Ok I thought I would post my thoughts about body armour, riding with a mate and making sure you have all the kit.
On Sat I went to ride some new lanes with Mike near Newton Abbot Totnes area. We where having a great time as I rode down one lane I was so fixed on the lane far in front didnt clock the rather massive Oak trunk sticking out the hedge. There I was changing into 3rd and it can only be described as a huge impact which felt like I hit a brick wall!.... You guessed it I hit the tree trunk full on.
I think the handguard clipped the side and the bike went under the fallen trunk with me taking the full impact across the chest, then in the air and down the lane. The impact was directly on my chest then when I finally landed on my shoulder, knee and hand. Mike walked it out and reckons air time was around 40 feet!
Im 100% sure by wearing the body armour and all the gear it saved me from serious injury. I ended up with a very swollen knee, extremely sore chest, shoulder and hand but rode on for a few lanes until it all swelled up and we had to call it a day.
The moral of this story is whatever you do make sure you are wearing the right kit as you never know when its going to catch you out plus having a good mate who will look after you when it all goes wrong.
I did say however if I needed mouth to mouth please just inform my next of kin please
-- Edited by Mike Wright on Monday 8th of September 2014 05:25:15 PM
Couldn't agree more while on a ride out a couple of weeks back while entering a lane at a good pace I decided that I wanted to be in the middle of the lane so compressed the forks lifted the wheel the small amount need as it was only a small hard rut side (or so I thought) the next thing I know the bike was down and I was well infront on the other side of the lane!!! Opps!!!! Well after checking the bike Rog who was with me said I'd landed hard and he wasn't wrong the mud up my side and the marks on my arm and leg said yep I hit the rocky floor hard! That said the forcefeild pro armor did realy well and I didn't even notice the impact on my arm or body but the leg not so much the cheap armour in my trousers had taken some impact so at the time it felt fine but as the night fell while drinking a beer my hip went blue then purple the green!!!!!
So as mike says ware good gear I'm now look at force field shorts as the wife said the big blue mark wasn't a good look!!!!
Mike was this he lane that was reported a while ago as having a rather concealed log in the headge?
Hope you mend soon.....I used to ride with no armour cause I was tough and thought it was for poofs - till I came off and broke 2 ribs now I won't ride without it.
With regards to a good mate, after many years of watching me fall off mine now knows me well enough to know when to laugh and when to 'look after me'
192-013 matey, remember it well !!! when i returned to see where you were, the walking on your hands and knees did not raise a smile. That day the orange machine bit back.
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Took the Queens Shilling and disappeared for 23 Years !!
Ouch that looks painful. I used to go out nip down the shops or a short ride to a mates without the correct gear on as it was hot and sunny but not any more ........ we are still mates I just ride with the proper gear on.
I recon your body armour should include a cape for the distance you flew- I was a bit worried seeing you lying in the lane groaning but you were still breathing and your bike needed lifting upright- first things first. It took two ciggies and a good half hour to get you over the shock and bike ready. I guess the steady swelling made riding too uncomfortable(oo err missus). By the time we reached the bottom of 202-052 you had a full on limp (oo err missus again) and a swollen hand (make up your own jokes).
The body armour definitely saved you from a real nasty. A and E would have been a definite. I hope that you are feeling a bit better and that a couple of weeks r and r fishing do the trick.
just thinking- If i had film footage it would have made a great "should have gone to spec savers"ad. The tree stump was huge and not going anywhere.
... I was just a bit too close
now I won't ride without it.
