The one time I don't wear pants

[rich hall-3]

I had a meeting yesterday morning.  I didn't want to show up in full garb.  I left my pants at home.  I had on my boots, jacket, gloves, full face.  
 
Coming down 28 S towards 66.  The 66 West exit was backed up.  Mini van's in the right lane and center lane.  I'm in the left lane.  I see the right lane mini van is acting squeamish/squirreling.  I could tell she wasn't comfortable.  I think we're past the danger.  At this point I've caught up to the vans.  Then the van in the right lane moves over a foot or two, towards the center lane.  The red mini van in the center lane, proceeds to move 3/4 into my lane.  I try to brake, but she's coming to fast.  I bounce off, as she hit my bar end, I'm leaning left, I lean to my right, trying to balance.  Tire(s) hit the median.  The curb is about 4" high w/ a 45 degree angle.  
 
I'm going down.  Sliding, I think my head hasn't hit.  Head hits, I tumble.  Stop.  See my bike in front of me.  Flick off the mini van, as it drives off.  Look back, to see if I'm going to get run over.  First car is stopped.  Guy gets out.  Ask if I'm ok.  Dude behind him says he's going to chase down the minivan.  
 
Cops show up from my left & right.  Ask if I'm ok.  I'm ok, but know my knee is definately torn up.  I'm more pissed that the lady didn't stop than anything.  
 
Dude that went after the van came back.  Couldn't find the van.  I was surprised at that.  Him and the other guy stuck around and gave reports though.  I'm thankful for that.
 
Took me into the ambulance, asked if I wanted to go to the hospital.  I said no.  The officer I was talking to mentioned he rode.  I had pulled my key out, to stop the bike.  Ask him to see if it'll start.  I hear my SV rumble to life.  I went down on the right side.  My Yosh looks terrible.  Still sounds great.
 
Cops ask if I want it towed.  Tell them I'm going to walk to the firetruck, about 50 yards away and back.  If I'm fine, I'm riding home.  I was only about 2 miles from my house, 35 mph would be the top speed limit.  
 
I walk back & forth, doesn't feel too bad.  Officer says they'll block traffic for me, let me get on and out of the way.  
 
I got home, started to wash my knee, realized I had no idea what I was doing.  Go to urgent care.  Wait a couple of hours.  Get my knee cleaned, x-rayed.  Just road rash.  Prescriptions for antibiotics & pain killers.  
 
The bike is scratched just about everywhere on it's right side.  Tail, pipe, mid pipe, tank, bar end, mirror, brake lever, frame slider, etc.  Being an '02 SVS, I'm thinking that's enough to total it.  We'll see what the shop says.  
 
If it's totalled, I might get just the mechanics fixed.  Might be time for something else.  
 
Be safe out there.  Wear your gear.  I should've put my leg armor on under my khakis or had my overpants on, like I do everyday, when I go directly to the office.
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[mtroutma]

Rich - I know exactly where you are talking about and ride through there
every day.  The 1/4 mile before 66 headed South on 28 is very sketchy -
drivers weaving in from 66 and others stuck in left lane backups pop out
into the center lane without looking.  We've all ridden in Jeans or
Khakis from time to time, you just never know when something could
happen.  Great reminder to always wear proper gear.

Karma will catch the minivan.  Hope you and your bike heal quickly.  :(
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[Bob Meyer-2]

ATGATT (All the gear, all the time).  You just can't predict when something stupid will happen.

Glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt.


---- Rich Hall <richallmc@...> wrote:

