Leave No Man Behind

[Duc and Cover]

I had a bit of an accident today, and just wanted to thank everyone from Tim's ride for helping me out. The ride was going beautifully until I came around a corner and realized that the line I had picked for the turn included a portion of road that had crumbled away. Instead of swerving to avoid it I tried to just straighten up and ride it out, but there was a significant drop onto the soft part of the road and the front wheel planted, so I went up-and-over. The next thing I remember is being stuck under my bike. I guess the bike went up-and-over also and landed on my head.

12 hours later I'm home with one broken ankle and one skinned finger. My helmet did not fair nearly as well. My bike is okay though because I used my head as a frame slider.

This was by no means the hottest or sharpest corner of the day, I just picked a wide line at a time when the edge of the road was missing. Tony tried to make me feel better by telling me I set up wide on the turn because a cage coming the other way had pushed me to the outside on the previous turn, but I've got no excuses, I just f'ed up and I'm glad no one else got hurt. Sorry I screwed up the ride and Tim's perfect record as a leader.

So a big thanks to Tim for spending 12 hours making sure I got home and my bike got to DucPond, and another big thanks to Scott, Tony, Tazima, and Dana for coming to the hospital. And one more shout out to the random couple that threw me in their truck and drove me off the mountain to the hospital since there was no cell coverage.

This may just be the percocet talking, but you guys are awesome!

[Slide Panda]

Aw nuts man!  At least the silver lining is that you're ok for the most part.  The broken ankle will heal, and it's really good to hear there wasn't anything worse that happened considering the mention of your mashed up helmet. 


Speedy recovery to you - and glad to know that it will be a simple one.

[Chileno123]

!!!!  oh man!  I hope you get well soon!

[Ducatista]

I'm glad the lid served its primary function for the most part. Heal up soon!

[tocino]

Ouch. Glad you're OK. When you're up to it I'll buy you a beer at Asylum. Goes great with Percocet.

[Geaux]

I was about to say, I'd better not see you on P St or 18th St with a beer in one hand and a Percocet in the other.

[ducpenguin]

Wow...God speed to yor recovery...I am happy to hear that you only sustained slight injuries...Get well soon, and if I ever make it to Rhodeside...your drinks are on me!

[RodeoClown]

Man! Sorry to hear that! Glad you are mostly ok! I wish you and your bike a speedy recovery! I wasn't sure I heard you right on your message until I saw this post. Get well and rehab the ankle and we will hit the shore soon enough. Take care

[ducatiz]

Yuck story

Great responses

Good ending.  Bikes can be replaced, body parts not so much.

Glad you're ok.

where was the crappy road?

[David Lowenstein]

Very sorry to hear about your get-off, and I hope you recover quickly.  Maybe we can do one of the good local rides (e.g., up River Road out to Whites Ferry/Barnesville/Old Rag) to help you regain your sea legs, once the bike and you are fixed.  I also have a pretty comprehensive set of tools so if you are doing any of the work yourself and need something just give me a call, since I am just a few convenient blocks away.

Usually I do my pre-flight check the day before but Saturday I didn't get to it until the morning of the ride.  I hopped on the bike and the rear tire sank to the rim - a quick inspection revealed a big cotter pin stuck in the center of the tread, apparently a by-product of my ride last Sunday.  As a backup plan I thought I'd take my Triumph instead, so I pulled that one off the Tender, out of the garage, and started kicking.  Battery was dead as a doornail, despite having been on the tender (turned out to be completely dry).  So right around the time you were arriving in Gainesville, I was arriving at Myers Cycle in Kensington to drop off my Ducati rear wheel for repair and pick up a new battery for the Bonneville.  Oh well.

Dave

[Duc and Cover]

Thanks for all the well-wishes. I'm not sure where we were. Tim would know. The cop who came said that two bikers had died there recently. To be fair to the road though, the shitty piece that flipped the bike was right on the white line, so I guess I should not have been assuming I could use it, but a couple more inches would have been nice. Even as we were sitting on the guardrail waiting for help a few more bikes came around and were an inch from hitting the same piece.

Update on me: Unfortunately it's still in the "getting worse before it gets better" phase.

[jdubbs32584]

Percocet is your friend. Take it when you need it. And once you're off of crutches and such, do physical therapy for the ankle or it'll stiffen up. I know from experience.

[Duc and Cover]

Yeah, the road overall is a great road. I just managed to find a bad spot on the edge. I'll be going back there as soon as I can.

[ducatiz]

Really, not a crappy road.  Route 33 west of Harrisonburg, west of the small town of Rawley Springs, just east of the West Virginia line.

http://tinyurl.com/67s5hp

The accident ocurred just west of Laurel Wood Lane and Skidmore Fork Road, just west of the "R" in the "Rawley Pike" label for Route 33.

If you zoom out a bit, you will see why that road is a favorite of motorcyclists.  I've been riding it for at least 28 years.

thanks, i'll have to check it out.

maybe spill some of that traction paint on the edge..

[Duc Stamp]

Sorry to hear about the wreck but it sounds like everything will be ok all things considered. Take care of your injuries and you will be back in no time.