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Friday, January 31 I read your story, and I want to encourage you and your husband to ride again! I also want to point out, as did others, that there were definitely miraculous events that took place at that time, from the fact that you "just happened" to wear helmets that day, to the crews responding as quickly as they did, and everything else that "fell into place". You say you're not a religious person; I am, and I know exactly Who protected you both. I was in a motorcycle accident two and a half years ago. I was on my way to a Women-on-Wheels rally in Dayton, Ohio, with four other women. About 70 miles out of Dayton, on a country road, I took my eyes off the road for a couple seconds. When I turned back, there was a pick-up truck stopped right in front of me, waiting to make a left turn. I didn't feel I had enough room to swerve, so I braked quickly, to about 50 mph, and dropped my bike to avoid hitting the truck. The bike and I slid, and then I rolled away. The bike went under the truck, and I rolled away. The first thing I did when I stopped rolling was to pray, and my girlfriend prayed over me, too. An ambulance ride and a helicopter ride later, I was in a Dayton hospital. Here I was - I had just totaled my 2-month-old motorcycle, I was 800 miles from home and my husband, and I had two broken shoulder blades, a broken collarbone, and two broken legs. Even with all that, I was so very thankful. My injuries could have been so much worse! I had no head, neck, back, pelvic, or internal injuries! In addition, I was in no pain and needed no pain medication the entire time (another miracle!). I knew God was protecting me. An Orthopedic Surgeon told me they were going to have to cast both of my legs. I asked him how I was supposed to get around, to which he replied, "In a wheelchair." When he left the room, I started praying. I told God that if He wanted me at that rally, I needed to be mobile I did not want to be totally dependent upon others. About an hour later, the doctor came back and told me that since the broken bones weren't weight bearing, they decided not to put casts on them. So it was a direct answer to prayer that I was able to walk out of that hospital the next day with nothing more than a sling to immobilize my collarbone. When I left the hospital, I headed straight to the rally. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was with me. Eight weeks later (and a bit too soon, according to my Orthopedic Surgeon), I was back riding. It took the rest of the season, about 3,000 miles, for me to get comfortable again, but I did, and I've been riding ever since. It's the old saying - "get back on the horse after you fall off." I would love to talk to you further, if you'd like. VTwin Mama will pass on my e-mail address to you. – Susan (note from Mama: you're a courageous VTwin Mama and I applaud your spirit, your beliefs and the time you took to share your own story. Thank you!) Thursday, January 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Fonz, Honda Cruiser Forum -- http://www3.pokerroom.com/main/9/ VLX Riders: Cruisin' Carvin' & Conversin' -- http://vlxriders.20m.com/index.html Honda Shadow Discussion Forum -- http://www.hondashadow.net/ The body work I had done on my bike was by a local shop that specialized in custom paint jobs for bikes. They've got the materials and tools to fill in holes, etc. Try the forums I mentioned and my guess is that you'll find people who are into what you're trying to achieve and have solid answers. Good luck! – Mama Thursday, January 30 For Brenda who is considering a particular bike but may need to lower it to fit her height: Instead of lowering your bike, you might be able to change your seat. I changed my seat and it bought me down 1" which is better change lowering and a lot cheaper. I ordered a Corbin seat -- you can call them and give them your specs, they will advise you accordingly. – Angela Kosar (note from Mama: we've heard from many readers that a Corbin seat CAN make a difference. That it is a lot less expensive to do is a great point!) Wednesday, January 29 Dear VTwin Mama, I also wanted to respond to a recent posting from Biker Vic regarding drivers and cell phone usage. My husband has been doing quite a bit of on-line research and found a site created by the parents of a 3 year old who died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash caused by a driver on a cell phone. The site is http://www.morganlee.org/ and has links to many places with information. Good luck with your research too. I used to be a chronic cell phone user while driving and this experience has opened my eyes to how dangerous it really is. Now I pull over and park when I need to make a call. Hopefully more states will outlaw this practice and make the roads safer for all of us. – Jennifer Dear Jennifer, Wednesday, January 29 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Angela, This keeps top hair from flying around and secures any longer hair at back firmly in place. It smushes my hair something awful, but when I park for something, and remove my helmet, I remove the scarf and then place it "around" my forehead with ends dangling down. This keeps all my hair in place and seems to be the best I can do! Sisters, any more ideas? – Mama Tuesday, January 28 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Dave, Tuesday, January 28 First I'm glad you both are ok. I've been involved in a couple motorcycle accidents. The first in July of 1999, we owned a 1981 Goldwing -- I was the passenger. I ended up with a broken ankle, my fiancée ended up with stitches, and the bike was totaled. It could have been a lot worse -- the news crew that had reported on our accident had reported that my fiancée had died from his injuries. That had family and friends freaking out. The second accident happened in June of 2000, we were on another Goldwing. We were doing our dream trip of see all 48 states on the bike. We got through 9 states and 8,000 miles of the trip when the accident happened. This time my husband was injured with road rash on his left arm and left leg. I only got quarter size road rashes on each knee and a bruised left arm. The bike again was totaled. The one good thing that came out of the accident is that we meet a very nice Doctor and his wife. The ER doctor offered us a place to stay at his house while we found out about the bike and what we were going to do. It turned out the doctor was also a biker. He owned two Harleys. He had been in so many wrecks on his bikes that he became a doctor. After the accident neither one of us felt like ever riding again. At home sat my Nighthawk that I had bought