>
> I had a meeting yesterday morning.  I didn't want to show up in full garb.  I left my pants at home.  I had on my boots, jacket, gloves, full face.  
>  
> Coming down 28 S towards 66.  The 66 West exit was backed up.  Mini van's in the right lane and center lane.  I'm in the left lane.  I see the right lane mini van is acting squeamish/squirreling.  I could tell she wasn't comfortable.  I think we're past the danger.  At this point I've caught up to the vans.  Then the van in the right lane moves over a foot or two, towards the center lane.  The red mini van in the center lane, proceeds to move 3/4 into my lane.  I try to brake, but she's coming to fast.  I bounce off, as she hit my bar end, I'm leaning left, I lean to my right, trying to balance.  Tire(s) hit the median.  The curb is about 4" high w/ a 45 degree angle.  
>  
> I'm going down.  Sliding, I think my head hasn't hit.  Head hits, I tumble.  Stop.  See my bike in front of me.  Flick off the mini van, as it drives off.  Look back, to see if I'm going to get run over.  First car is stopped.  Guy gets out.  Ask if I'm ok.  Dude behind him says he's going to chase down the minivan.  
>  
> Cops show up from my left & right.  Ask if I'm ok.  I'm ok, but know my knee is definately torn up.  I'm more pissed that the lady didn't stop than anything.  
>  
> Dude that went after the van came back.  Couldn't find the van.  I was surprised at that.  Him and the other guy stuck around and gave reports though.  I'm thankful for that.
>  
> Took me into the ambulance, asked if I wanted to go to the hospital.  I said no.  The officer I was talking to mentioned he rode.  I had pulled my key out, to stop the bike.  Ask him to see if it'll start.  I hear my SV rumble to life.  I went down on the right side.  My Yosh looks terrible.  Still sounds great.
>  
> Cops ask if I want it towed.  Tell them I'm going to walk to the firetruck, about 50 yards away and back.  If I'm fine, I'm riding home.  I was only about 2 miles from my house, 35 mph would be the top speed limit.  
>  
> I walk back & forth, doesn't feel too bad.  Officer says they'll block traffic for me, let me get on and out of the way.  
>  
> I got home, started to wash my knee, realized I had no idea what I was doing.  Go to urgent care.  Wait a couple of hours.  Get my knee cleaned, x-rayed.  Just road rash.  Prescriptions for antibiotics & pain killers.  
>  
> The bike is scratched just about everywhere on it's right side.  Tail, pipe, mid pipe, tank, bar end, mirror, brake lever, frame slider, etc.  Being an '02 SVS, I'm thinking that's enough to total it.  We'll see what the shop says.  
>  
> If it's totalled, I might get just the mechanics fixed.  Might be time for something else.  
>  
> Be safe out there.  Wear your gear.  I should've put my leg armor on under my khakis or had my overpants on, like I do everyday, when I go directly to the office.
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--
Bob Meyer, #1157, Fairfax, Virginia
'01 Candy Dark Red ST1100, "teSTarossa"

Life is all about ass...
You're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it, or behaving like one.
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[skip-10]

I was on my way home from Ohio yesterday and stopped at a rest area.  a
bunch of Harley's pull up wearing jeans and vests.  They comment on how
hot I must be in all that gear.  I point out that "all the ladies say
that too!"
I tell them that my dad always said to dress for the crash, not for the
ride.
"yeah, but it's so hot!"

ah well.


Bob Meyer wrote:
> ATGATT (All the gear, all the time).  You just can't predict when something stupid will happen.
>
> Glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt.
>
>
> ---- Rich Hall <richallmc@...> wrote:
>> I had a meeting yesterday morning.  I didn't want to show up in full garb.  
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[dcmcrider]

Yeah, here's my rejoinder, if I'm feeling snarky--"It may be a little
warm, but it goes away as soon as I step off the bike and unzip, quite
unlike road rash, contusions and broken bones."  I don't go around
dishing out unsolicited comments about other people's riding gear--I
wish they would exercise their right to remain silent and return the
favor. I do sweat in my leathers and Stich and full-face helmet, but I
would think riding around at a highway speeds in anything less would
be terribly de-hydrating, not to mention all the noise, wind-blast,
bugs, etc.

They're obviously at peace with that they're wearing--it's a choice. I
don't think I'd last twenty minutes on the highway in jeans, leather
vest, t-shirt and a shorty helmet.

