Another biker death

[Marishka29]

I just found out tonight that a previous co-worker/ family friend lost her son in a motorcycle accident Wednesday morning. Unfortunatly he wasn't wearing a helmet and died due to head trama. He was traveling on I-45 near Edgebrook when the truck in front of him switched lanes to narrowly miss a slow moving street-sweeper in the fast lane. Being as I wasn't there, I'm only assuming that my friends son was following too closely because he didn't even have a chance to react.

This hits a little close to home as this is the second motorcycle death my family has encountered in the past two months. The first being a distant cousin who also died from head injury due to not wearing a helmet.

I'm here asking that you include Nancy Gilliam, her late son, daughter and grandchildren in your prayers and thoughts.

With that said, I know that I'm a noob, but please everyone if you're gonna ride the ride, then wear the gear. Even if it's just your head you protect.

[BlackWidow]

I just found out tonight that a previous co-worker/ family friend lost her son in a motorcycle accident Wednesday morning. Unfortunatly he wasn't wearing a helmet and died due to head trama. He was traveling on I-45 near Edgebrook when the truck in front of him switched lanes to narrowly miss a slow moving street-sweeper in the fast lane. Being as I wasn't there, I'm only assuming that my friends son was following too closely because he didn't even have a chance to react.

This hits a little close to home as this is the second motorcycle death my family has encountered in the past two months. The first being a distant cousin who also died from head injury due to not wearing a helmet.

I'm here asking that you include Nancy Gilliam, her late son, daughter and grandchildren in your prayers and thoughts.

With that said, I know that I'm a noob, but please everyone if you're gonna ride the ride, then wear the gear. Even if it's just your head you protect.

Wow! Jus yesterday you fell @ 40mph and escaped only coz of your gear. Tsk tsk, hope no one in your family tries to discourage you now coz of two family deaths plus your own fall. Let em know the gear works, you can now prove it too by showing them the gear.

Best of luck, will keep them in my prayers.

[Squeaky]

Yeah, Stacy's gear really worked for her. Too bad the grass stains messed up the cool plaid boots! :doh:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7305/pierunjune060499cc.jpg

http://img445.imageshack.us/img445/4598/pierunjune060536nf.jpg

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/1565/pierunjune060512fz.jpg

[kocook]

Stacy, glad you made it back OK. We were looking for you, but in all the wrong places. Glad you had a companion with you.

[Marishka29]

Wow! Jus yesterday you fell @ 40mph and escaped only coz of your gear. Tsk tsk, hope no one in your family tries to discourage you now coz of two family deaths plus your own fall. Let em know the gear works, you can now prove it too by showing them the gear.

Best of luck, will keep them in my prayers.

My family is pretty cool and understanding. They've all either been the owner or passenger on a motorcycle at one time or another and know the importance of proper gear. They also are pretty aware of the fact that riding a bike now as an adult is really no different then riding all the (atv) toys I had as a kid. Only difference is now I'm an adult, more mature and aware of the chances that you take. When I told my mom what I did yesterday she just asked if I was okay then laughed with me when I told her my mistake. She also said "good thing you're smart enough to ride with the gear on" (even though I still don't have my riding pants).

[Marishka29]

Yeah, Stacy's gear really worked for her. Too bad the grass stains messed up the cool plaid boots!
oh and how I loved those boots. Guess now it's time to save up and search for a pair of blue plaid ones :dude:

Stacy, glad you made it back OK. We were looking for you, but in all the wrong places. Glad you had a companion with you.
Thank ya. Was hoping we would all run across eachother further down the twisties.

I was very lucky to be riding with a good group of riders and thankfully my best bud was sweeping. He had a first row ticket to my wipe-out. It's a good thing he is skilled enough to keep going through the turn while watching his best friend lay her bike down. It would have been awful if he had followed suit :eek2:

[Challen]

Stacy?!?!

Do I know you? Those boots look VERY familiar.

If so, what happened and how the **** could you fall after having such AWESOME Instruction?

Challen
Lead Instructor
www.awesomecycles.com

[Marishka29]

Stacy?!?!

Do I know you? Those boots look VERY familiar.

If so, what happened and how the **** could you fall after having such AWESOME Instruction?

Challen
Lead Instructor
www.awesomecycles.com

Uh oh, I'm busted. haha. I just had one of the freakish brain snaps :brainsnap . Sent ya a PM telling you about the whole stupid mess. Obviously this goes without saying, but my actions were exactly OPPOSITE of what you guys taught me to do LMAO!!

[Tourmeister]

but my actions were exactly OPPOSITE of what you guys taught me to do LMAO!!

:tab In Twist of the Wrist II, Kieth Code has an excellent discussion of common survival reactions and how they are usually the exact wrong thing to do. He discusses what the right actions should be and why. Reading that had an immediate and dramatic positive impact on my riding skills and confidence.

:tab Very sorry to hear about the deaths. That is always hard to take...