a year ago to ride, but never got the courage to ride it. Now after the second accident it was really looking like I would just sell the bike when we got back home. During the trip back home we ended up deciding that I would take the MSF course and learn to ride my Nighthawk and my husband would get a small bike and we would ride that way. It took about six months for my husband to heal enough to ride again. I took the MSF course in March of 2001. In May of that year I did my first trip and have been riding my own since. I still don't feel ready to ride at night, both accidents took place at night. So, I say just give it time. For my husband our accident in 2000 was his 5th one. After his 3rd he had been off a motorcycle until he meet me. Don't rush yourself to get back on, but if you still want to ride then take it one step at a time. Good luck with which ever choice you make. – Wolfspirit (note from Mama: thank you for sharing your own story of courage and conviction -- you certainly have endured a lot, but you are a voice of reason and clarity.) Monday, January 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Biker Vic, Monday, January 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Shawna, Monday, January 27 Dear VTwin Mama, I think I told you a while back about how I hit my house head on (while I was still in the learning mode...) and then a year ago June I hit sand and gravel in a turn and broadsided a van. OHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSS it is scary! My husband was really upset since he saw both those incidents first hand, but I was determined that I was going to ride again. In fact, after hitting the van, I went and sat on my bike off and on until the trailer got there to take it home for me. (It was a total, all front end damage). That was my way of getting back on the horse since I knew it would be a while before I could replace it. You may have started this site as an advice column so to speak.....but it has blossomed into much more than that! You are truly a blessing to us all. Thank you for your insight as well as your devotion to women riders. Hugs – Bootygrandma (aka Betty) Dear Betty, Friday, January 24 Though I have dumped my bike a couple of times, I've never been in a real bad accident. I can't imagine the fear you are going through right now. I am though going to tell you that life is full of risks. If it isn't a motorcycle, it would be a car that you'd have an accident in next or maybe just going for a walk and a car or motorcycle hits you. When or if you get your new bikes, just take it slow. One day at a time. Though the accident was not you two's fault, take a experienced rider safety course to help you regain some of the confidence and love of riding that you once felt. Think positive thoughts and push the bad thoughts behind and good luck. – Foxee (note from Mama: taking, or retaking a course is a good idea -- allows accident victims to slowly take up riding again in a safe environment and assure themselves of their own skills, and even improve them. Thanks for your insight and general support.) I also have been in a similar situation, however it was all my fault -- not paying attention while riding down the road -- ran into my Dad who was setting on the side of the road waiting -- at 55 miles per hour. I also do not remember most of the situation, God is Gracious. Well anyway, after 3 hours in the ER and coming out a literal scab for the most part, this was close to 25 or so years ago I was also riddled as to want I wanted to ride again. However I firmly believe that if I would have listened to them I would not have enjoyed my life as much as I have. Today I am an instructor for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and being in Michigan, can only teach basically in Summer months. My suggestion is to take a MSF course -- get back on the bikes but in more of a controlled way and see if the fire for riding is still there. Plus, you will receive a lot of teaching and support from those in the classes. Many people take the course to get their courage back up after a crash. And some go back to riding, or decide not to ride anymore -- either way it takes the fear away sort of getting back on the horse thing. Any way, I am also a Pastor, so if you need to talk, feel free to email me directly. I pray this helps.– Pastor Freak (note from Mama: thank you for sharing a different kind of accident story -- and having the courage to tell it. I agree that taking, or retaking, a motorcycle course could ease the path into riding again with renewed confidence. I'll pass your email address on to Jennifer.) Jennifer would greatly benefit from talking it out with Cindy Sandor. She too had a bad accident, but she managed to deal with it and now writes Cindy's Saddlebags for Biker Ally as well as hosts a TV show in the Tampa, Florida area called Lady Rider. At one time, she was going to use the $ from her accident to invest in a house. My husband told her she "can't ride a house." Within weeks she was back in the saddle again. It was not easy for her but with friends to support and encourage her, she made her come back. By the way, in this particular situation, what would the outcome have been had they been riding in a car? Hugs – Bootygrandma, aka Betty (note from Mama: I remember reading Cindy's account of her accident and subsequent journey back into riding -- I'll pass on Cindy's email address to Jennifer. Yes, had this been a car accident, would one never drive a car again? Still, motorcycle riding can be seen as "optional," yet a passion deep within our collective hearts -- but we're seeing by the responses that many people HAVE found their way back into riding -- and it's possible to do so with joy.) Back in November of 1994 My fiancée was out riding to pick up my son's birthday present. I had unexpectedly gotten call in to work for a few hours, and while I was there I got the phone call no one ever wants to get. Jeff had been in a motorcycle accident. Someone in a minivan ran a stop sign and he didn't have enough time to stop. He hit the side of the van and flew about 30 feet after going through the windshield of the bike, then into the windshield of the van and through the air. We live in New York and we have a helmet law, but he only wears a beanie style helmet, which flew off his head. He miraculously had minor injuries stitches, road rash bumps and bruises etc, His bike was totaled and he really suffered post traumatic stress especially when he saw some one in an intersection coming from the right. Any way, his dad was visiting us with his bike a year later and Jeff finally mustered the courage to try riding again. He went around the block