole and hit a tree head-on at about 40mph. One thing I remember clearly is the tree trunk heading towards my face and thinking, this is going to hurt.
I woke up in a ditch at the base of the tree, tried standing but my legs just wouldn't work, was on my left side but when I tried to raise myself my left arm buckled. Managed to drag myself 7 feet to the roadside on my right arm and waved down some help.
After that it's again all abit of a blur. I remember my wife arriving at the roadside with a friend and asking my friend how the bike was (prioritise eh?). Next thing I'm in an ambulance, then in hospital.
My gear saved my life. I had a good quality helmet which amazingly only snapped the visor and the airflow flap when it hit the tree. My back armour in my leathers took alot of damage and saved my spine from more damage than it took, hospital also reckon my leathers stopped a compound fracture on my arm. I had Covec armoured jeans on and only have some minor muscle damage in my hip.
So what's the moral to the story? I suppose, if you're a newish rider like me, don't be like me. Walk before you run, take it just alittle more steady. I've covered 3000 miles in my first year and thought I was absolutely fine now and knew enough to get myself out of trouble... I didnt, not by along shot and that cockyness has cost me.
The right gear is essential. My friend came to visit me, Ambulance taken my helmet to the hospital, he was looking over it and when he got home has swapped his cheapish helmet out for the same I had.
I know you experienced riders know all this and can hear the tuts and shaking heads from all the way over here, I get it, I really do. Stupid rookie mistake and I'm kicking myself (If I could!)
I actually feel abit better after writing this, brain keeps trying to fill the blanks in from the crash and isn't the nicest experience.
Anyways, I hope this just helps one person who is a new rider and decides to go for a morning blast, if they just ease off that throttle a second earlier after reading this.
CoreyDog said:
I approached an unfamiliar bend on a country road and realised I was a little quick on entry, tipped the bike in and looked through the corner... Then realised the limit point was closing very quickly, the bend was tightening.
Setting aside not getting into this scenario in the first place, what is the best action at this point? Steady throttle/speed, lean more and have some faith?I'm sorry to hear about your accident but glad to hear it's not too serious.
Your caution applies to all of us, both new and experienced riders. We can and do all get caught out by the unexpected and all we can do is train ourselves so that the chances of getting caught out are less and that we try to "do the right thing" when it does happen.
Get well soon.
Your caution applies to all of us, both new and experienced riders. We can and do all get caught out by the unexpected and all we can do is train ourselves so that the chances of getting caught out are less and that we try to "do the right thing" when it does happen.
Get well soon.
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