[armored_pig]

Today I was heading out on country roads on the outskirts of the Manassas battlefield (Bull Run).

On my way home, I hit a patch of gravel on a 35mph curve doing 35mph. I lowsided and was flung into a pile of rocks (large gravel sized).

Rash wise, there isn't much, but my gear protected me against the impact (and I thank god there was no guard rail there).

I remember the bike slipping out from under me, my head hit, and then getting up (I think I might've blacked out for a few seconds). Two girls in a car stopped and waited until I managed to get my helmet off (I was stumbling). A nice man stopped and waited until I was ok--afterwhich he gave me an apple to eat to calm my nerves..

In retrospect, I should have been sure my neck was not injured before removing my helmet..

Here are some pictures of the carnage: (I'll post pics later when I return)

Btw, reusing my lid is a big no-no right?

 

[SlowGoose]

Yep, toss that helmet. Glad to hear you were wearing your gear and came out of it relatively unscathed.

 

[rockscaler]

lowsiding is fun, brings me back to my childhood ,
when we used to set up the slip-and-slide in the driveway

 

[vince_2149]

Hey, it's part of learning. Glad you were smart from the beginning and bought good gear. Didn't you say you have an EXO 400 and 700? If so that's good because your 400 is done. Did you ride home?

 

[armored_pig]

Hey, it's part of learning. Glad you were smart from the beginning and bought good gear. Didn't you say you have an EXO 400 and 700? If so that's good because your 400 is done. Did you ride home?

Yep, I rode home--the 700 is next up to bat =]

I'm certain the Icon knee pads saved my right knee.. Oddly, after the lowside, I was not at all afraid of traffic anymore.. But gravel--that crap goes out of its way to kill you..

 

[kevin_stevens]

Flung?

KeS

 

[gixxer4Christ]

glad to see your ok.

 

[binx_19]

i have that same fear of deer.

 

[stamford]

Yeah those few brief seconds of sliding across the ground at high speed wondering what your going to hit can be scary. At least you made it out ok. Best ya can do now is learn from your mistake.

 

[JERSEYRIDER]

Thank god for gear! Good to see your ok. :cheers

 

[armored_pig]

Thanks!

Well, I suppose flung isn't the word, but I slid independently of my bike into the rocks =]

 

[RayOSV]

Glad you're OK. The bike can be fixed.

This hasn't been your week.

 

[armored_pig]

oh no! I have discovered some frame damage..

Here are some cockpit shots with the bars at full lock left and right.. It seems the trapezoidal piece that controls the range of motion has shifted from impact..

Yeah, it definitely hasn't been my week =[

 

[kevin_stevens]

Thanks!

Well, I suppose flung isn't the word, but I slid independently of my bike into the rocks =]

Gotcha.

KeS

 

[Stick N Move]

Your brake fluid looks like it needs a change. Go to Autozone or some local place and get whatever it says is recommened on your master cylinder (usually DOT4).

 

[NattyDrez]

Glad you ok, good thing you were wearing gear.

I lowsided last summer and it was pretty fuckin scary.

Took a few weeks to get back on the bike and get comfortable again. After that, havent looked back!

 

[Saml01]

More of you guys need to run knobby tires. Accidents due to road debris would probably be prevented.

 

[rockscaler]

i have that same fear of deer.

i hit one last month at about 50 mph coming out of a corner, it ran out of the bushes right in front of me

but it was a fawn and i just clipped it hind legs with the tire, I stayed up, it rolled and then got up and ran away.