and came back told me to grab my helmet and off we went for about a 2 hour ride. After that he bought a new bike and we are now riding again like we used to. So keep your chin up and give it a try and I bet you two will in time get back to riding. If you want to correspond further, please feel free. – Viki (note from Mama: boy, can I relate to the "mental" trigger point of fear -- anything resembling where I once had an accident still to this day sets me off a tad -- but I continue to work through the fear point -- 'cause I just love riding way too much. So this shows us that it's normal to feel this way and takes time to divide and conquer the fear point. Thanks for sharing this about Jeff and I'll pass on your email address to Jennifer.) I so happy you and your husband are going to be ok. I know the emotional trauma is very hard to deal with. I have only been riding for about a year and a half and I have dumped my bike about 5 times now . Life is always a risk no matter what you do each day. You and your hubby could possibly start out riding very short distances to see if you can deal with the trauma you went through. I know outside influences like family will have a lot to do with your decision. God does work in his way and he felt this was not your time to go to be with him. When you read stories of people that battle with cancer every day and all the other illness that happen, I truly believe God does watch over us. If you miss riding and choose to ride again I feel you will be a lot more aware of what is going on around you and may go on to enjoy what you have loved to do for so long, Just ease back into riding -- maybe start out with one bike and ride together for a while to see if its what you want to do again. Good luck in all you decide to do and get well soon – Cathy (note from Mama: you are so right -- there are lots of tragedies that happen to people every day and by sharing with each other we come to understand that we are not alone -- I think that's key to moving on with life -- yes, wonderful, glorious, and often times, messy life -- and why Jennifer reached out to us. They need to move on and find ways to do that. Riding together in the beginning, if they decide to get on a bike again, is a valid point.) Obviously, the end result could've been even more tragic than it was. You and your husband were definitely very lucky. I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but since you're both still interested in riding, have you considered trikes? If nothing else, you'd get the satisfaction of riding with increased visibility on the road. It seems that you are concerned with the feelings of your family (and rightly so after the help and support you were given), so would it make them feel better if you rode trikes? Or, maybe they would prefer you never ride at all. I've only been riding about 1 1/2 years and have never had anything like that happen, but I'm aware that it could. I wonder sometimes if my love for riding is enough to overcome any feelings I might have if I witnessed my husband being hit by a car and being injured myself. I hope I never find out. But, I would imagine the trauma of that accident will fade over time and you'll gradually miss riding more and more. I do think if you decide not to ride anymore solely because your family would prefer that you not, you might resent it. But, good luck to both of you in whatever you decide. – Linda (note from Mama: good point -- they need to decide for themselves, not based on other people's fear points. The trike suggestion offers another idea not mentioned before.) Two and a half years ago…I too crashed, spent days in the hospital and still pack all the stainless, screws and wire used to rebuild my left lower leg and foot. All the questions you asked are all the same ones I dealt with while going through months of recovery. Like you, I “see” the crash all the time, remember every detail and have come to terms that I will for the rest of days. What’s vivid in my mind about it, was that AS I was crashing, tumbling, crunching, I remember thinking “I hope the bike isn’t hurt so bad I can’t ride it home”. I KNEW I’d be back riding. My family already knew that I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do, whether they think it’s crazy or not. My dear gray haired mother had finally stopped bitchin’ at me about riding and when I’d said to her “you’ve accepted that I will” she replied, “no, I just know that all the bitchin’ in the world isn’t going to stop you from doing what you want to do”. (She is the one that taught me to ride, back in the early 60’s when I was 7years old, she crashed about 1970, totaled her bike and never rode again) My guess is that your family knows these things about you too. Motorcycles aren’t a week-end hobby for most of us. They are part of who we are. To give it up is too much like cutting a chunk of heart out of yourself then try to go on living. If you’re not absolutely positive that you NEVER want to get on a bike again, period!! You will ride again. Ok… so with that settled -- what to expect when you do ride again. From my own experience, don’t expect to climb on your next bike and head out with the same amount of confidence you had before the accident. My advice would be to act as if you’re a newbie all over again. Not because you don’t have the physical skills, but because your brain is gonna be screaming at you all the fear that’s been planted there. You won’t NEED family and friends telling you that you’re crazy for getting back on. Your own head will be telling you that all the while. The first time after my accident that I rode, I got a quarter mile down the road and my chest froze. I couldn’t breath and it felt like my heart stopped. I was gripped with fear. I forced breath into my lungs and told myself “come on girl… you know how to do this” And I rode on. I found for the next year I would be just riding along, everything would be fine and I suddenly, out of nowhere have the chest freeze thing happen. Each time having to take mental control and force myself to breathe and talk myself through it. I even stopped once and gave myself a real talking to about it. It’s been a long two and a half years. But I’m back, I still have residuals but they are few and far between, . I wasn’t going to quit but I did need to take heed of some of the lessons my “near miss” gave to me. Wear the gear. EVERY TIME. Things happen fast. Amazingly so. The day of my crash, it was 85 degrees, I stuffed my leathers into my saddlebags because it was so hot and I was only going 5 miles home. The denim vest and jeans I had on were torn to shreds when I hit the road. The chin piece of my full face helmet was scraped