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 1:23 PM, skip <onefaller@...> wrote:

> I was on my way home from Ohio yesterday and stopped at a rest area.  a
> bunch of Harley's pull up wearing jeans and vests.  They comment on how
> hot I must be in all that gear.  I point out that "all the ladies say
> that too!"
> I tell them that my dad always said to dress for the crash, not for the
> ride.
> "yeah, but it's so hot!"
>
> ah well.
>
>
> Bob Meyer wrote:
>> ATGATT (All the gear, all the time).  You just can't predict when something stupid will happen.
>>
>> Glad to hear you weren't seriously hurt.
>>
>>
>> ---- Rich Hall <richallmc@...> wrote:
>>> I had a meeting yesterday morning.  I didn't want to show up in full garb.
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[Matthew Bafford]

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 1:43 PM, Paul Wilson <dcmcrider@...> wrote:
> They're obviously at peace with that they're wearing--it's a choice. I
> don't think I'd last twenty minutes on the highway in jeans, leather
> vest, t-shirt and a shorty helmet.

It's so true.  For every day I'm sweating my ass off in my suit,
there's another day when I'm shivering despite being fully covered
(the motoport breathes surprisingly well although it's hard to believe
on really hot days) I see people riding with no gear and wonder how
they do it.

Really, how do those people handle <65F naked at even 65 miles per hour?  *brr*

--Matthew
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[smthng else]

On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 6:07 PM, Rich Hall <richallmc@...> wrote:
> I had a meeting yesterday morning.  I didn't want to show up in full garb.  I left my pants at home.  I had on my boots, jacket, gloves, full face.

Sorry about the incident...  hope you're alright.  Bikes can be
bought, fresh bones and ligaments are much harder to replace.

> Be safe out there.  Wear your gear.  I should've put my leg armor on under my khakis or had my overpants on, like I do everyday, when I go directly to the office.

I fight myself on this almost every morning.  This morning I was on
the bike and ready to roll out with helmet, gloves, boots, jacket...
no overpants.  I changed my mind at the last minute and got my
overpants.  The argument usually goes smthng like this...

"It's a PITA to get the pants on when I've already got boots on."
"It takes ONE MINUTE, everything else is wasted effort if you don't have knees."
"Fine!"

The moral to this story... it's really not as much of a pain in the
ascot as I think it is and it's worth it to spend a minute of my life
every day to raise the chances of retaining the ability to walk some
day.

Thanks for the post Rich, holler if there's anything you need with!

--Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes
Rest of signature truncated due to post lunch laziness.
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[Matthew Bafford]

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 1:56 PM, smthng else <smthngelse@...> wrote:
> "It's a PITA to get the pants on when I've already got boots on."
> "It takes ONE MINUTE, everything else is wasted effort if you don't have knees."
> "Fine!"

Not to be a motoport fanboy, but their pants aren't difficult at all
even with boots on.  Full length zipper on one side, crotch length
zipper on the other.

Oh, to the person who asked about the motoport, no, I don't have the
mesh.  I have the stretch kevlar.  I'm actually curious about the mesh
and might ask them to send a sample.  If you want to feel any of the
materials, they'll send a sample.  If you want to see the suit
construction (and live in the DC area), let me know and we might be
able to meet up somewhere.

--Matthew
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[skip-10]

What I've found about the stich is that it's nowhere near as hot as
you'd think it would be, nor is it as warm as you'd wish it was.

if you're moving, the stich is fine in any temps we see around here.  if
you shift a little bit, you can get airflow in, and then your sweat can
do its job - evaporating and keeping you cool.

I have crash-tested aerostiches.  once at a 45-50 mph accidental wheelie
gone wrong, and once at a 25mph highside.  In both cases, I got up,
brushed myself off, and rode on.  I'm a firm believer in them.  Yes,
they're expensive, but they're cheaper than a single skin graft.

They aren't rain gear, as much as I'd like for them to be.  They are a
crash suit, and they do that job admirably.

