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Hey all,
Looks like this weekend was the one for close encounters of the unkind!
Posting from Suches, Ga, at the VJMC/XS11 rally this weekend. We were on a nice run thru some fun twisties in N.C., Gary Granger(66) was leading, I was following, and then Marty A, and then Russ Nuthmann and others behind him.
We encountered this very sharp DRT....Decreasing radius turn, I had to apply the rear brakes a bit more than I usually do but was able to maintain and went around it.
Then MartyA came thru, hit something with his rear tire, caused it to skip, and he lost his line and just ran off the shoulder and came to a stop with a simple slide and drop, just got dusty/dirty!
Here's the marks he made coming off the road:
Then Russ came behind him, saw him off the road, was possibly also a bit too hot for the turn, hit the rear brake and locked it up, you can see his skid below:
Above is looking back up the road from where he came, below is looking down the road and off the edge!
When he let off of the brake the tire grabbed, and highsided him over the bike and off the road...the problem was this log that was laying there!
He had on full riding gear, boots, gloves, full face helmet, he hit the log with his head! He lost consciousness for about 1.5 minutes, but then regained it. He felt paralyzed at first, but then was able to move his hands and feet! but his right foot didn't feel right!
He was taken to the Gainesville Medical Center by ambulance, had CT scans, apparently has a few bones broken in his foot, and possibly a cracked cervical vertebrae, but is able to move everything...except his head very much due to the neck brace!
Here's his bike, mostly cosmetic stuff, Gary and Bruce went to fetch it with his trailer to bring it back to the lodge where they'll load it up in Russ' truck for him.
He's spending the night at least in the Hospital, not sure what will happen after that. I'll be leaving tomorrow AM to go home!
Ride Safe! T.C.
Looks like this weekend was the one for close encounters of the unkind!
Posting from Suches, Ga, at the VJMC/XS11 rally this weekend. We were on a nice run thru some fun twisties in N.C., Gary Granger(66) was leading, I was following, and then Marty A, and then Russ Nuthmann and others behind him.
We encountered this very sharp DRT....Decreasing radius turn, I had to apply the rear brakes a bit more than I usually do but was able to maintain and went around it.
Then MartyA came thru, hit something with his rear tire, caused it to skip, and he lost his line and just ran off the shoulder and came to a stop with a simple slide and drop, just got dusty/dirty!
Here's the marks he made coming off the road:
Then Russ came behind him, saw him off the road, was possibly also a bit too hot for the turn, hit the rear brake and locked it up, you can see his skid below:
Above is looking back up the road from where he came, below is looking down the road and off the edge!
When he let off of the brake the tire grabbed, and highsided him over the bike and off the road...the problem was this log that was laying there!
He had on full riding gear, boots, gloves, full face helmet, he hit the log with his head! He lost consciousness for about 1.5 minutes, but then regained it. He felt paralyzed at first, but then was able to move his hands and feet! but his right foot didn't feel right!
He was taken to the Gainesville Medical Center by ambulance, had CT scans, apparently has a few bones broken in his foot, and possibly a cracked cervical vertebrae, but is able to move everything...except his head very much due to the neck brace!
Here's his bike, mostly cosmetic stuff, Gary and Bruce went to fetch it with his trailer to bring it back to the lodge where they'll load it up in Russ' truck for him.
He's spending the night at least in the Hospital, not sure what will happen after that. I'll be leaving tomorrow AM to go home!
Ride Safe! T.C.
Russ is retired, so no hurry to get back home, deciding on his options. Doc said, yes with any surgery there are risks, but this is probably much less risky than his choice to ride the Ga. Mountains on a bike! 
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