flat where I hit the road face first at 50 mph. That would have been my face. I put on the gear every time because I’m still picking asphalt and gravel out of my forearms and palms of my hands. It’s risk acceptance on your part. How much are you willing to take. I’m willing to ride, but I’m not willing to leave anymore of my skin all over the pavement again. I wish you peace in your brain while you undertake the challenge of getting back in the wind. I’ve never regretted getting back on. – HammerLady (note from Mama: wow, your courage and fortitude in the face of all you went through is a great testament to your inner strength and character. I'm in awe. Thank you for detailing your exact thoughts on climbing back on and the fact that it still takes courage on certain days. I consider that an important point. I'll let Jennifer know your email address -- readers, HammerLady runs an excellent forum at www.shinnysideup.com.) Sorry to hear of your terrible ordeal. I am so glad that you and your husband are okay. I have never been in an accident on my bike but I know how difficult it must be to get back on. Many years ago, I was involved in a car accident. Nothing real serious, but I would not be driving today if it had not been for a well meaning friend. I refused to drive after the accident and he made me drive. He explained that if I didn't face my fear at that time, that I never would. Of course there is a big difference between our experiences, but it may help to keep this in mind when making that decision. Like you, biking has become the biggest part of my life. My husband and I ride all the time. I've put a little over 10,000 miles on my bike in 6 1/2 months. I can not imagine not riding. Getting through the winter is bad enough. Hang in there. When the time comes, I'm sure that you'll be able to make the right choice. – Janet (note from Mama: yes, and the right choice is which ever way they decide to go -- neither is wrong.) This happens to be the first time I have ever visited this site and I happened upon your story. First and foremost, I am terribly sorry about you and your husband's accident. I myself had an accident in 96' and it shook me to my very core. I don't know what kind of bikes ya'll ride and it doesn't really matter, an accident is still an accident. I ride a sport bike and was nearly run over by a dump truck traveling on my side of the road. I had 2 choices, the ditch or the truck. I chose the ditch and ended up covered in road rash and a blown out knee, nowhere near the injuries the 2 of you sustained. However, it frightened me badly and I could not seem to get past it. I bought another bike within a month of my accident, but every time I rode it I was paralyzed with fear! I would have overwhelming feelings of anxiety and almost a feeling of a flashback to the accident. I would come home and cry because I felt like I lost my best friend and something I enjoyed doing more than anything in my life. I sold my bike and did not buy another one for almost 2 years. I began to ride on back with my husband, but I was still afraid. To make a long story short, we ended up in a situation where I had to ride a bike home for a friend because he was too ill to ride. At first I was afraid, but my husband assured me that I could do it. He told me to lead and to pick the speed, at first I was so scared, but after 45 minutes or so, I started to enjoy it and I have been riding ever since. The thing is that you have to take it slow, don't push yourself. At first you will be afraid and you should just let those emotions flow in you, don't try to fight them or deny them, know that it is okay to be afraid. I also took a motorcycle course, I don't know if you have ever done anything like that, but those people will help you tremendously with encouragement and experience. Most riders have gone down at some point and understand what you are going thru, but I want to encourage you not to give up, because you know how much you enjoyed it before and I promise you that you can recapture that feeling. Take care and good luck! – Jody (note from Mama: thank you soooo much for sharing your own personal story of overcoming your fear of ever riding again. It just goes to show that it may take quite some time, but it is possible to regain the joy. And everyone's timeline on "mental" recovery is going to be different -- so let it happen naturally, on your terms.) I live in Northeast Wisconsin and used to live in Madison. I am very very glad to know you both are 'ok' after that accident and getting the help you need. I have been very fortunate in seven years of riding to not have had a major accident, although I have come pretty close... unlike some of my friends. I lost one good friend a little over two years ago... and it was a pretty ugly accident. He died from head trauma, which was probably much better than him surviving without one third of his brain and in a coma. He was a great person and it was heartbreaking to me. I almost gave up riding after that. I sold my bike and moved up north (for a job). Then I got the riding bug really really bad. There are miles and miles of great roads to ride on up here (almost) six months out of the year. So, I decided I will 'do it right' if I continue at all. I have put my 'image' and my 'pride' on the shelf. I truly do not care what other 'bikers' think. I always wear jeans, boots, leathers and a full face helmet regardless of the weather. I have a very light weight leather jacket I wear in the summer. I do not push myself past my limits. This spring I am taking an advanced motorcycle safety course on my own bike (a 2002 Buell M2L). I know Blue Knights and other clubs offer first responder courses for motorcycle accidents, but it sounds like you know much more than a class like that can offer. That is a great asset you both have ! For a long time I had to say a prayer before I even got on my bike. I rarely ride extensively at night (too many deer up here) and I do not get on the bike if I am really tired. Just a few things that I do to feel safer. Needless to say you and your husband probably had done everything 'right' in a safe sense and still had someone else's error or stupidity cause the accident. That will shake you to the core... and it can take some time and work to regain your confidence. I guess all I can say is -- be very, very, very patient with yourself. ALWAYS wear the best safety equipment. And start back really slowly at first. If it has to start on the track or on back roads so be it. I think one of the reasons I am still here is that I rarely push myself to my limits... which can be tough when others are doing reckless things. Anyhow, just my humble thoughts. Sorry