The totally incorrect way to get off a bike (volumes 1 and 2)

I was hoping to never have to post this, but I had an unscheduled dismount on Monday making this my first biking accident. :(

Not sure exactly what happened which is making it even more frustrating for me. I didn’t have my video recorder with me, so can’t review that, but do have the SatNav track (time, distances and speed).

I was in Tonbridge, Kent an hour into my ride - had just turned left through a light controlled junction, accelerated up to 28 mph; could see a car parked on the pavement (boot open and the driver walking about) and there was a car in front of me, I slow down to 19 mph. Now the bits I have little or no recollection, I have no idea why I don’t seem realise the car is slowing right down and actually came to a halt. I don’t see any indicator just a brake light which suddenly came on. The log shows I was doing 0.8 mph when I touched the car bumper.
I hear a loud bang as my helmet and shoulder protector hit the road, boy did I hit the deck hard. I can hear the bike engine still running but can’t immediately stand up. Don’t know if my leg was pinned under the bike, but I have no pain or marks on my legs or leathers. The guy parked on the pavement comes over and helps me pick the bike up, I see the red (oil) light on and can smell petrol – I think I hit the kill switch, but maybe the still in gear engine died when the ‘spinning’ back wheel touched the ground.

So it was a slow speed bump, so not much damage right? Well the car bumper has a mark on it possibly from the tyre or the mudguard which can be rubbed out, the bike has a broken mudguard and some scratches on the fairing and the engine cover, a slight mark on the exhaust, the indicator popped out, but I think that is back in place and the mirror has pushed in on the ball joint but not broken. My leathers and boots are unmarked, but my lid has a bit of the paint missing and part of the shell is exposed. My shoulder protector either saved me from more serious damage or was the cause of my injury, but for now all I know is my shoulder is a bit sore and don’t feel that good when moving it about and am becoming aware that my left thumb is sore. I don't know if the fork's rebounded giving my thumb a good 'kick' and maybe had something to do with me hitting the ground so hard.

I ride the 30 miles home, bike rides fine – I’m OK as long as I don’t hit a bump. Decided that I’d go straight to A&E near home -this is no easy decision- the place has a horrendous reputation and the nick name given by healthcare professionals does not instil any confidence, May Die (its proper name is Mayday!) , but already started doubting my choice when I got off the bike. The adrenaline had begun to wear off and I was in some pain.

During my near 2 hour wait to be seen, I go to the loo and I discover I have no power in my right arm and my left thumb is extremely sore and near useless when I try and zip up. I could hardly walk back out into the waiting room with the zip down, nor could I casually ask anyone in there ‘mind helping me with my fly mate?’ Using both hands I get the zipper sorted, and go and sit down with tears in my eyes.

Eventually get seen and find I have dislocated my shoulder, they didn’t bother looking at my thumb. I have been given a bit of cloth which was tied around my neck and finished off with a safety pin, not sure if this little touch was to neaten up the mess or to stop my elbow from sliding out. Was told I can take whatever pain killers I have at home and come back in a few weeks when it is better so they can close the file. Arrgh, don’t know why I bothered.

Time to put the jacket back on and go home, I knew this was going to hurt, stood in the corner where no one would see me and ‘yanked’ it on, but I couldn’t do up the zip. Then I find I can’t lift my arm to put my helmet on, umm plan 2, put helmet face first on the saddle, hold with my left hand and push my head into it. Right glove goes on, but can’t get the left one on. I can’t let this beat me now, sod it one glove on one glove off, open jacket and unstrapped helmet, off I go –its only 2-3 miles home.
5 Hours after the incident I’m home and take the first painkillers.

I do hope this isn’t going to be like punctures. I went for 30 years without any then 3 in 4 years. I found I don’t bounce well and can hurt myself at less than 1mph, don’t want to imagine what it’d be like if I was going any faster.

Oh hell Steve, poor you, sorry to hear you're injured.

You may have a small fracture of the thumb? I got that when I had my off, the handlebars kicked as we went down and even though I fell on my left side, my right thumb got the kick from the bars and bingo, one broke bone at the base where it meet the wrist (still hurts like a doozy even now, some years later when the weather changes). They did sod all for me, didn't spot the fracture until weeks and weeks later by which time it was too late to do anything.

Hope you heal up soon enough

Oh no Steve. That isn't good news.

Sorry to hear of the injuries to you and your new steed.
I hope you mend well and swiftly and the bike mends well and cheaply.

My first ever accident (albeit in my mums nova) was a low speed shunt similar to yours.
My distraction was an old baldy guy walking on the road whom I thought I recognised.

Question for you is....was she a good looking young lady or a baldy old man?

Gutted for you.

