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General Discussion => Campfire Talk => Topic started by: LJRead on October 14, 2009, 09:08:13 pm

Title: Accidents happen!!
Post by: LJRead on October 14, 2009, 09:08:13 pm
I've been away for most of a week now.  Two youngsters found me alongside the road, apparently having dodged some livestock.  I have badly scraped knees, and a head still waiting for stitches (in a little while).  I've been in the hospital up until last night, a total of five days in there, much of it seems garbled now as I look back. It may have been a steer running across in front of me, damage to the bike is a broken headlight, a torn open box and a badly bent foot peg, nothing that can't be handled, so that will be the next step.

I have spent much of the past five days sort of semi-comatose, people coming by now and then and feeling pretty much normal, except that there is a lurking confusion over what exactly happened (I have no memory of it all). Next few days I will start
 dealing with the bike, little by little, although I'm wondering if anything major is bent.  The paint was spared but the front fork doesn't seem quite right, so I will have a slow go at it all. 

Anyway, today I go for a final checkup then, hopefully, life here gets back to more or less normalcy, if one can call it that.  Good that I can go on the forum and catch up on what others are now on about.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: PhilJ on October 14, 2009, 09:20:48 pm
Wow Larry, I'm so glad you're recuperating nicely. Yes accidents do happen, it must have been your turn, but to not have a memory of it scary. Seems it could have been much worse.

Even after your released, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on anything that my seem unusual.

Welcome back, and when you feel like it gives us an update on the earthquake damage and the rebuilding.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: ace.cafe on October 14, 2009, 09:21:24 pm
Holy cow, LJ!

We were wondering where you were, but never suspected anything like that!

Get some stitches and some good rest, and we're glad it wasn't any worse than it was.

Good to see you back, though.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: REpozer on October 14, 2009, 09:28:19 pm
Sorry about the accident, but glad (relatively) that you are fine.
People have been asking about you.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: The Garbone on October 14, 2009, 11:16:20 pm
Yikes,  I wish you a speedy recovery. 

 Next time you have a steak just give it an extra stab with your knife, just to even things out...       

Loss of memory and mutilated cattle kinda sounds like a case of alien abduction to me..   ;)
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: scoTTy on October 14, 2009, 11:47:16 pm
hey Man..  sorry about your accident..  hang tuff.. you'll be fine b4 you know it
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: 1Blackwolf1 on October 14, 2009, 11:53:58 pm
  Best wishes for a speedy recovery Larry.  Will.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: LJRead on October 15, 2009, 01:53:47 am
Thanks all for the nice messages.

I just returned from the hospital and no stitches will be required, just found out that the gasoline bottle I was carrying on the back of the bike went missing, so this of course has me wondering if I may have swerved out of the path of a car, which then took the gas.  Who knows, and I'm not going to worry further about it all.  My brother-in-law drove me to the doctor and back home. Apparently, since I live a ways away from the hospital, until they get the new bridge in, my wife will change dressings on the small hole in my head. I feel quite chipper right now, though I haven't examined the bike closely yet. 

People here are generally quite kind and willing to help where they are able.  Someone, however, took the gallon bottle of gasoline I was carrying home for the mower, so that's a small loss.  When you are as uninformed of things as I am, you begin to wonder about it all.  Did the guy who took the gasoline, for example have anything to do with steering me off the road.  it is odd that I was lying there unconscious at the same time as the gasoline was disappearing.  Really an odd thing, as there was only a five quart bottle about half full.

Island looks a little different today, probably because my brother- in- law, Tanni, is doing the driving.  He does drive very slowly, so has use of my car - no doubt in better hands with him!  I do feel out of it all, totally, so will just drift along like this for now. 
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Blltrdr on October 15, 2009, 01:53:06 am
Larry, glad to hear you are OK. Memory loss caused by an accident can't be a good thing but may have an upside considering the circumstances. Somethings you just don't want to replay over and over again. I'm sure you will sort out the problems with your bike in a jiffy.

Blltrdr
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: clamp on October 15, 2009, 03:43:25 am
You mean you think another vehicle was involved and they stole your can of gas?

   Was you wallet missing?

   Ille bet you that foot peg don't straighten without breaking, any way you got a few days to ponder over the repairs.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: UncleErnie on October 15, 2009, 04:00:04 am
I have notices up all over the neighborhood because my pet cow broke her leash and ran off...
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: clamp on October 15, 2009, 08:44:36 am
Cows don't steal gas cans ----do they?
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: PhilJ on October 15, 2009, 12:37:28 pm
Cows don't steal gas cans ----do they?
Only in the wild western states! Be very careful around US cows.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: clamp on October 15, 2009, 04:17:08 pm
Well if your sure about this because I don't know cows very well.

   But how would a cow pick a gas can up?  with its teeth?  or its paws?