you both had to go through this... but I say keep on riding if it is what truly makes your heart sing ! – Charlotte up North in Wisconsin (note from Mama: good point on having the patience to work through this at their own comfort level -- don't rush something that simply is going to take some time to figure out.) I just read Jennifer's letter and it almost brought me to tears. It certainly sounds as though both she and her husband; not to mention their families, have gone through Hell and back. "Back" being the operative word here in this case. I can't honestly say that I've been in a bad bike wreck, but I've ditched my bike on a ramp coming off of the Trans Canada Highway here in Nova Scotia, Canada one time. I'm not sure what happened to this very day. It was as though my mind went hazy and I had lost control of what I was able to do over my body. I ended up going off of the ramp toward a very deep ditch. I was lucky enough to have gotten the bike stopped fully, although the front tire went over the edge. I saw my whole life flash before my eyes and all I could do was scream out my husband's name, "Donnie". The only thing he saw after hearing my scream was the disappearance of my headlights. He pulled over and ran back to where I was. To this very day, I don't know how I got off of the bike. It was as though somebody stood me up as the bike went over the edge. As I recall, I "walked" off of the bike. Donnie came back screaming, "Are you all right??? Oh my f*#k, you wrote the bike off!" I told him not to talk that way and that the bike was surely ok. A kind passer-by stopped to help us pull the bike out of the place where it went, saying that I was very lucky as the area is very unforgiving. The bike was fine although I had a few pieces of grass mixed with gravel in strange places and I had bent my light bar and smashed my windshield rather badly. My gear had stayed intact on the bike where it was strapped down as well. The strange part about all of this is what had saved the bike from being heavily damaged. We had placed an 8-can pack of beer in the saddle bag on the side of the bike that had been to the ground when we had stopped at a liquor store while en route. The beer saved my bike and not one can got broken. We had both hopped back on our bikes after Donnie gave mine a quick inspection (he's a mechanic so he knows what to look for) and we headed for Tim Hortons, which was less than a kilometer away (1/2 mile) to gather all of our wits. I even had a cigarette to help sooth my nerves, but had no coffee as the place was so busy. After about 20 mins, we were back on the highway, heading toward our desired destination on Cape Breton Island. I had no choice as to whether or no to hop back on the bike or not as we were so far from home and we had no family or friends anyplace nearby. I feel that this was the best thing that I could do for myself, otherwise, I may not have gotten back on the bike at all. Sometimes in order to get the closure you need, you have to pick up where you left off. I wrote off my car back in 1996 and walked away from that as well. In fact, four of us walked away and ended up walking the 3 kilometers back to the house. My car was hit during a legal pass ( I was passing him and he turned left into me; pushing my car off of the road and into the ditch. We were lucky the car didn't roll over as the ditch was deep and filled with water) The driver of the other car was stoned on dope and claims he neither saw my car or heard my horn when I pulled out to pass. He couldn't see my car because of his condition due to the dope and the smoke coming from spilled oil all over his engine and he couldn't hear the horn as his car had no exhaust system on it. I imagine the dope had something to do with that as well. The next morning, I hopped behind the wheel of a friend's car and drove for half the day until my body began to ache due to whiplash setting in. I had my friend take me to the hospital on the way home. My whole body was spasming in pain and I was off work for almost a month. Again, I believe that the best thing you and your husband could do for yourselves is to hop back on motorcycles, even if you just go out and test drive or borrow some from friends to see how it feels before investing in something that you may never use again. Try it out. You say that you both miss the bikes, so take it upon yourself to try them out again. I did, and I'm glad I did. My bike is my biggest source of stress release. I don't know what I'd do without it. I know that you will do what's best for you, but you have to make the choice for yourselves: don't let other people influence your decision, family or otherwise. All of the best to you and your husband. – Lisa Fraser ("Froggie") (note from Mama: good idea about borrowing bikes to see how it "feels" to be back on them again before committing to buying new ones. Thank you so much for sharing your own story -- I think that we often feel alone when in fact we are not.) Please be careful. I just lost my friend last week because a driver made a U-turn without looking. Now I have one less friend and one less rider. You must have eyes in the back and side and top of your head or you're dead! People don't look or care when they drive -- 1/2 of them don't even see you. Even though my friend had a new bike with the headlight on at 3:00 in the afternoon, the idiot pulled out from a parking space without even looking to see if anyone was coming and now because of this dummy someone else has paid for his mistake the hard way. You never know when someone else is going to pull out or make a right turn from the left lane. Until you get some riding under your belt drive slow and alert. Yours truly and may the wind be always at your back and keep the shinny side up. Good luck. – Old Biker Man (note from Mama: and on that general note of wise advice for all of us, we conclude today's posting to Jennifer. Let's all be careful out there -- we are all to precious to lose.) Thursday, January 23 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Donna, Thursday, January 23 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Linda, Wednesday, January 22 Women's Expo in Brea, CA 3/29/03 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Robin, Wednesday, January 22 For
