| Author | Message | ||
     L8_br8ker |
Well, on aug 30th this past summer I took a afternoon ride, on NY 27 (montauk hwy.) there was a bit of traffic, but the weather was great. On my way home, I noticed a Chevy Tahoe parked on the opposite shoulder of the road, as I went by, the Tahoe hit the gas hard, and swang into a blind illegal u-turn, and slammed into the side of me, removing most of my left foot, breaking my color bone, cutting my arm 12 inches to the bone, and sent me flying about 25 ft, into the dirt on the road's shoulder. I'm 52, but was in very good shape at the time. All has healed as best as it could , and I now walk (limp), on my 4 inch round left heel, without prostetics, or even shoes, (got a real good surgeon). I will be lookin for a 2009 red scg soon, much to my family and friends dismay, but I cannot help it, I live to ride, and went over 500,000 miles without ticket or incedent before this. I'm getting older, and can't envision not going on our group outtings, or my 3 am jaunts through country roads on weekends. L8_Br8ker | ||
| J2blue |
Get back on that horse and ride cowboy. Man, that was a hard and painful chapter for you, I'm sure. But I think you are right to acknowledge the odds aren't that bad that it would happen again, as long as your in good physical condition and thinking clearly. God Speed! | ||
| Slipknot |
That's more than most of us ever deal with and we all think you have the best attitude for a good life which is to keep living it on your own terms. Can you share any pics of the bike and the site? And what became of the ••••••• in the cage? I hope you get some major satisfaction. | ||
| Bartimus |
You are an inspiration to us all! | ||
| L8_br8ker |
I cant share pics, I never saw the bike after the hit, my bike insurance guy, who was real good about everything said "I didnt even need to go near it, its totaled, dont go look." I took his advice. The lady in the Cage, tried to leave, But the people in the car behind me, were already there, and stopped her, except the one who came to me, to check, (brave soul, and very cool guy, he stayed with me, held my hand, and told me I was hurt, but wasnt gonna die. I was awake the whole time, but not fully aware. If I had pics, I would not post em | ||
| Rotzaruck |
much to my family and friends dismay HeHe!! I get a lot of that too! Some of what seems like dismay is probably envy and admiration. Keep showing them. Buells are so much better than rocking chairs. I hate that happened, but so glad you're here telling about it. Sounds like you've got your head in good shape, no matter what those other people think. I fouled up just as I was starting to get comfortable riding after years of not riding. When I was able to ride again, it took a good while to get back to where I was. With the miles you've had maybe it won't hit you as hard. If it does, it will pass in time. Just takes riding. It cures everything. Rotzaruck! | ||
| Snojet |
Thanks for sharing. As other have said. L8_br8ker, you are an inspiration!! Keep on riding baby. | ||
| L8_br8ker |
Update: The new scg is on order, I um.. walk funny, but I walk! I'm working out last details of a brace I'm making for riding, (it works already, I'm just looking for the perfect shoe to go with it. As soon as i get it home, I'm taking off the pipe, (it needs to be loud from now on). I wont do any more commuter rides alone. I have 6 friends I grew up with, since the 60's (hehe thats the 1960's), and they all ride still. I will ride with others , and probably not alone any more. I am sooooo blessed to have lived, and still be able to ride! My mindset on riding has changed...I will savor every minute in the saddle from now on, even more than I used to. I got approached last week, to see if I would take road captain spot for a Laconia trip in June, but I'm not sure I can direct a group, watch them all, and watch the cagers, and also enjoy the ride any more. I would be happy just to go at this point, and have someone more adept take care of our group. Anyway, I will post pics of the new ride soon,  | ||
| Buelet |
Inspirational story and great philosophy! I love night riding too, even though the critters are all over the place. Glad to hear all turned out well! Keep rolling! | ||
| Irideabuell |
What ultimately happened to the lady that hit you? Please tell me it was more than a slap on the wrist. | ||
| Iamike |
Louis, Thanks for the story and inspiration. I have now lost 4 friends in cycle accidents,(the last one was 2 weeks ago) I'm glad to hear that you have made it. It is easy to forget how vulnerable we are out there to all the morons that feel the other 5 things they are doing is more important than driving. | ||
| L8_br8ker |
Just an update: It's been one year since I got hit. I am skinny, small, and strong, and the surgeon did a great job, (no brace, no prostetic foot, less limp lots of support from friends, and family, and a good stiff pair of Icon Accelerant boots), I'm past most hurdles now. The lady that hit me didn't even get a ticket for a u turn, in a no u turn zone. The detective in charge said she was very upset, and shook up, so I threw him out of my house, he came to give me a police report, on which I gave no statement, ( I needed the hospital), and he didnt bother to come get a statement from me there, however she stated that I hit her, as she was making a u turn (no u turns allowed there), and her insurance company admitted full fault, and covered most of my expences. My rediculous day dreams of walking again, without a cane, or crutches, or a fake foot in my shoe, riding again, have all come true. I purchased a new xb12 scg, and a set of Rizoma rearsets, some friends that build custom car hotrods hooked me up with a machinist named Nyle Buxton (Buxton Machining and Fab) He made a slick heel shifter that matches the rearsets perfectly, and works like a charm, the guy charged me a token few bucks for it, even though it probably took him at least a full days work to make. I feel God has blessed me, and allowed me to overcome my situation. I ride regularly with friends, have no pain to speak of, and I do not feel lame. Thanks Badweb for the conversation, and encouragement, through my ordeal Thanks Nyle for the shifter Thanks God for carrying me through the days when I didnt want to even wake up.   | ||
| Firstbatch |
Thank you! Your persistence and courage are absolutely inspirational. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Im so glad I clicked this thread. Thanks for posting! | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Truly inspirational Louis. Thanks so much for sharing with us. That driver should have been sued. I don't have much time for lawyers but this would be one of them.. | ||
| Hotdog271 |
Louis, THanks for the story and the posts. I wish you the best and hope you ride many more happy miles. I had a bad wreck when I was 17, but was back on a bike by 19. And yes... I get a lot of.. "your gonna get killed" from the family, but I'm 37 now and still going. I don't know what I would do without riding. Actually I do, I would go nuts! Too bad the bitch didn't get hurt and the cops were lame, but thank god your ok and going again. Good luck and keep the rubber side down! | ||
| Technomad |
Yours is a wonderful story that makes my problems seem small. Never say die! | ||
| Sparky |
Glad to see that you're riding again and have a positive attitude resulting in a nifty workaround fix. Hey, I put a heel-and-toe shifter on my FXRT for a hoot when I had it and that worked out great! Where there's a will, there's a way, ya know. Never say die! |
