canadamaxxer
Pro
Posts: 1090
|
posted September 04, 2005 04:25 PM
The (mis)adventures of Canadamaxxer....part 3
After I found out that my bike was not going to be going on our trip, I was trying to figure out my options. I had decided that I would buy a 10R if I could't figure out a better option. My good friend and business partner, Lizard (on this site), volunteered his 10R for me to use, since he is currently unable to ride due to wrist/hand issues. I gratefully accepted and we packed up and left on our trip on saturday aug 20. We trailered the bikes the 12+ hours to Kelowna BC for our 9 day riding vacation.
I had never ridden a 10R before, so I was like a kid in a candy store. It handles so well and is so light....and is surprisingly comfortable. It has good power, and I love the slipper clutch. We toured around the Okanagan until wednesday...until the unthinkable happened.
We were out for an evening ride, and were on our way to get some food in a small town in BC named "Salmon Arm". It was very hot out (34 degrees C) and I was hot, thirsty and hungry. As a result I decided to slow down and would pick up the pace after having dinner and about a litre of water. The road we were on was quite twisty, and full of blind corners. I came around a tight right hand corner (a blind one of course), and was faced with the grille of an early 90's astro van. This van was at least a foot and a half in my lane and cutting the corner, I was in the Left hand wheel track doing about 60 km'h and had virtually nowhere to go. I saw the vehicle for no more than 1/4 second...so I leaned over to avoid him, and luckily he swerved to get out of my lane, so I didn't hit him head on....as I don't think I would have lived to tell this tale. As a result of our avoidance maneuvers, I "only" hit him in the LR tire.
I was pitched over the bars and from what I can gather, I bounced off the pavement and began to tumble. I ended up more-or-less on my back and was knocked out cold for about 30 seconds. As I woke up, members of our riding group began to arrive, and I was given a thorough first aid assessment. I ended up with a concussion, a broken collarbone, and a sore pinky finger. My helmet is of course toasted, but I am surprised at the way it held together. I now know my brand for life: Arai.
The worst things for me out of this whole deal is that I can almost guarantee that I wrote LIzard's bike off. The bike is completely fucked. I suppose the good thing is that the bike is so beat up that there is virtually no way the insurance company will try to fix it. I know that lizard has some pics he has been dying to post on this site, but I asked him to wait until I had a chance to post this. The scope of the damege is shokcing......
I felt (and still feel) so bad about damaging lizard's bike, as he is a very careful and meticulous owner, but the only thing he was worried about was me and how I was doing. Obviously he is hurt by the loss of his bike, but he took a very zen approach to the situation....and for that I will always owe him big time.
The bad part about the accident itself is that I will most likely be unable to prove that he was in the wrong. There were no marks on the road to use as an impact point; and unless there is a witness that saw more than I am aware of, this guy will get off with a 50/50 liability situation.....EVEN though this guy almost put another of our group in the ditch a few corners before he hit me.
As a result of my accident and being in a sling, I offered to help at SBW, and had a blast helping at the dyno. I made lots of great friends, and actually got a really good feeling about finally contributing to the event.
I am hoping that the cycle of three bad things happening is over. I now have to put the pieces back together (in all aspects), and carry on. I am glad that I lived through this all, and I feel like everything will be ok. I have resolved myself to the fact that I will probably have to pay for this accident....even though I was not at fault....simply because I probably don't have witnesses. I am hoping this guy will get an attack of conscience and do the right thing, but my faith in humanity is pretty weak.
I am glad to have such a strong network of good friends who are always there for me and each other....it makes a person realize that they must be doing something right if they have that kind of a network.
Next summer will be different......that is my vow...and I am already working on it right now......
  
|
Connman
Zone Head
Posts: 506
|
posted September 04, 2005 04:43 PM
Wow, GREAT to hear that you're doing well!
Hopefully you luck will be changing soon!
|
canadamaxxer
Pro
Posts: 1090
|
posted September 04, 2005 04:48 PM
quote:
Wow, GREAT to hear that you're doing well!
Hopefully you luck will be changing soon!
Thanks for the good wishes. As twisted as it may sound, I think I do have good luck.....All of the things that happened to me this summer could have been so much worse........AND I have good things ahead of me.....including buying a 2nd bike (my 12 is getting just a bit too modified to run the twisties)
|
Wideout
Expert Class
Posts: 300
|
posted September 04, 2005 05:59 PM
You're a hell of a writer, especially for someone with a broken collarbone.
Glad you're ok for the most part and hope you have a speedy recovery.
|
lizard
Pro
Modulator
Posts: 1483
|
posted September 04, 2005 07:27 PM
Dude!!! Get well soon . You survived that's the ONLY thing that's important.Ninjas are expendable but good friends like you can never be replaced !!!! Don't worry I can fix it .My dads a TV repairman he's got an awesome set of tools!
|
Connman
Zone Head
Posts: 506
|
posted September 04, 2005 08:37 PM
IT'S JUST A FLESH WOUND!! 
yea, she looks pretty spent. Can't imagine they'd look twice at totalling it.
|
fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
|
posted September 05, 2005 08:37 AM
quote:
Ninjas are expendable but good friends like you can never be replaced !!!!
|
frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
|
posted September 05, 2005 12:40 PM
that'll buff right out 
that's pretty frustrating about the accident. i somehow thought that was an injury from before SBW (as in before u left on ur trip). i take it the driver of the truck is claiming he wasnt over the line? i'm almost surprised he didnt run.
damn lucky u were only doing 60kph. how often does that happen after all?
|
canadamaxxer
Pro
Posts: 1090
|
posted September 05, 2005 03:26 PM
There was no way he could run....his rear rim got folded back pretty good and his tire went flat. Technically this was not a "Rally related incident"as it happened on the wednesday before the event. When I had dinner with you and Fish, the break was 3 days old.....
those things that don't kill you......
|
Miklos
Expert Class
Posts: 246
|
posted September 06, 2005 05:24 AM
Damn, Maxxer, sounds like quite the adventures! Sorry to hear about your accident. It made me have flash backs to July, when I crashed very narrowly avoiding a head-on with a car that came around a blind left hand corner in my lane. I hit the brakes hard and high-sided barely missing the car. They just kept on going (probably drunk).
Heal up! And congradulations on gettin hitched!
____________
The problem with other countries is they are all ran by foreigners.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC