I've been riding motorcycles my entire life, so I claim an exemption. I used to commute to work every day in SoCal traffic for almost 15 years. Now that I'm retired out in the forest I mostly worry about deer.
You're both very lucky. My husband has a severe tbi from a motorcycle crash. You don't want that shit no matter your age. He's extremely high functioning but it still ruined so much of his life. Our life. We make the best of it.
Sorry to hear thats terrible, my uncle hit a deer coming around a bend maybe a decade or so ago, he got fucked up an was in a coma for a few days but he's probably 99 percent back to normal, im sure theres complications but private things he doesnt share im guessing. It's really just fucking luck when you dump a bike, I've dumped a few dirt bikes at a low speed an that fucked me up so I know its rough.
Yes, to the naked eye, my husband seems back to normal. People have known us for years without even suspecting it. But he's not normal. And he's also incredibly lucky. His grandparents have an absurd amount of money and made sure no stone was left unturned for his recovery. Even now they help us financially so we can live a very comfortable lifestyle. There are many things that become incredibly expensive and complicated once you enter the TBI world. We're also lucky because he's incredibly intelligent and had a good engineering job at a large aerospace company. He's now switching to the software field which is even better paying and has more opportunities to work from home. He has epilepsy and many other issues that make driving more than a few minutes to work a huge problem.
Most people with TBI are not nearly as lucky and as well supported as we are. If people knew what I know about TBI, they probably wouldn't risk a motorcycle. It's not just your own life you're risking. You're committing your children and spouses to that life, too.
Some women I know have coped by having a funeral for the man that is gone. Because no matter how lucky you are, there is no going back to the person you used to be.
Yeah TBI's are intense, my uncle had about 3 years of severe memory loss, over those three years he slowly got better an better. The brain is truly a strange thing, I really don't understand it because it seems like some can recover almost back to normal an some just have to adjust to a living dealing with it for the rest of their life. I can't imagine having to deal with such an injury and also I cant imagine falling in love with someone an them changing forever because of an accident and its no longer the same person you loved. Having a funeral for them even though they survived to cope is incredible ive never heard of anyone doing that, that's truly sad.
I've been retired for about seven years now and I retired early so I'm still young enough to feel confident in my riding abilities. I don't ride nearly as much now as I did when I was commuting though. Mostly short cruises into town or some twisty rides on the many two lane roads that wind through the forest here. I have a BMW R1150GS so I will explore some of the unpaved logging roads too. I've always managed to keep the rubber side down as well, and so far have avoided t-boning Bambi.
Be careful on those fire roads when you get into the marbles. Even with a very low center of gravity it's easy for a wheel to come out from under you when traction is limited.
Back when I was commuting, I also had a dirt bike and I was lucky enough that I could just push open my front gate, kick the thing and go riding for hours. I'm convinced that hours of off road riding greatly improved my street skills and reactions.
I've already experienced a tick nightmare here. I went out hiking and on the way back someone had set up their camp right next to the trail, so to avoid walking up on them I took a little detour through a flooded area with low overhanging branches. When I got back to my car I noticed a tick on my pant leg and brushed it off. When I got into my car I noticed another tick and brushed it off outside as well. As I'm driving I keep noticing more tick appearing on me, so I keep picking them off and tossing them out the window. I then feel something crawling on the back of my neck and decide to pull over in town to use a restroom to remove any other ticks. When I got into the restroom I took off my shirt and it was covered with ticks. I then pulled as many of them off of me as I could find, got them all off my shirt, and hightailed it home, still finding more ticks on the way. When I got home I stripped off all my clothes outside and spend the next couple of hours removing ticks from myself and my clothes. I must have had at least 50 ticks on me. Fortunately only a few had started to burrow in before I removed them.
It really was a nightmare. I’ve never experienced anything like it before or since and I spend a lot of time in the woods. Needless to say I avoid swampy spots like that that with overhanging branches now, especially in that particular area. It makes for a good story, but I don’t ever want to experience it again. Fortunately my wife was out of town when it happened because she would have freaked out seeing all those ticks.
