Glad to hear you survived your lay down relatively well. Reaction time is one of those things we slow down on as we age. I'm quite a bit younger than you and as much as I hate to admit it I know my reaction times aren't what they once were and try to adapt accordingly.

Well, glad you are OK enough to drop us a line, tune us up a bit about road hazards and remind us what a good helmet can do. Every time I wear a 1/2 or 3/4 I constantly think I wish I had my full face on! I don't dare ride without it in winter. And reading testimonials here: http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/testimonials.php?brand=t I sprang for new gear this summer. I'm amazed the cooling effect it has in summer and the warmth it has in winter. Go there and read some of that in your recovery time. I love survival stories.

I wear a 3/4 in the summer sometimes, despite my thoughts, but what do you think now? Would you of rather had a full face on? I have about a grand in helmets, but the new multitec ones look like something to replace a 3/4 for me. They have some neat features, drop down sunshield for one.

I hope I never have to, but I hope when I am 67, in 19 years, I can survive what you did, that's a lot of jumbling around for bones that old ya know.

Hope everything works and turns out good as before the mishap.

MC

Glad to hear you came out of it as well as you did.
Papa Bear

"asphalt surfers club". LOVE IT!!!!!

On a serious note, glad you made it out okay. It is a personal thing whether we choose to wear helmets or not (except where laws require it). I myself rode all summer without one, and love the wind in my face, bla bla bla. The reality of it is, most of us have families that rely on us in many ways. i have read about countless cycle crashes this summer, and it really has me thinking a helmet might not be a bad idea. Maybe not just a brain bucket. If your helmet was cracked from the impact, that means good chance the noggin would have been cracked instead , and we would not have the oppurtunity to even read this post. Kudos for wearing it.

Ride safe guys.

Big Bear, thanks for asking about my dog. This hasn't been a good month. Four weeks before this accident, my travel buddy developed a twisted intestine. She swelled up like a basketball and during the second emergency surgery in a week, it was decided to put her down. The pressure on her internal organs was terrific, and ruptured her gall bladder and smashed her liver to the point it failed to work.
The wonderful surgeons at Okla State University Vet. hospital worked very hard for her, and treated both her and I with a tremendous amount of respect and concern.
If not for this, yes, she would have been with me. About three months ago, she rode through one of my controlled lay-downs. We slid on the engine guard for about 75 feet and managed to bring it upright just before coming to a stop. She never left the bike, and as I continued down the mountain, she laid down and went to sleep. Obviously it didn't scare her nearly as bad as me!

I am sorry to hear you went down. I am glad it was not worse it sounds bad enough but could have been worse. I hope you mend fast and your back up and riding.

Ron

Wow quite a story and glad you came out only a little worse for wear Surprises on the road are one of the uncontrollable factors, and as you learned the factor we can control is how we are prepared for them. I personally always chose to wear a helmet. That was not always the case, but a very close call and miraculous save in a collision with another rider led me to see that bad things can happen at any moment and that is not when you want to think gee I wish I had my gloves on, or my helmet, or long pants or any of the other gear that can save us months of recovery or even our lives. OK I will get off the soap box now please forgive me

Sorry about your dog, it hurts when you loose a pal like that, especially one with enough nerve to go down with you and then get back on Keep healing and let us know how things progress.

Glad you're ok and pray recovery comes quickly. We put down our beloved Duke a week ago due to complications and I still walk in the house expecting a bark. It still hurts. But as for the protective gear the saying goes "too soon old, too late smart". Don't have to tell you to ride safe do I?

Greyphart

WOW, I just read all the posts about this, you must be one great guy! I'm new to this site, and a new R* Rider. I live in Wisconsin, there is no helmet law, but I always wear my Full helmet, long sleeves (normally my leather jacket), long pants, gloves and boots.

I took the MC safety coarse at the local community collage, and the 2 veteran instructors would not let you on a bike without the proper gear. It wasn't just for show, they practiced what they preached as well.

I'm glad to hear that you will heal, and the story about your friend, your pal, having to put her down brought a tear to my eye, I love dogs and truely believe every man should have such a good friend as you did. Will you get another? I know it's hard to think about, but there are just so many at the animal shelters that need a friend like you!

Take care and get well.

Get well soon and back on the road again...