“No wonder my shoulder still hurts”.
This was my thought last evening upon noticing a nasty little scrape on the shoulder of my leather motorcycle jacket. It’s located more on the top of the shoulder than front so I hadn’t noticed it the day before when I had actually taken the fall from my scooter. (Clearly I went down more head first than body.)
Yes. I fell off. We had a little crash Monday. Or, well… we didn’t crash into anything but the pavement itself. I was avoiding a nasty lil’ pothole in the road. Trying to rather, cannot remember whether I hit it or lost traction in my attempt to brake and swerve.
Yes, I applied both brakes equally, and yes, I was mindful not to turn the wheel drastically, quickly. I just saw the pothole too late and the road’s surface was probably still dewey from the morning.
Clementine and I are both fine, just a few scratches. Falls happen. It was a minor fall but a reminder that it’s a real thing that happens to us all and I am writing this down to remind myself and others the importance of remembering that fact. When we ride about in the summertime with shorts and half helmets (as we all do and I know we won’t stop doing it, not even I) to just try not to forget what *could* happen. It could be a scrape, it could be hospitalization, or worse. Scooters are awesome fun, but let’s not forget even riding a bicycle around town can be dangerous. Let’s always be mindful of ourselves AND others.
One of my favorite bumper stickers has always been:
“Start Seeing Bicycles”. (and joggers and scooterists and pedestrians and streetcars… all you people in automobiles.)
ok… I’ll stop preaching. I merely wanted to write down what I remember so that I may come back and read it from time to time:
It’s morning, lots of traffic (people on their way to work). I pull onto a side street with no traffic (thank Goodness! or there’d of been some slamming of brakes when cars spotted me and my scooter lying in the street in front of them). I’m starting to increase speed when I see a sinkhole type pothole in the road, a small but deep one. I knew if I went into it the front wheel would hit the steep wall of it at the speed I was increasing to (which may have only been 5 or 10 mph) I would be cartwheeled over. I remember pulling in the brakes and attempting to slightly swerve. I do not remember whether it was the dewey road surface or if I hit the edge of the hole that tipped me over. I do not remember what happened exactly or precisely how I fell.
The most vivid recollection, and this is the part that I mainly wanted to share with everyone, is the moment of falling, knowing it was happening, in those seconds… I knew my face was about to hit the pavement (yes, I said face, not head) I saw it coming, knew it was about to happen and I remember the loud clunk when my helmet made contact with the street, my eyes had been open still. As this happened, milliseconds before the clunk! my brain calmly stated: “Thank God I’m wearing my full-face” CLUNK!!!
I’m sure the sound of it echoed down the street.
My pretty face is fine, thank you for worrying *wink*.
I got up, Clementine was on her side, engine still running. Hit the kill switch, and stood for a moment, dazed probably, and hoping she was ok. I felt fine, my knee burned. Checked my jeans, there was no hole in the knee but I could the feel burning of the scrape and knew the skin would be bruised and roughed up underneath.
Trepidation mounted as I bent to lift Clementine from the street. She’s plastic ya’ know… I became fearful of seeing a severely cracked or busted frontpiece. She was ok. Still solid. Lifted her back up and pushed her over to the sidewalk to inspect closely and calm down.
The damage was only scrapes all along the edge of the legshield where I’m sure she took the hit and then skidded along the pavement a bit. A small piece of chrome edging was still lying sadlyand alone in the road. I went to pick it up and it was all scraped-up too. Not sure why but I think I placed it in my pocket. (I mean, it’s just a piece of faux chrome door edging one might trim the edges of a car door with.) Sentimental I am though I suppose.
I got back on, started her, and sat there for a few moments before driving off. Noticed the brake/parking lights of a black SUV parked just ahead of me on the other side of the road. After a few moments a prep school girl got out, crossed the street and walked past me, the unsure but concerned look on her face made it clear she’d seen it, or at least noticed the aftermath of it… we smiled at one another but didn’t say anything. I should have asked if she saw it happen. I would have liked to have heard someone describe it for me. I know she saw it happen. Oh well. I gave her a reassuring smile as if to say I was ok, she returned it and went on to class. With a story to tell I am sure. …I don’t mind.