Yeah, deer are completely unpredictable so you can't really do much to avoid a collision other than slow down. My area has an abnormally high population of deer because people feed them. Fortunately they usually stay off the roads, but there are several hit here every year. My only close call was while I was driving my car and a young buck started to cross right in front of me. I was able to nail the brakes and slow down just enough to allow him to cross in front of me and avoid the collision.
But I like playing dice with my life and putting the pain and suffering of my loved ones on the line unnecessarily is all part of the feeling of freedom I suckle when my legs are wrapped around my bucking metal pony.
Everything is about choices, and a motorcycle is one where a person chooses the freedom of riding a scooter over being cramped in a car, even knowing the risks. I loved my Harley when I owned it.
AllenWest
Former FL Rep, retired Army Lt. Col., author: Hold Texas, Hold the Nation Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nS93W4 & candidate for State Chair, RPT
@West4Texas
/ http://West4Texas.com
Garland, TXtheoldschoolpatriot.com
I'm a lifelong rider and my prayers are with him and his family today. All of life is a risk versus reward thing. To me riding is worth the risk. It's especially risky these days because of distracted drivers texting or fiddling with phones. Please realize that touching your phone while driving may cost a motorcyclist their life. I'll do my best to stay out of your way in the meantime.
As long as motorcyclists split lanes at anything over "brisk walk" speed, they're gonna keep getting hammered. I totally get the freedom, and in many cases legality of splitting lanes, but in many states suicide is legal too, and presumably less painful.
Splitting is dangerous, but if you're doing it correctly, it's safer than not. Splitting when traffic is slow is actually more risky bc cars can change lanes more abruptly. When traffic is moving at a steady 45 mph and you don't travel twice as fast as traffic, it's actually very safe.
I've gotten merged into and pushed out of my land onto the shoulder pretty consistently when I decide not to split and just flow with traffic, esp with everyone on their phones.
Now I try, if safe, to split to the gaps in traffic and stay there.
To reiterate your point about speed, when splitting you shouldn't be going much faster than traffic. That is very dangerous. But most motorcyclist aren't getting hit while splitting, most are either killing themselves by riding outside if their skill level(forgetting how to turn under stress) or they're getting hit in intersections. I've gotten hit twice by people doing stupid things in intersections and I've been nearly hit countless times by red light runners, cops blowing stop signs, drunk drivers, the list goes on.
All motorcycles are cool, you can't take my coolness away just because I ride a 165 HP pussy rice burner. I was cool probably way before you were born sonny boy. Embrace all and show the true KEK regardless of the ride. Prayers for Lt. Col. West !
IDK. I decided to do it the crazy way. I learned on a 1983 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000cc Ironhead which I bought second hand from my cousin..yeah there were a few close calls but I would never trade that experience. Now...I'm saving up for a new Fat Boy. I always loved the bike in Terminator 2 and now that I actually can afford it...I want it..well that's provided we don't let the socialists in...then all bets are off because we'll all be in bread lines.
Amen
Positive thoughts and prayers going out to this good man.
Amen.
I've been riding motorcycles my entire life, so I claim an exemption. I used to commute to work every day in SoCal traffic for almost 15 years. Now that I'm retired out in the forest I mostly worry about deer.
Same here, fellow Calif Pede.
I commuted on a bike for years, doing a 140 mile round trip ride every day.
No asphalt surfing despite So Cal drivers trying to kill me every chance they got.
I'm not quite retired but getting ready to, don't know if I'll keep riding in my very old age.
Good on you for surviving all those years on a bike in So Cal traffic. Be safe out there, a deer can seriously ruin your day.
You're both very lucky. My husband has a severe tbi from a motorcycle crash. You don't want that shit no matter your age. He's extremely high functioning but it still ruined so much of his life. Our life. We make the best of it.
Sorry about your husband.
Sorry to hear about your husband's injury.
