Well, it finally happened

[bananapanties]

Well folks, who knew that after only 3 weeks on a bike, I'd be caught in the most common single-vehicle accident ever.

I took my husband's bike out and manages to take a caroner too wide, went right off the opposite shoulder, and broke the vertebrae (c-1. c-2 and l-7, and I bruised up my liver and tore up a lung pretty good.  I also have several bruised ribs.

The bike might be totalled--we don't know yet.  I, however, missed a concrete block the size of Texas and an oncoming train, so I'm feeling pretty dang lucky, although I may be waiting to ride for a while.

Yeah, that part where they tell you about following through with your head, they aren't kidding.  I'm pretty worthless at the moment, only able to sit around like alump and take drugs and eat.

Heed the advice!  And enjoy and be thankful for your skills!

Annie

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[size=12]Oh Annie!  I'm so sorry!  

You sound awfully chipper for having all that wrong with you!  One smashed finger and I am crying like a baby!


I hope your wounds heal extra-quick! [/size]

[aussie]

Oh God, Annie - I'm so sorry to hear that you've had an accident - and not a small one at that.

I truely hope that you are on the mend and that things are OK.... R&R seems to be about the best medicine I would imagine. Please keep us informed of how you're progressing.

Take care
Tim

[bananapanties]

I think it really will be spring before I get a bike....for right now, if I do get a bike, it'll be a little 250 or something...Tom's thinking of buying my BMW for him.

Thanks for the support.  Can you take away some of the pain for me, too?



Annie

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[size=12]This thought gives me comfort, for some unknown reason:  "Pain is weakness leaving the body".[/size]

[aussie]

Thanks for the support.  Can you take away some of the pain for me, too?



Annie

In my own humble way...
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=w156M6E8nb4

Take care

[bananapanties]

OMG, I nearly did that one time, too.  It's hilarious

Thanks!

Annie

[Frank_M]

Oh Jeez, Annie! What can I say, but "sorry and get well." You seem to have a great sense of humor and that'll doubtlessly be a plus in your recuperation.

First Rob, now Annie ... that saying about "Things often come in 3s" comes to mind. Let's all be careful out there.

[nhmaf]

I am so sorry to hear of yourr accident , Annie !    It sounds like it was a pretty bad one - I am so grateful to hear that you're on the mend and have such a positive outlook.    I think that all beginning riders generally have an accident of some sort, but after the first one they manage to avoid having any more - so it seems that you didn't fool around and just got that crash out of the way .  I apologize if I am sounding too flippant about it - just trying to make you smile.   I recall my first bike crash - I hit some oil at an intersection going around a corner and ended up low-siding across the road.  Miraculously the bike only suffered some scratches and a bent shift lever.   I (an immortal teenager without much money) was just wearing blue jeans but did have my leather jacket, gloves, and helmet at least. I tore up my knee pretty badly and lost a chunk of skin on my leg, but otherwise was fine.

Well, we also had Sue have a crash a little before Rob did, so I am hoping that this fulfills the "bad things come in 3s" philosophy - my grandma always used to say that, too.  

Keep up your spirits, Annie !   Visit us often here and we'll try to give you an excuse to smile.  We'll try not to make you laugh cause
injured ribs hurt     When you do get back out on a bike, remember the "all the gear, all the time" philosophy, cause we can just never plan these things !

[montmil]

BananaAnnie, I am extremely sorry to hear of your unfortunate accident. We all wish you a speedy and full recovery so that you might return to school and, eventually, get back in the saddle.  

While you're sitting around like that lump and eating... careful you don't start chunking up, girl - visit us her at he asylum. We, too, need your counsel.