Get well soon.
Ross

Ps RobertCains don't do motorcycle repairs, coachworks and healthcare but if they did Espaceman, Nick & Ellie would turn up and sort it all for you.

Steve

Really sorry to hear of your off and the painful sounding injuries. Its typical you survive the looting and rioting without a scratch and do yourself some real damage at less than 1mph.

Hope you heal up sharpish and the bike is fixed up easily and inexpensively. Sounds as though you need a velcro fly - will see if I have some velcro lying about for you.

Take Care


Fraz

Hi Steve,

No Cam on the Bike???? What's going on, that would have been A1 viewing, maybe an Oscar nomination.

Hope you heal soon - i'm sure Pam will Pamper to you.

John.

Oh Steve!

Sounds like you're a bit beaten up from the spill. I hope the drugs help and you start feeling better soon. It doesn't seem like the bike's going to be too difficult to fix up - it's you I'm worried about. I'm afraid the older you are the less you :bounce:.

Keep us up to date with your progress - if typing isn't too painful. And watch that shoulder. Unfortunately I know how you're feeling. I did something similar 4 weeks ago, but that's a story for another time.

Look after yourself.
All the best,

Chris

Hope you're feeling better soon, plenty of warm baths and neurofens.

GWS Steve, sorry to hear the news & I know first hand how painful a dislocated shoulder is, how you rode with it dislocated is a feat in itself.
I hope you & the bike are back to full health soon mate.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that Steve, I hope they've sorted you out OK in A&E.
You do have your own personal nurse at hand




I did a similar thing last year and then was rear-ended in my car and my neck and shoulder still hurt.

Your thumbs the important one as it will give you jip for years if you don't sort it now. Sometimes I'm tempted to get rid of the bike and have a little sports car instead. Much safer Im sure.


Love & hugs xxxx

Unlucky mate. :(

Oh Noes Steve, hope you fix up sooooon

Davie

Steve - hope your feeling better soon mate.

Billy

Sorry to hear steve, I do hope you heal fast with no future problems!
Good job you weren't going any faster... no recollection ay? Old timers perhaps?

Hope bike gets back to normal aswell. Take care of yourself mate!

Sorry to hear the bad news mate, as everyone has said, hope you heal quickly and the bikes an easy fix.

Very sorry to hear about the off Steve, amazing how you start to hurt hours later. Bike sounds not to badly damaged (unlike mine) hope you can still make S&T get well soon. Tes

bad luck steve get well soon mate u could of paid for repairs with that £250 you get off you've been framed for footage

Steve, sorry to here of the off. Glad your okay and the bike will fix. You'll fix, it will just take a little longer.

Keep your chin up and let us all know how your getting on.

Look after yourself.

Cheers rich.

sorry about your accident stevem hope you heal quick mate, and feel lots better very soon

sorry to hear about the prang, seems ridiculous how such slow speed incidents can cause such issues with the body!
hope you and the bike are fixed up soon

hi steve we are sorry to hear about your off m8
take it steady & hope you have a full recovery
take care get well soon fred says she let you know what its like having a new shoulder on the NHS as soon as they get there finger,s out & give her a date
fred & pete

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and wishes.

I've been keeping up my DIY treatment, think I may have reset the shoulder early yesterday morning, have more movement now, but is still painful. Decided against Neurofen Plus as with my luck I'd get the psychotic version they seem to have been selling in South London - Tell you what it all happens down here

Pam has been great help, even though she feels she hasn't done much. I'm fiercely independent and have conquered the bathroom and getting dressed. I can't expect her to detour past mine on her to and from work everyday to make sure I'm OK. I'm not so sure my beard and teeth are that happy being attacked left handed though. It's the things I take for granted that have caught me out, not easy getting on socks or getting the Mitchum Gel in the right place

£250 for 5 seconds of video, that not bad hey From the corner it took only 4 seconds and 180 feet to fall off :(

Don't think they can treat Old Timers in the hospital here Paul, well I now know they can't or won't relocate /set bones/joints.

Looking back over what happened I realise I was very 'lucky', for 1 I landed in the way of the oncoming traffic.

Thank you all again

Don't think they can treat Old Timers in the hospital here Paul, well I now know they can't or won't relocate /set bones/joints.

Are you saying you haven't had your dislocated shoulder reduced??????

Not good Steve! I am of course sorry to hear about the accident, but...

put helmet face first on the saddle, hold with my left hand and push my head into it

made me smile, sorry!

Lee

Bummer steve. Hope you get better soon mate.

Steve I'm concerned that you still can't use your shoulder it's either not been reduced properly or it's fractured. Have you had an x-ray?

If you've dislocated your shoulder and they've put it back in it should be nearly back to normal after.

Tell me to stop wittleing if you like :-)

Hope your on the mend chuck xx