Riding is definitely much more dangerous than driving a car but for me it's one of the best forms of mental therapy.
I wish you, your husband and you family the best of luck.
Sorry to hear thats terrible, my uncle hit a deer coming around a bend maybe a decade or so ago, he got fucked up an was in a coma for a few days but he's probably 99 percent back to normal, im sure theres complications but private things he doesnt share im guessing. It's really just fucking luck when you dump a bike, I've dumped a few dirt bikes at a low speed an that fucked me up so I know its rough.
Yes, to the naked eye, my husband seems back to normal. People have known us for years without even suspecting it. But he's not normal. And he's also incredibly lucky. His grandparents have an absurd amount of money and made sure no stone was left unturned for his recovery. Even now they help us financially so we can live a very comfortable lifestyle. There are many things that become incredibly expensive and complicated once you enter the TBI world. We're also lucky because he's incredibly intelligent and had a good engineering job at a large aerospace company. He's now switching to the software field which is even better paying and has more opportunities to work from home. He has epilepsy and many other issues that make driving more than a few minutes to work a huge problem.
Most people with TBI are not nearly as lucky and as well supported as we are. If people knew what I know about TBI, they probably wouldn't risk a motorcycle. It's not just your own life you're risking. You're committing your children and spouses to that life, too.
Some women I know have coped by having a funeral for the man that is gone. Because no matter how lucky you are, there is no going back to the person you used to be.
Yeah TBI's are intense, my uncle had about 3 years of severe memory loss, over those three years he slowly got better an better. The brain is truly a strange thing, I really don't understand it because it seems like some can recover almost back to normal an some just have to adjust to a living dealing with it for the rest of their life. I can't imagine having to deal with such an injury and also I cant imagine falling in love with someone an them changing forever because of an accident and its no longer the same person you loved. Having a funeral for them even though they survived to cope is incredible ive never heard of anyone doing that, that's truly sad.
TBI might be one of the worst things. Its like CTE except you didnt get paid a professional athlete salary to compensate for it.
I've been retired for about seven years now and I retired early so I'm still young enough to feel confident in my riding abilities. I don't ride nearly as much now as I did when I was commuting though. Mostly short cruises into town or some twisty rides on the many two lane roads that wind through the forest here. I have a BMW R1150GS so I will explore some of the unpaved logging roads too. I've always managed to keep the rubber side down as well, and so far have avoided t-boning Bambi.
You've got a very capable but heavy bike.
Be careful on those fire roads when you get into the marbles. Even with a very low center of gravity it's easy for a wheel to come out from under you when traction is limited.
Back when I was commuting, I also had a dirt bike and I was lucky enough that I could just push open my front gate, kick the thing and go riding for hours. I'm convinced that hours of off road riding greatly improved my street skills and reactions.
Have fun out there and keep the shiny side up!
I've already experienced a tick nightmare here. I went out hiking and on the way back someone had set up their camp right next to the trail, so to avoid walking up on them I took a little detour through a flooded area with low overhanging branches. When I got back to my car I noticed a tick on my pant leg and brushed it off. When I got into my car I noticed another tick and brushed it off outside as well. As I'm driving I keep noticing more tick appearing on me, so I keep picking them off and tossing them out the window. I then feel something crawling on the back of my neck and decide to pull over in town to use a restroom to remove any other ticks. When I got into the restroom I took off my shirt and it was covered with ticks. I then pulled as many of them off of me as I could find, got them all off my shirt, and hightailed it home, still finding more ticks on the way. When I got home I stripped off all my clothes outside and spend the next couple of hours removing ticks from myself and my clothes. I must have had at least 50 ticks on me. Fortunately only a few had started to burrow in before I removed them.
It really was a nightmare. I’ve never experienced anything like it before or since and I spend a lot of time in the woods. Needless to say I avoid swampy spots like that that with overhanging branches now, especially in that particular area. It makes for a good story, but I don’t ever want to experience it again. Fortunately my wife was out of town when it happened because she would have freaked out seeing all those ticks.
