As I am getting older I find my balance is not as good as it used to be. At 72 I had not worn a helmet in many years. 3 1/2 weeks ago I took a bad spill, tire hitting a raised curve on a bike trail, one I use to get to quiet street to ride. My reflexes are not as good as they used to be. I landed on my left side, bruised forehead, skin tissue damage on my left side at shoulder and ribs. I took 2 short rides this week, with a helmet, I don’t like them but but my balancing seems to be a bit off, maybe a mixte would be better now. I’ve been sleeping in my recliner as it has been the most comfortable place. I will wear a helmet now as age may dictate better protection. I also think tha wider bars I use now offer less control as I had 3 near balance issues yesterday at very slow speeds.
On Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 7:32:26 AM UTC-4 ascpgh wrote: > It boils down to the potential for a sudden stop, primarily your head and > something of greater mass. Inertia is the culprit even if you have a hard > head your brain is floating inside it tethered only to your spinal cord. > > I guess in tort law it is standard not to expect a person to be > responsible for the infinite possible acts of others but to demonstrate the > choices of a reasonably prudent person. > > Those two things exist. I was struck from my bike by the side mirror of a > passing truck without a helmet the spring of tenth grade. I didn't remember > things or people for days. An MRI, three nights in the hospital, finally > recognizing my dad and a neurosurgeon when talking about how to address my > subdural hematoma. The back left of my head felt like an overripe banana > was under the flesh. I didn't know what a craniotomy was but am happy my > dad chose letting all the blood reabsorb on its own, even though it meant a > debilitating headache and bedrest for most of three months. Learning to > walk again after the deconditioning and weight loss was bad. > > Riding my new Rambouillet cross country years later I suffered a rear tire > slash going 40mph downhill. Before I could get stopped I had some steering > to do which I was unable to do any longer and went over in a high side. The > road was freshly chip topped tar using what they had around which was very > hard, granite-like. I hit it with the back left of my head and nearly top > of my shoulder. My helmet broke and slid, my shoulder (then several other > points) hit and stuck like velcro to the sharp shards of the road surface > taking out scoops of flesh each time until I slowed to a slide. I was a > bloody mess, my helmet was but for one piece of lining pad in two pieces > and my left shoulder not quite right. > > My cohorts on this adventure had lead more gentle lives to this point and > hadn't been around many in-person injuries or blood. My shoulder was > separated (collar bone no longer connected to the projection of the > shoulder blade...ligament broken) and I needed to get going. No cars passed > us in the previous hours, no cell phone coverage and dark clouds across the > western half of the sky. Our overnight was 43 miles away so I got up and > rode there. The others, in shock from their experience of my injuries, did > ultimately follow. > > Getting away with your head and contents functioning permits better > stories to tell later. I emailed Grant about my ride after being all torn > up and bloody, my jersey hem pullled into a sling and my orange Rambouillet > rideable with one hand. These seemed liike options and observations > resulting from being reasonable and prudent about wearing a helmet. Being > thusly rewarded I continue to choose the paradigm I followed after having > experienced my brain being bashed about inside my young skull and the > resulting bruising that caused. It surely saved me this time and was just > on my head for an 80 mile ride out and back on the GAP Monday and > Tuesday.[image: > 85A9C7C6-2E3B-4530-BE90-ABE2A317E084_1_105_c.jpeg] > Andy Cheatham > Pittsburgh > > > > On Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 5:27:36 PM UTC-4 Matthew Williams wrote: > >> [image: >> oMe3QaPR4E9b7DDpDnQFwbXwIfYum0EBKDB8bA~tplv-photomode-video-share-card:1200:630:20.jpeg] >> >> 1.1M likes, 21.3K comments. “Sound ON for this one…with #FathersDay >> tomorrow I have very important message for all the dads out there…WEAR A >> HELMET ! This week I had a really bad accident while riding my bike in >> Connecticut. I'm doing ok and did not break any bones or suffer any major >> injuries but I am a bit bruised up looking like a purple potato. I’m >> thankful for all the doctors, nurses and staff at Lawerence + Memorial >> Hospital in New London who looked after me and checked me out, but most >> thankful for my helmet that saved my life. Have a great Father’s Day and be >> safe Gx” >> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >> TikTok · Gordon Ramsay >> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >> tiktok.com >> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >> <https://www.tiktok.com/@gordonramsayofficial/video/7380749671632882977> >> >> Also: “I Love Helmets!” >> >> [image: maxresdefault.jpg] >> >> Prescott Highside (I Love Helmets) >> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus2wiRUVBw> >> youtube.com <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus2wiRUVBw> >> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus2wiRUVBw> >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/13da504f-5556-4418-b209-ecad06d8d385n%40googlegroups.com.