     If it used its paws it would have to run on its back legs. Theres something wrong with this.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Vince on October 15, 2009, 05:38:13 pm
     Larry, I'm glad you're OK.  I've learned from my own (numerous) crashes and injuries to take my time recuperating. DON'T RUSH IT!!! That's the mistake all us macho men make. Rushing the recovery just drags out the recovery time. Keep us informed. If you would like, I'll get you a good deal on a new helmet. You should not re-use a helmet after an incident like this. Take care.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Cabo Cruz on October 15, 2009, 10:21:18 pm
Br. Larry, I am sorry to hear about your accident and glad to hear that you are fine and on the road to recovery!!!
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: VMAX on October 16, 2009, 04:14:27 am
Good to hear your on the mend. Take it easy for a bit. BTW how did the beefy fair? My brother-in-law was riding a GldWg home one night a few yrs ago. Caught a whitetail doe broadside at 55 mph. The GW was sold for parts, he was in the hospital for a wk or so, you can imagine what happened to the deer. Life goes on.  :P
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Ukuvox on October 16, 2009, 09:27:33 pm
Saddened to hear about you accident (and gas theft by cows ???) but glad it wasn't worse & that you're on the mend.
...you can imagine what happened to the deer. Life goes on.  :P
Not for the deer! ;)
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: LJRead on October 16, 2009, 10:48:20 pm
I haven't been at the actual crash site yet, though I'm feeling I should go there (just up the road).  Tonga is an odd place for ownership.  It just isn't the same here, as there is a tradition of non-ownership (everyone sort of sharing out) and one that came later of ownership.  I try to maintain a sort of off-based way, maintaining my rights to an extent without making a big deal of it all.  It can be a little confusing at times, but if one doesn't make a big deal of ownership, it works out fairly well.  For example, I am considered wealthy here, though my bank accounts don't show any real wealth, but I don't put others interests always first, so that is a big difference. 

Anyway, this thing with the gas can is going to bother me until I get the time to go to the site and look closer.  It strikes me as rather odd that I could have been immobilized and things 'walked off' and later found them to be missing.  Not that it is that important, but the general idea that someone would actually be there taking my gas while I was unconscious, bothers me.  It just should not be that way.

They must have thought me too far gone to make a protest. 

So I am well aware that my circle of needs won't be always granted, and I must look ahead to try to set thing right before they happen. 

Today I took some Tylenol and that seems to have worked well and I'll be taking some more later. 
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: scoTTy on October 16, 2009, 11:49:50 pm
Glad to hear you are on the mend.. sorry to hear of your doubts with your neighbors..
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: baird4444 on October 20, 2009, 03:35:29 am
shit LJR...  this sux!!  Glad you are on the mend. Several years ago my chiropractor told me, 'You know, as we get older these things take longer to heal..." .  You are in a good place to heal. Take care of yourself- Mike
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: GreenForce82 on October 21, 2009, 05:50:12 am
LJ,

I am very glad to hear you are ok. It is odd that the can would go missing when you were injured, very sad if someone left you there while taking the can.

Rest well and take heart in knowing it was not your time.

Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: LJRead on October 21, 2009, 06:23:15 am
My latest thoughts on the missing gas can is that the two young guys who brought the bike home, took it with them and there were no earlier culprits.  These were young high school kids and I rather suspect that they might have the uses for my gas.  I'm not going to worry about it further, however.  I just don't see these others taking the gas can, whereas the two that brought it back and eventually got me to the hospital, seem a closer choice.

Today, for the first time, no headache, so I'm definitely healing.  I was only doing about forty mph at the time, with a helmet and all, so this doesn't surprise me.  I had a look at my forehead for the first time just a while ago, and the damage seems pretty minor, which I would expect.  Today was the first day that my head didn't ache, so I guess I'll get there.  I had a close look at the bike's damage (as well as my own) and it came through pretty well too.  I'm thinking that the position of the front forks is due to their being forced around and not to any real damage.  Today I started on the rear pannier, and will replace part of the lid.  The right side foot peg is bent out of shape so that will take some work as well.  I have the distinct feeling that it is only the foot peg and the one wooden box that I need to repair, the front needs careful disassembly and being put carefully back together, but I don't think any real damage was done.  

No real point in moving on the whole project too fast - just taking it all a day at a time.Will submit some photos when it is accomplished.

Odd the way my head has acted up even though the real damage seems slight.  Today for the first time, I didn't have a headache and actually was able to work on the bike.  Fortunately there is no paint needing retouching.  So it is really only the side peg and the back box, as well as making sure the front fork isn't damaged.  I suppose it is one of our problems to take a positive look at damage and try not to see what is there.

My daughter gets a Christmas break soon and will be here from Utah.  My sone is stuck there due to poor behavior with his girlfriend- don.t know how one cures that sort of behavior.  
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: REpozer on October 21, 2009, 07:21:34 am
LJ, glad you were wearing a crash helmet.