Jennifer and her husband re: their horrible motorcycle accident: I wonder how much gear you were wearing at the time in addition to the helmets. Leathers are probably too hot for where you live but there is great tech gear available in light colours with vents for cooling and plenty of armour. Combine this with riding at cooler times of the day. Maybe the gear will give you the security that would help? Maybe you could also try advanced rider training that covers emergency steering and braking and how to overcome target fixation. Knowledge is power. You could also go along to a local club such as WIMA or Women on Wheels if you have those in the area. Good luck. – Judith Symonds, Lower Hutt, New Zealand (note from Mama: thanks for your insights -- every bit helps!) Wednesday, January 22 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Gustavo, Tuesday, January 21 Dear VTwin Mama, On impact I suddenly knew I broke my hand but forgot it upon reaching my husband. He was alive and regaining consciousness. At that point training took over, I am a medic. He was on his right side and I cradled his head in my arm while holding his belt loop with my other to stabilize his spine in case of injury. I told myself that it was going to be a long time before the ambulance got there. It always feels like forever. There were cops and first responders there in minutes. The ambulance was right behind them. They were all wonderful! I can’t remember faces but I will never forget their care. And that was before they knew my husband is a cop too. After the ambulance ride to a local ER then a helicopter ride to a better equipped hospital, two weeks in and out of the Trauma and Life Support unit, 14 hours of surgery for reconstructive surgery on his hip and wrist and skin grafts for places Despite the rocky ride of the past several months we miss our bikes terribly. Beautiful days have gone by and we ogle the few brave souls out on their bikes in 30 degree weather in the sunshine. We occasionally discuss riding again and at first we are gung ho and can’t wait for him to heal so we can hit the roads again. After a few minutes reality creeps back in and we realize how lucky we are to be alive. We continue to read motorcycle publications and have picked out our future bikes already but I hate to admit that we’re both really scared this might happen again. We realize anything can happen at anytime. It could happen in a car or at work or it could just be a massive heart attack. You never know. Even if we do get back out there I’m afraid of what I saw. I can still see the crash happening like it was yesterday; I don’t even have to close my eyes. Mercifully he has amnesia to the entire event. His memory is of hitting an invisible wall then “waking up” in the ambulance. Just a couple more notes of this incident. The driver of the car was on his cell phone. Our lawyer has been great. Our vehicle and health insurance companies have been wonderful and prompt with payments. My family, who live out of state, has been incredibly supportive; my parents made the 8 hour drive the day of, my Mom stayed with me until my husband was discharged home from the rehab unit. My sister lost her job because she chose to stay with me for two weeks after the crash and help me move to a new apartment. My husband belongs to a motorcycle club called the Blue Knights who are active and retired police officers. The Blue Knights held a fundraiser for us for medical expenses not covered by insurance. They have also been incredibly supportive of us throughout the entire ordeal. And one last thing. We love to ride without helmets. It was supposed to rain on the second day of our trip and we just happened to be wearing them when the crash occurred. There was considerable damage done to the front of his helmet and had he not been wearing it he may have survived the crash but as a squash or maybe an eggplant. I am not a religious person - and I still am not - but I feel damn lucky. Friends and coworkers say we should leave well enough alone and not ever ride again. My family was here for me throughout and steadfast. How could I ever put them through that again? I’m not looking for a definitive answer. There isn’t one. I’m asking for opinions and experiences of all who read your website. Has anyone had an experience like this? How did you deal with it? How did you manage to get back out on the road again. The bikes were so much a part of our life and we miss them terribly. There was an article in the last issue of Woman Rider magazine. It was a short and well written article but only dealt with a few women in somewhat similar situations and had a narrow viewpoint. I don’t think I need a shrink. Just some advice from any Mamas out there with experience from which to speak. Thank you for taking the time to share my story. I appreciate your time. – Jennifer Dear Jennifer, I can appreciate that sometimes you want so much to ride again and on the other hand realize that you're alive and maybe shouldn't tempt fate again. I myself have only experienced near miss accidents that could have turned out horribly wrong, but by some stoke of luck (and maybe a good guardian angel), didn't. I can see that a shrink isn't necessarily your choice for helping you to resolve your dual thoughts (to ride or not to ride again). I checked on the Internet for support groups, but really couldn't find anything. I'm certainly am NOT a qualified medical person, but I'm thinking your need to "talk it out" is evident, or you wouldn't have written in. Perhaps your doctor/hospital can recommend an "accident survivors group" -- not necessarily motorcycle accident survivors, but people who gone through the invisible wall and lived. For instance, if someone survived a horrible car accident, does that mean they'll never get behind the wheel of a car again? In this "safe" setting, you can both explore your dual thoughts, concerns about family members who are hoping you'll never ride again, etc. Please consider it. I know that my sister, who has battled illness for most of her adult life, finds it useful to talk with people experiencing the same disease, and share her feelings. Her husband is a great source of strength, but can't necessarily share all her thoughts because he simply isn't the one experiencing it. I applaud your courage and strength through this all. Readers, you should know that Jennifer and her husband live in south central Wisconsin, just outside of Madison. Her husband has been riding for about 10 years, and Jennifer started riding with him four years ago before riding her own bike for the last two. As always, any insights you can offer is greatly appreciated, and I'm willing to pass on your email address for anyone who would like to correspond directly with Jennifer to offer more in-depth support. – Mama Monday, January 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Angela, Monday, January 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Beckie, Friday, January 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Lojuana, Friday, January 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear No Name, Thursday, January 16 Dear VTwin Mama, My relay will be from Atlanta, GA to Chattanooga, TN on eastern route that goes from Florida to New York. Please consider a pledge to support my effort and the Komen Foundation. Your contribution is tax-deductible. – Bobbye Smith (note from Mama: you can email Bobbye at HBFTSYad@webtv.net if you are interested in donating.) Thursday, January 16 Dear VTwin Mama, Thursday, January 16 For Michele and her general jitters: I have a suggestion for Michele, for after practicing in a traffic-free area in the Spring. When I started taking my first rides in traffic last month, it was really helpful to me to "preview" my route in my car ahead of time. There is a lot of construction going on in my immediate area, especially on the quieter streets (which I wanted to ride). By driving my route in the car first, I was able to pick out potholes, construction equipment, blind intersections, and other potential danger zones. This reduced the number of "surprises" I encountered on my rides, letting me concentrate more on new and mobile hazards. Obviously, you still need to be 100% alert, but reducing the surprise element helped me to feel more confident in my first rides in traffic. – Marina (note from Mama: a very useful suggestion that helps build overall confidence in handling another step of the learning process!) Wednesday, January 15 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Michele, Sound silly?! Of course it does, but it works. Imagining a good outcome of anything helps it be a good thing! Imagining coordinated hand and foot movement is a positive thing. Then, when it's time, get your bike to a smooth, open area with no traffic interference so you can practice your coordinated starts, stops and shifts. Review the clothing that you are wearing and make sure you're well protected so that if something goofy does happen, you're padded for it! You might also considering getting a service manual or having your hubby help you to learn more about the bike itself -- in other words, how to take care of the maintenance (chain, plugs, oil, filters, tires, etc.). The more you are "hands on" with your bike, the more you'll know about that bike -- and the "mystery" of it will vanish. The power of knowledge you will gain will go a long way to helping you master and conquer your fears. I would also suggest that you read up more on good riding techniques. Check out my Books/Mag section for suggestions -- many can be ordered online at the various online bookstores. Proficient Motorcycling is the number one recommended book by readers at this site. We applaud your courage in your new adventure and just know that you'll do it -- you've got the desire -- and will learn the skills needed to be a great rider over time. Slow and easy does it! – Mama Wednesday, January 15 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Brenda, Meanwhile, I got busy and checked out one the links I have listed on my site. It's the Short Biker site and if you click on the SBL FAQ link at the bottom, you'll enter a section that lists potential bikes for shorter riders as well as a listing of riders by their height and the bike that works for them! Totally awesome! Also, there are many motorcycle shows during the winter. Go to the MotorcycleEvents.com site, click on their Events Calendar, type in your state, and see if any are near you. This way you can see a wider range of bike models and talk directly with people who can address your questions. – Mama Tuesday, January 14 Dear VTwin Mama, I have about 1000-mile ride from Dallas, TX to Chicago and 1400-mile ride from Santa Monica, CA back to Dallas. Counting the up-to-Chicago/Chicago-to-Santa Monica/Santa Monica-to-Dallas -- I figure about 5000 miles in 2 weeks. My question: Have other women done the Mother Road? What other preparations should I make to me and/or my cycle? By the way, I found an incredible sissy bar bag (www.bagtec.com). It sits low on the sissy bar, can be used for a back rest, had wheels and is easy to get on and off the sissy bar. Waiting for your input and ideas/advice..... – Linda (and her Honda!) Dear Linda, Thanks for the BAGTEC link -- it looks very useful for riders seeking packing solutions. If any VTwin Mama sister (or the men who read this site!) have done this ride before, your input is needed!– Mama Tuesday, January 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Wanda, Tuesday, January 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Joan, Monday, January 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kawni, Yes, accidents happen, but that's life -- and accidents aren't solely reserved for riders. Ask your instructor for suggestions of local riding groups that you can join so that you are surrounded by experienced, positive-minded riders who can help you continue your "education." And don't try "expert" riding maneuvers until you've got the basics firmly under your belt. Nice and slow and you'll get there! For those people in your life who continue to question your judgment, take the high road. Thank them for their concerned opinion, let them know the things you are doing to ensure your safety, and then put on your best smile and tell them the choices you make in your life are exactly that -- YOUR CHOICE. Let's face it -- if we didn't do things that interested us because others said negative things -- we'd never get anywhere! – Mama Monday, January 13 For
Darrell and the VLX: And if you are looking for parts for these puppies, a word of advice. Get on the Internet and look in Spain. These bikes are hot over there and parts are so much cheaper. I bought a Fatbob tank and had it mailed to me for less than what you can dream of getting them here in the states. All in all, I can't say enough about these hot little bikes...another website that will give you the insight to make the custom mods that you want...try looking up VLX forum on the Internet. That is where I got started. Happy wrenching!