That's a real worry. A friend of mine finally sold his bike after hitting two muledeer within a couple of weeks, out here in the high desert.
Yeah, deer are completely unpredictable so you can't really do much to avoid a collision other than slow down. My area has an abnormally high population of deer because people feed them. Fortunately they usually stay off the roads, but there are several hit here every year. My only close call was while I was driving my car and a young buck started to cross right in front of me. I was able to nail the brakes and slow down just enough to allow him to cross in front of me and avoid the collision.
You ask the impossible.
But I like playing dice with my life and putting the pain and suffering of my loved ones on the line unnecessarily is all part of the feeling of freedom I suckle when my legs are wrapped around my bucking metal pony.
I've converted to ORVs including dirt bikes.
Everything is about choices, and a motorcycle is one where a person chooses the freedom of riding a scooter over being cramped in a car, even knowing the risks. I loved my Harley when I owned it.
We need all the good ones we can get, may he heal up quickly without complication.
Yes we need all the patriots we can get
What did he have in Hillary Clinton?
Must have found out Bill had sex with her that one time. It's best not to have evidence that Hillary is on the same level as "dicked Bimbo's".
AllenWest Former FL Rep, retired Army Lt. Col., author: Hold Texas, Hold the Nation Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nS93W4 & candidate for State Chair, RPT @West4Texas / http://West4Texas.com Garland, TXtheoldschoolpatriot.com
Hope he makes it. Motorcycles are cool, but complete death traps.
Damn it Allen you were white for a day now get better soon my man.
I'm a lifelong rider and my prayers are with him and his family today. All of life is a risk versus reward thing. To me riding is worth the risk. It's especially risky these days because of distracted drivers texting or fiddling with phones. Please realize that touching your phone while driving may cost a motorcyclist their life. I'll do my best to stay out of your way in the meantime.
This is the reason I don’t ride.
As long as motorcyclists split lanes at anything over "brisk walk" speed, they're gonna keep getting hammered. I totally get the freedom, and in many cases legality of splitting lanes, but in many states suicide is legal too, and presumably less painful.
Splitting is dangerous, but if you're doing it correctly, it's safer than not. Splitting when traffic is slow is actually more risky bc cars can change lanes more abruptly. When traffic is moving at a steady 45 mph and you don't travel twice as fast as traffic, it's actually very safe.
I've gotten merged into and pushed out of my land onto the shoulder pretty consistently when I decide not to split and just flow with traffic, esp with everyone on their phones.
Now I try, if safe, to split to the gaps in traffic and stay there.
To reiterate your point about speed, when splitting you shouldn't be going much faster than traffic. That is very dangerous. But most motorcyclist aren't getting hit while splitting, most are either killing themselves by riding outside if their skill level(forgetting how to turn under stress) or they're getting hit in intersections. I've gotten hit twice by people doing stupid things in intersections and I've been nearly hit countless times by red light runners, cops blowing stop signs, drunk drivers, the list goes on.
I bet he was riding a cool motorcycle too..not some pussy rice burner. Get well soon Lt. col West!
All motorcycles are cool, you can't take my coolness away just because I ride a 165 HP pussy rice burner. I was cool probably way before you were born sonny boy. Embrace all and show the true KEK regardless of the ride. Prayers for Lt. Col. West !
IDK. I decided to do it the crazy way. I learned on a 1983 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000cc Ironhead which I bought second hand from my cousin..yeah there were a few close calls but I would never trade that experience. Now...I'm saving up for a new Fat Boy. I always loved the bike in Terminator 2 and now that I actually can afford it...I want it..well that's provided we don't let the socialists in...then all bets are off because we'll all be in bread lines.
I hope his brain was in a bucket
His direct FB page: https://www.facebook.com/AllenBWest
Wow.. i guess he was distracted after learning he wasnt black the other day. Its been a rough one for Mr West.. God speed sir.
he just this morning tweeted out he is OK.