For some reason I thought you were the aviator glasses and bandanna head band type.
Glad I was wrong.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: PhilJ on October 21, 2009, 12:35:16 pm
Larry, often in a crash the forks get "tweaked" . There may be no need to disassemble them.

If the tire and handle bar are not in alignment and you see no obvious bending in the forks you can loosen the pinch bolts and with something holding the front wheel stationary, adjust the handle bar - wheel alignment. Then retighten the fork pinch bolts.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: LJRead on October 21, 2009, 05:52:04 pm
Good idea, Phil, I'll take your advice and tweak it one stage at a time.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Vince on October 21, 2009, 06:18:16 pm
     Larry, based on my years of racing and crashing bikes, I am not surprised by your head issues. Helmets can protect against many things, but in an abrupt stop your brain will literally slosh around inside your skull. The brain mass has inertia and it will still be moving when your head abruptly stops. I am speaking from personal experience. Your brain needs time to heal, including re-wiring damaged neural paths.
     And, yes guys, this does explain a lot about me.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Chuck D on October 21, 2009, 09:51:12 pm
LJ, Just read of your accident. Been away for awhile; took a little spill of my own. Hope you're OK and that you heal up well.  Chuck.
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: PhilJ on October 21, 2009, 11:33:28 pm
     
     And, yes guys, this does explain a lot about me.

Vince I hate it when you beat me to the punch line.  ::)
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: jest2dogs on October 22, 2009, 09:11:57 am
LJ,

Be easy on yourself. You are the only you you have! Head injuries are something to keep an eye on. (How does one look at one's own head? Introspection?) From your posts it was apparent your noggin' was rattled. (No offense intended, Bro'  ;D)  It's obvious that many of us here on the forum care about you!

Regarding Vince's issues, his Mom gave birth standing up and Vince fell out on his head on day one. There's no catching up for the rest of us.

-Jesse
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Anon on October 22, 2009, 04:06:31 pm
Yeah, be sure to take it easy Larry.  Head injuries are no fun.  TV and movies make "getting knocked out" seem so minor, but it is trauma to the brain.  I knocked myself out a year ago January for about 30 seconds.  I don't even know what happened, but I was on foot and think I just tripped bad.  It was 4 months before my periodic headaches subsided.  There's a reason they call helmets "brain buckets!"

Take care and keep getting better!

Eamon
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Cabo Cruz on October 22, 2009, 04:36:59 pm
Br. Larry, this is a true story.  I had flown over the handlebars (because a dog just darted out from behind a bush and he did not give enough time to react)... after a brain scan in ER, the doctor informed that my brain (function) was normal... I looked him as straight in the eye as I could with my uninjured eye and said in response, "I beg to differ with you, doc!"  :D
Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: LJRead on October 23, 2009, 12:54:06 am
Finally have the straight scoop on my accident.  The problem was the rear tire which lost its air due to a bent stem.  I filled it up initially and once when it was flat (should have checked it out better then).  Finally, I took it apart today and found a damaged stem, I suppose damaged after the tube had lost air. The stem itself (all metal) had a place at the tip that was torn up a bit, and the stem itself was bent.  I suppose I might have found this through a little care when I refilled it the first time, something must have caused it to lose air.  Anyway, I will put a new tube in this afternoon, hoping that it will hold air better.  So a lot of my figuring was in error - thinking I had dodged a cow, etc. when I went down with a flat tire.  The tire itself is new, an Avon and the tube was new too, but maybe wasn't installed by me quite right, such that it lost its initial air, then lost it again before the accident. 

After this I plan to get to work on the rickshaw, just minor things needed to complete it.  The thing with it is that I don't yet know what my range is with it.  It will be fine once the new bridge is finally in (lots of talk, little action).  It is only a little over 2 miles into town, but each time I go without the bridge it is more like 40 both ways. 


Title: Re: Accidents happen!!
Post by: Vince on October 23, 2009, 01:25:56 am
     Larry, the stem rips out like this due to low pressure. When tire pressure is low enough the tire can spin on the rim under acceleration or braking. The tube gets pulled and the stem tears out. You may have pinched the tube in installation or you might have a coincidental puncture. Check the tire for foreign objects and check the bead. Sometimes you can tear the bead and this will puncture the tube. Rust on the inside of the rim can abrade or puncture the tube.
     To minimize the chance of pinching a tube try this: After you inspect the tire install the first bead then  install the tube. Pump the tube up until it is just round.Not hard or expanded, just round.  Now start to install the other bead. Lube it with some liquid dish soap. Go slow and take SMALL bites with your tire iron. As necessary, let air out a little at a time to ease bead installation. By keeping the tube round like this you minimize the chance of catching the tube with the iron. Also, the tube is easier to see and to push out of the way of the iron. I start my iron near the stem and work around to the other side of the stem. This way you don't fight the stem and you don't have to put your iron right on it.
     
  I filled it up initially and once when it was flat (should have checked it out better then). 


     Yes, your bike was talking to you. You are not married to it, so listen next time.