To quote Rodney Dangerfield, when I die I'm going to have my body donated to science fiction.
I lived for 57 years without breaking a bone, and rode for 41 years without ever going down. Thanks to a Ford F-150 that ran a red light at 50mph and T boned me I...
1) Shattered my left forearm and wrist. Plates, screws, 2 surgeries, and bone grafts.
2) My right shoulder dislocated and broke the acromium on it's way out. More surgery, more plates and screws.
3) Tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder
4) Stretched my brachial plexus, giving me a paralyzed right arm which took 4 months to the point that I could stand and curl a 1 lb. weight. To this day my entire arm and hand are still swollen and weak, with intense neurpothy.
5) Basically sanded off the skin on my knees almost down to the bone, and tore the meniscus in my right knee.
6) Severely sprained my right ankle (it's still larger than my left) and broke 4 bones in my right foot.
So yes, I AM that broken down, but now I'm going to hop on my soapbox.
I have to say though, proper gear saved my life. I had on a Shoei full face helmet, a Dainese jacket with full armor, Held race gloves, and Sidi race boots. Unfortunately I was wearing jeans, hence the kneecaps. Had I been one of the Harley guys I see riding in the vanity helmet with a tank top and no gloves, I'd have been dead road smear.
Okay, soapbox rant over.
My Ducati didn't make it. Forks, frame, swingarm, wheels... you name it and it was bent. I ended up 120 feet from the point of impact, the bike 140. At least Francesca absorbed some of the blow, also helping me live.
That was 13 months ago, and I started riding again in March. To ride to work, I still wear the same level of equipment I was wearing that day, except I wear kevlar jeans. Whenever I go out of town however, I wear the full race suit and go in a group. My family and doctors know that this is something I need to do and they're supportive. I know though that I was fortunate to survive the last accident and might not again. I dress and ride accordingly.
So when you have your gathering, I'll most likely be there on my Street Triple. I can't wait!