Monte  

[suecanada]

Hi there Annie, this is Sue, the no. 1 boo boo in our quest for how bad luck seems to come in threes. Seriously, I am so so sorry to hear of your accident. You have cottoned on to the lesson you have learned pretty darn quick... look where you want to go; not where you don't want to go. Me? I have tried to make up something to learn as well from my accident....sleep more!!!! Avoid Prairies when tired!!!! Drink Gatorade even if it is cold outside! Stop every hour for a break! Get a bike that shuts off when horizontal!

Those ribs and injuries are so painful and what about trying to brush your teeth!! Or get off the toilet!! Yow! There are so many everyday moves we all take for granted until we are hurt. I am concerned about your vertabrae injuries and the lung and liver. What does your doctor say? Do you have permission to take Tylenol 3's? I sure hope you do so you can get some sleep. Sleep equals healing! Can you sleep OK? Do you have to sleep sorta sitting up???
I, just this very moment, got a call from the doctors with my last xray results. The collarbone has really started to get calcified now or in other words has got some bone- growing going on now. I know it sounds like a long time but I'm old (er) so it takes longer. That's my excuse anyway. Annie...you are young and I hope will be able to heal a lot quicker than us old farts!!! What ever you do, don't stop being funny and laughing on the inside at least until your ribs can take it!!!

Please keep us all updated on your progress if it isn't too hard to type.
Cheers and all the best!!
Sue

[msbuck]

  Yowsers!  

Steve Hawkins should be counted in the fray as well, that makes four!  Hope there's not 2 more to come!!!

Annie,  you seem to have a wonderful attitude and spirit about all this.  Glad to hear you still talking about getting back up in the saddle.  Sorry you had to learn that lesson about where to look the hard way!  Please keep us up to date on your progress and we'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers as well....(My prayers are getting lengthy these days...)

Starting to think twice about getting back on my bike....

[drewboid]

Let me add my best wishes for a speedy recovery. this happened so early in your riding career I hope this does not discourage you.  It really does take time to learn how to ride well.

It seems that in the first year riders make mistakes because they do not know enough and in the second year because they think they do. In my experience the by the third year it does come together. Of course that does not make any excuse for my not turning sharp enough and hitting a concrete mile post with the cylinder of my old R60/2!!!  Now, after taking the MSF course I know about counter-steering and will not let it happen again.

42 years after getting my license I advocate all-the-gear-all-the-time as well as refresher courses in riding technique. I hope to take a track course this spring to improve turning skills.

OK - I'll get off the soapbox and say again - Heal fast and look forward to spring.

[k_enn]

When I was learing to ride, my instructor mentioned an interesting statistic.  He said the over 90% of the motorcycle riding accidents happen to people in their first year of riding.  I know that is not much comfort to be part of that statistic, but on the other hand the averages would indicate that you should be good for many years to come.

Hope you heal well and fast, and don't give up riding.

k_enn

[Altritter]

I'm so sorry to hear about your accident and injuries! I can relate to your feelings, for I managed to pin myself under a student bike while taking the MSF Basic Rider Course, and I spent an entire night in the ER, getting X-rays, MRIs and sonograms. I didn't hurt nearly as much as I'm certain you do (from the description of your injuries), but my right leg still looks weird after more than a year, a daily reminder of the mishap. And this was before I even got my license endorsed for motorcycles, and I had not even begun looking for a bike to purchase! (I had ridden scooters and lightweight cycles in high school and college, but had not ridden for several decades until last year.)

You wrote: << for right now, if I do get a bike, it'll be a little 250 or something >>

Hmmm. You didn't mention in your previous postings that your R65 was too tall for you, so I wonder if you would find a 250 to be, otherwise, that much more manageable than an R65. I was considering a 250 when I took the MSF course. Personally, I didn't find the 250 I rode during the course as manageable as my R65. The 250 wasn't that much lighter than my present bike, it wasn't that much slower, it wasn't as stable (IMHO), and it *certainly* wasn't as much fun. First things first: don't fret over this while you're recovering. Decide that you want to ride again, then take your time deciding what to buy.

I wish you a quick recovery.

Best wishes,

John