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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | On Saturday I rode a 104 mile loop as a motorcycle marshall for the Tour de Cure "San Antonio" bicycle ride.
My job was to keep safe the lead bikes on the longest ride.
These guys out run the pack and take off. I clocked the group at over 45mph on one downhill run. Uphill is a different story. Oh yea, one of these guys was riding on his birthday, he was 60.
I knew a rest stop was about 2 miles ahead. I sprinted up and parked the Vision to mark the turn. I walked down the steep embankment toward the toilets. On the way I said hello to the ham radio guy running communications.
While using the facilities I hear..."Those riders just went the wrong way!!"
I finish up my business and start jogging up the steep embankment towards my Vision.
Motorcycle Boots + Jogging + Steep Embankment = Trouble.
The left toe of my boot caught on the hill and before I could raise my hand to catch myself my head hit the hill!!! The helmet made a foot long skid mark in the dirt. I stood up, checked for injuries and after finding none WALKED up the embankment to the Vision.
Thank goodness for my Helmet!!!
I would have cut open my head for sure. The helmet had a minor abrasion on it. Nothing that is a problem.
My neck is a bit sore...but nothing that requires medication.
Oh yea, once I got on the Vision and started down the road I found out that the radio guy was wrong....the riders did go the correct way!!!!
It was a fun day and my bicycle riders stayed safe and had fun. Their idea of fun is riding a bicycle in 85 degree weather uphill into the wind. I just like my Vision. I also found some great roads between Comfort and Kerrville, TX to ride. I cannot wait to try them at speed.
Ride Safe and wear a helmet! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
Las Vegas, NV | Glad to hear you are OK. My nephew rode his bicycle during that event and even my sister rode her Suzuki 805 to help out. She said she put some miles on her Suzy and had a great time. Helmets are wonderful things. Saved my life back in the early 80's in San Antonio although the accident left me paralyzed from the neck down, but luckily for only a short period of time. They are required in Nevada and I wear mine in other states regardless of whether they are required or not. Keep that brain craddler on. It will come in handy someday. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
Las Vegas, NV | Glad to hear you are OK. My nephew rode his bicycle during that event and even my sister rode her Suzuki 805 to help out. She said she put some miles on her Suzy and had a great time. Helmets are wonderful things. Saved my life back in the early 80's in San Antonio although the accident left me paralyzed from the neck down, but luckily for only a short period of time. They are required in Nevada and I wear mine in other states regardless of whether they are required or not. Keep that brain craddler on. It will come in handy someday. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Paul, just saw a commercial. Seems if you buy a bicycle helmet from Scha-wing and promise to wear it all the time, you get a free "Help me I fell and I can't get up" emergency bracelet~!
Just sayin'
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | Now THAT would be a video for all to see! Glad you weren't hurt, Teach.
Never really preached helmet use but we don't ride w/o one. Ride on.
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I hope you do not mind if I DO NOT do that again for the cameras. I have enough embarrassing stuff out there. My neck still has a kink in it but nothing that requires medication.
Ride Safe |
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Cruiser
Posts: 171
San Antonio, Texas | Hey, Paul, I guess you know by now that the "Birthday Boy" is my pastor! He was thrilled that you had clocked them at 45 mph! Pretty fast for a 60 year old ON A BICYCLE!! He did mention that the wind was the big killer that day.
Glad you only suffered injury to the ego rather than the body.
Stay safe! |
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Tourer
Posts: 430
| <p>RT - glad your ok. May I recommend seeing a chiropractor for you neck? I have been seeing my Chiro for years and glad I do. Makes me feel better. I see him more as I am getting 'younger'  </p><p> Helmets, no matter what the activity, are cheap insurance for the ol noggin. </p>
Edited by 20 10 Vision 2012-05-23 1:53 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Magic - 2012-05-23 7:45 AM
Hey, Paul, I guess you know by now that the "Birthday Boy" is my pastor! He was thrilled that you had clocked them at 45 mph! Pretty fast for a 60 year old ON A BICYCLE!! He did mention that the wind was the big killer that day.
Glad you only suffered injury to the ego rather than the body.
Stay safe!
Tom (the 60 year old birthday pastor) is a great guy. I rode along at the beginning of the pack for the last two rides. On my last ride (Ride to the River 2012 for the MS Society October 2011) Tom came in about 40 minutes ahead of the second place rider. His first stop for a break was after riding 70 miles!!! Then after a five minute break, he jumped back on and did the final 30 mile loop!! Tom and the other leaders are bicycle riding machines.
I got to talk to the speedy riders after the ride last Saturday. They were very thankful to have me along. These guys usually out run the motorcycle marshalls and have to fend for themselves. With me behind them they did not have to watch their back that a car or truck was going to hit them from behind.
I am not a cop and cannot stop or direct traffic.....What I can do is try to guess the timing of lights to make it as seamless a ride as I can. I did very well on this ride. I would pull ahead of the riders and try to trigger the light to change so they could pull through at speed. I would also stop the Vision in rural intersections making sure that auto traffic stops at the stop signs. When the bikes would pass I would follow them.
I would wave vehicles around the group to let the cars go and keep people from getting road rage at me or the riders. On the straight runs uphill when we would drop to under 15 mph it was easy to get cars to pass us safely. On the narrow back road twistys the cars might stack up until we get to a safe place for them to pass.
With my rear facing amber Gen 3 LED strobe lights I knew that people would see me. All of the motorcycle marshall guys and gals ride with a Yellow vest on. Most have strobe lights of some type. In my case I have a Black Vision and a white helmet so I get accidentally get mistaken for a police officer.
I have been asked if I was a cop....I respond no. But I can call 911 if they need emergency help.
I need to add a luggage rack and a ham radio rig to make it easier to call in for help. That plus the clearwater lights and I will have a mostly complete ride!
Ride Safe |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | 20 10 Vision - 2012-05-23 1:33 PM
RT - glad your ok. May I recommend seeing a chiropractor for you neck? I have been seeing my Chiro for years and glad I do. Makes me feel better. I see him more as I am getting 'younger'
Helmets, no matter what the activity, are cheap insurance for the ol noggin.?
I will wait a few days but if it is not getting better I will call a chiropractor up for an adjustment.
Ride Safe |
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New user
Posts: 4
| radioteacher - 2012-05-23 3:37 PM
20 10 Vision - 2012-05-23 1:33 PM
RT - glad your ok. May I recommend seeing a chiropractor for you neck? I have been seeing my Chiro for years and glad I do. Makes me feel better. I see him more as I am getting 'younger'
Helmets, no matter what the activity, are cheap insurance for the ol noggin.?
I will wait a few days but if it is not getting better I will call a chiropractor up for an adjustment.
Ride Safe
what now your update bro? did you call chiroptractor about it.? |
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New user
Posts: 4
| Helmet is very useful protection to riders.Life is once in a lifetime so be careful about it.
led lights |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | Radioteacher
Go to the Chrio and get a roll-on bottle of Bio-freeze. Best stuff I have ever used. Only thing better is horse liniment and you can't wear that to work or the store..... Glad your OK. We are not 22 any more and just don't heal up like we used to. Just remember it not the age it's the mileage LOL at least in my life! |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Even thought it is felling better I made an appointment for this Friday. I will let you know how it goes.
Walk safe. |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | LUKE, I AM YOUR MOTHER, joke but please go and get the bottle of Bio-freez |
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Thank goodness for my Helmet!!!