[Marishka29]

:tab In Twist of the Wrist II, Kieth Code has an excellent discussion of common survival reactions and how they are usually the exact wrong thing to do. He discusses what the right actions should be and why. Reading that had an immediate and dramatic positive impact on my riding skills and confidence.

Scott, thank you for the suggestion of the book. I will certainly have to check that out. The sad thing is when I freaked out about the curve, I knew from the moment I started this chain of events I was doing all the wrong things. I instinctivly (sp) started to drop my leg (darn those years of playing on a dirtbike :doh: ) then pulled the bike straight up, straightened the wheel and slammed on the breaks. I also took my eye off the curve and looked straight at the grass beside the road and thought in a split second "if I'm going off this bike it's sure as heck going to be on soft ground and not the street". I broke two of the main rules for cornering but luckly managed to straighten it up and brake properly to land on the dirt and grass, or else it would have been a much worse impact on the pavement.

:tab Very sorry to hear about the deaths. That is always hard to take...

Thank you, I think the worst part about the deaths were that neither of them had to happen if they had taken preventative measures (helmets).

[SRADkneedragger]

I can tell you this "Twist of the Wrist" 1 &2 are absolutly some of the BEST safety gear you can buy! I have read them both multiple times. They teach VERY important pricipals in a down to Earth concise manner that anyone can grasp and understand. IMHO the MSF is great but merely basics (Even the advanced MSF) twist of the Wrist is the next step. It offers a multitude of tools for survival.
EVERYONE should read it not just racers.
SRAD

[Faylaricia]

I can tell you this "Twist of the Wrist" 1 &2 are absolutly some of the BEST safety gear you can buy! I have read them both multiple times. They teach VERY important pricipals in a down to Earth concise manner that anyone can grasp and understand. IMHO the MSF is great but merely basics (Even the advanced MSF) twist of the Wrist is the next step. It offers a multitude of tools for survival.
EVERYONE should read it not just racers.
SRAD

I am working on the "Twist of the Wrist 1" but have to say it is very mind-set oriented. No real hands-on tips. I also have 2 but haven't started it yet. Looking through it though, it looks like the better book. Can't wait to get to it.

Stacy, I am sorry to hear about your friend. Glad you made it home okay.

[Tourmeister]

:tab The writing style is a bit cumbersome. Code has the info, but perhaps he should have used a ghost writer :-P The thing to remember is that everything he talks about transfers directly to riding on the street. This is especially true concerning his ideas about how much attention you have to devote to riding. That is what gets many newbies, trying to pay attention to far too many things because they don't yet know what can safely be ignored and what really needs your undivided attnetion. It makes them feel overwhelmed, like they are drinking from a fire hose.

:tab Book 2 is much better. He also has videos. I have not seen them personally but have heard very good things about them.

[STill Fiddlin]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I bought Twist 2 for myself for father's day. I'ts a very good book. I've picked a couple of things right away to think about every minute on my commute. If I ever manage to get those ingrained as habits (replacing the bad ones), I'll work on a couple more. Already has helped me relax a great deal.

[kocook]

Continuing the hijack, I agree with those who have advanced their riding by reading the Twist of the Wrist books. Keith Code's books are so good precisely because he goes into the rider's mindset rather than offering tips or a cookbook step-by-step approach.

It is the rider's fear and survival instincts which cause most of the single bike crashes. That could even be extended to some wrecks with other vehicles, as the rider can panic there and fail to take appropriate action. Code's books are focusing the rider in the area which will gain them most benefit. Keep reading.

[Desert Skies]

Sorry to here of your losses Marisak29. Gear is indeed a good thing.

As a side note, it's hard to believe the little town of Santa Fe has three riders on this board...

Welcome.
Tom

[Marishka29]

Thank you all for your support and wonderful information. I will certainly be checking into these books the next few weeks.

Also, thanks for the welcome Tom. I had no idea there were any other members on here from Santa Fe lol. Nice to know that there are a couple others from here. Do you ever happen to go up for the clear lake meet & greet?

Was great riding withya Patty, to bad I had to go down on my first time out with you guys haha. Hopefully won't be too long till I get out on a weekend ride with you all and tackle the corners (slower paced now of course).:trust:

[Faylaricia]

Was great riding withya Patty, to bad I had to go down on my first time out with you guys haha. Hopefully won't be too long till I get out on a weekend ride with you all and tackle the corners (slower paced now of course).:trust:

Don't feel bad! Ask the forum members here, they have heard their share about my fear of corners and curves a while back. Unlike you, the fear just started creeping up on me and put me to the point of absolut panick before every curve.

I finally overcame it as it literally just clicked for me one day. The breakthrough came after a sweeper at a ride watched me and told me how to improve my lines and to keep the ball of my foots on the pegs and then press on the peg like crazy. For me, it had turned the Ninja into a mean-lean machine and my confidence level rose by 300%. Try it in some slower curves in your neighborhood and just go from there. Take your time. I am sure, once the shock of the crash wears off, you are right back where you were and even better. You did great out there for a noob! Even after your low-side, you were still hanging in there and did just fine. If you forget that one curve, I think you did awesome!