Matthew Bafford wrote:

> On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 1:43 PM, Paul Wilson <dcmcrider@...> wrote:
>> They're obviously at peace with that they're wearing--it's a choice. I
>> don't think I'd last twenty minutes on the highway in jeans, leather
>> vest, t-shirt and a shorty helmet.
>
> It's so true.  For every day I'm sweating my ass off in my suit,
> there's another day when I'm shivering despite being fully covered
> (the motoport breathes surprisingly well although it's hard to believe
> on really hot days) I see people riding with no gear and wonder how
> they do it.
>
> Really, how do those people handle <65F naked at even 65 miles per hour?  *brr*
>
> --Matthew
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>
>

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[smthng else]

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 2:03 PM, skip <onefaller@...> wrote:
> I have crash-tested aerostiches.  once at a 45-50 mph accidental wheelie
> gone wrong, <snip>

Chumming the waters?

I think we need some elaboration here. ;)

--Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes
Springfield, VA
2005 Yamaha FJR1300ABS - "Blue Bayou"
2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - "Teflon"
2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 - It's here, but it hasn't earned a name yet. ;)
http://smthng.info

"If I'd known it was harmless, I would have killed it myself."
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[Matthew Bafford]

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 2:08 PM, smthng else <smthngelse@...> wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 2:03 PM, skip <onefaller@...> wrote:
>> I have crash-tested aerostiches.  once at a 45-50 mph accidental wheelie
>> gone wrong, <snip>
>
> Chumming the waters?
>
> I think we need some elaboration here. ;)

To start, was the wheelie accidental, or was it the going wrong part
you didn't intend?

--Matthew
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[skip-10]

Matthew Bafford wrote:

> On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 2:08 PM, smthng else <smthngelse@...> wrote:
>> On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 2:03 PM, skip <onefaller@...> wrote:
>>> I have crash-tested aerostiches.  once at a 45-50 mph accidental wheelie
>>> gone wrong, <snip>
>> Chumming the waters?
>>
>> I think we need some elaboration here. ;)
>
> To start, was the wheelie accidental, or was it the going wrong part
> you didn't intend?
>
> --Matthew

I thought I'd told this story here...

this happened in October of 07.

My chosen route to work takes me on the back roads of Great Falls, where
I grew up and currently reside.  I am very familiar with the roads.
Walker road ends in a 90 degree left hander onto Beach Mill, and there's
a short hill right after.  over the previous months, I'd been getting
smoother in that turn, and getting really good drive out of it - to the
point where I'd get a little front wheel air cresting the hill.  I
suppose you could call that a wheelie, but really, it was just a little
bit of front wheel air...  maybe 6"?

On the fateful morning, I came out of the turn and got good drive, went
over the hill and rolled off the throttle to bring the front back down.
  but the throttle stuck, and the wheel -launched- in the air.  The tail
of the bike hit and I slid off the back, on my butt.  I slid over onto
my side, and as I started to tumble, I pulled my arms in.  I don't know
how many times I went around.  but I ended up in the ditch on the right
side of the road, and the bike was down at the next intersection, both
of us still in our lane.  There were a number of cars going the opposite
direction.  I got up, checking myself for damage.  I didn't notice any
at the time, so I went down to the bike, and a guy helped me get it off
the road.  I had to convince several people that I was ok, that I didn't
need an ambulance or the police.  I started to walk back home when I
realized that I hadn't checked to see if the bike still ran.  I went
back, and it did.  so I rode it home.
Shock is an amazing tool.  My shoulder was dislocated from the tumbling,
but that's not the suit's fault.

http://blackroses.com/~skip/crash
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[Wayne Edelen-2]

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 3:16 PM, skip <onefaller@...> wrote:
>>
>> To start, was the wheelie accidental, or was it the going wrong part
>> you didn't intend?
>>
>> --Matthew
>
>
> I thought I'd told this story here...


You did.

Rich - sucks about the get off  :-(  If you're fixing the bike, and
the rest of the exhaust can is still good, I have a like new oval SS
Yosh exhaust sleeve.  My full exhaust was stainless and I swapped in a
carbon sleeve.  It's yours free, just tell me where to send it or you
can pick it up in Frederick.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r228/Uber55/busa/almostdone.jpg

-- Wayne
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[Chris Norloff-2]

I just bought this book, and like a fellow lister, think it's great.  I
think I'll read it while driving home today.

Chris



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