When I got back home I actually looked at my helmet. Nasty scrapes. I took a couple photos because I had decided I wanted to post.
I very often mention to scooterists that they should wear more than just a half helmet. I’ve often wondered why shops seem to push the half-helmets to scooterists. Imprinting in our minds that that is the kind of helmet a scooterist is supposed to wear.
No, for real, I have always wondered this. Yes, I already know the answers. I suppose I have merely never agreed with them. I’m not one for taking my face for granted I suppose. hehe, being an admitted narcissist an all *wink*.
I remember when Norman Robinson (WDSU news anchorman) walked into my office one afternoon a year or so ago and asking me about scooters. Informed me he was about to purchase one, etc. (He does have a sweet one now, and still rides it to work when the weather is nice.) I also remember sadly noticing the expensive and very pretty leather trimmed Vespa half-helmet sitting on his also very pretty GTS300 Vespa the first day he drove it to work.
Specifically I had advised him, “just be sure to buy a full-face helmet Norman, the last thing you’d want is to have that pretty camera face scratched up.” I said it jokingly, but it was in my opinion, the most valuable advice I gave him. … Oh well.
No, he hasn’t scraped up his face. Yes, I believe he’s taken a fall or two. But the “what if” has just always been something I think about I guess.
I hope I don’t forget the vision of the street coming at my face and the reverberting sound of the CLUNK that happened as I watched through the visor my face streamlining for the pavement. (I will repeat… yes, I said face, not head. It happed that fast.) I am indeed thankful it is February and I was wearing jeans, gloves (which also have a scrape mark on the right hand palm) a sturdy leather jacket, and my blessed full-face “winter” helmet. Ohhhh Dear, Yes. Thankful it wasn’t summer when I wear a full helmet but not a full-face, when I wear shorts often, and rarely gloves. Thankful indeed.
I will add… this past summer I put shoulder armor in my Rally Patch jacket, I try to wear protective shoes/boots even with my shorts (yes, it’s a look, & I can rock it.) and I started wearing light gloves. Not a lot of protection I know but I say (as I pulled on my gloves in the summer knowing it makes me look like I think I’m some sort of badass when I’m only on a scooter. right? I feel kinda silly, but I started wearing them anyway.) The leather on the palms of my summer gloves is thin. Too thin for street riding as they are motocross gloves. But the street padded ones are never comfortable enough and I noticed I end up not wearing them as much. Anyway… I used to say (still say rather) that if I know I’m not going to wear the proper ones, some protection is better than no protection. (My summer gloves are totally cool looking, super comfy, and I enjoy slipping them on. That is a good thing at least.)
Just be careful out there my friends. That is all.
Mine was a small fall, a tip-over really. But my head and shoulder hit the ground hard. My hand clearly went out as well, as the scrape on my glove proves. Well, that and the bruising I can see under the skin. My shoulder and arm are sore. My knee has a couple little bloody scrapes. My neck is sore… but my skinny little narcissist’s face. Not a scratch.
I look at my helmet and try to imagine what would it have been like had it been my ‘Rock Star’ helmet I wear most of the time. If the faceshield would have busted to pieces and if my cheek or nose would have rubbed the pavement.
I don’t want anyone to be afraid to ride… I just want us to be aware of what could happen while we do and try to remain mindful of road rules, of not getting cocky in traffic even when some ass does something stupid, or the fact that even though scooters are Hella’ fun! and a most excellent mode of transportation… don’t take it for granted. You are on two wheels with a motor, and riding along in traffic, of course it’s dangerous.
oh. and watch out for large cracks in the road and potholes… they come at you quick, esp. if you’re riding at night.
I love you each & every one. Ride On.
Sincerely,
Bonanza Jellybn
The Adventures of Bonanza Jellybn... 