– Debbie F. (note from Mama: this forum looks great, but you'll need to blow by the many pop up ads that run at the beginning of it. Sigh.) Friday, January 10 Dear VTwin Mama, I just got the new issue of Women On Wheels yesterday and see they are having a photo contest for cover photos -- maybe I can get something worth submitting, wish me luck! That would make one helluva start on a portfolio. Hey, when I quit dreaming just shoot me. In my little fantasy world someone will pay me to ride my bike and take pictures. I will get there. Or at least I'll enjoy the ride! – Inga Dear Inga, Friday, January 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Joan, I called my local Suzuki dealer to answer your questions. They've never heard of an EZ Clutch for the Savage and the only thing they had available (that they thought might work) is another actuator arm that fits the Suzuki dirt bikes which would shorten up the distance for you to pull the lever in (but they're not real sure that there is enough room to install it). The service department said that yes, you could turn up the idle, forcing you to feather the clutch more (meaning you let it out slowly and not all the way instead of fully engaging the clutch right off the bat) to help in turns, but this will burn the clutch out much faster and in addition, if the idle is moved off it's factory preset, could rip out teeth in the clutch assembly 'cause it might start "clunking" in the clutch. He strongly recommended that you don't do this. The handlebar question is one of the most difficult to gauge. Basically, you've got to sit on that bike and place your hands (in the air) exactly where you would like them to be. Then have someone measure the difference in height, rise, spread, etc. that so that you can tell your dealer (or go to an aftermarket parts site) and have the exact measurements that you want. To help you define this exactly, read the article at http://www.j-pcycles.com/shop/HandlebarTechTalk.asp. Joan, along with the fact that you might want to change the gear ratio to help in lower gears, it sounds like this bike is proving to be a lot of work to get it to where you need it to be. You've got bike shows coming up in VA and TN (see the listings at www.motorcycleevents.com, click on Events Calendar and type in your states). A bit to travel probably, but it would give you the opportunity to see all manufacturers and models of bikes in one setting. Shows are coming up in March. Personally, I'd sell that Savage and get something else. But, that's just me! – Mama Thursday, January 9 For Dawn whose wrists are cramping up: I always try to keep my hands/arms relaxed during a ride. It's easy to get that "death grip" on the handlebars when you're in heavy traffic, bad weather etc. I try to consciously relax my grip during long rides as well as wiggle my fingers. I know this sounds kind of weird, but I've found that if I keep my upper body relaxed, I don't get nearly as tired. Meanwhile, that Throttle Rocker will help a lot to keep your right hand/arm loose. Best of luck! – Jan (note from Mama: ah yes, it's so easy to get the death grip without even realizing it. Thanks for mentioning it!) Thursday, January 9 For Joan who is trying to make that Savage 650 work for her: I moved my handle bars with my husband's help. He held the bike up while I sat there and felt when they were comfortable. Then I locked them down. Hope this helps. – Linda (note from Mama: yes, sometimes simply changing the angle of the handlebar but loosing its clamp, repositioning, and then retightening works. Thanks for sharing!) Thursday, January 9 Aye, it's the Fonz -- have no fear little Darrell, Ill take care of this one. Aye, I got the same bike and I been driving my self crazy looking for performance parts for my VLX 600 and there's really not a lot. You done the exhaust and yes, the jet kit will help. K&N makes a really expensive filter and box but I cut the paper element out of my filter housing and spent $13 on a huge piece of unifoam at Honda dealer, cut it and put it in the filter housing, not a noticeable horse power gain but saves me from buying $56 factory crappy filters. Wiseco makes a bigger piston if you wanna bore it out, but do you wanna open a motor with vertical cases, (you don't). I took the rear shock out 'cause the Fonz is a man -- gotta piece of square 1'' pipe cut it, drilled it and put it in place of the factory shock making it much, much lower and believe it or not removing the 20 pound shock made a noticeable difference in the performance. You could always spend a fortune at a machine shop getting your head worked. I heard someone makes aftermarket cams for it and I know you could have your stock one cut but that's about it, even if parts were available, the bike wasn't designed for it -- you would tear up so much stuff and have to upgrade so much stuff just to keep up. Look, ya didn't buy this bike cause its fast. Deal with it. Make a lot of noise, have fun, keep your revs up, remember ya got dual pin crank -- ya can do it oh yea, rip the gas and don't shift real hard -- it makes the coolest noise. Rhe Fonz picked up a few mph by dropping a few pounds from the ol gut. – Fonzie (note from Mama: lots of good info here for Darrell -- thanks for taking the time to write in. Every bit helps. Love the last part the best!) Wednesday, January 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Dawn, I find that overall arm strength can add to your ease, so I lift small free weights every other day to tone my arms, adding strength to my shoulders and arms. It really does work -- I'm less fatigued on long rides. I also find that by doing sit-ups on a regular basis that my body is also less tired -- strong stomach muscles support the back which also helps. You can find affordable free weights in your local Wal-Mart's sporting goods section in packages with different pounds and complete instructions so you can gradually work your way into it. 15 minutes every other day makes a difference -- try it! – Mama Tuesday, January 7 My second bike was a 1996 Suzuki Savage (650). I loved it. First off -- I am a whopping 5' tall and in my mid-latter 50's. The Suzuki is one of the best bikes for taking tight corners. It is light enough to feel comfortable (not bulky)....yet powerful to keep up with the big boys such as my husband's Valkyrie. Please don't give up on the Suzuki...it sounds like the problem is not the bike....but really in your skill level. With your determination and effort, you will be doing great in no time. SO YOU GO GIRL! ...Hugs – Bootygrandma (aka Betty) That 250 Rebel should be plenty powerful for you to ride back roads and their hills. Because of the bike's small cc's you need to down shift and give it more gas (twist that throttle). That is what makes riding smaller bikes hard as the weight is better but the power is less; a real trade off. I know it is hard for a beginner but with a small bike you need to be more aggressive with the throttle to master the hills. The Savage is a good beginner bike also but as you found out it is heavier. Mama had a good idea with the cones or boxes to practice corners but I know it gets boring after a while so you want to see different scenery. Check out your county map and look for smaller roads than back roads or try riding the back roads during the weekdays rather than weekends if you can. – Cheryl From Joan herself: I have looked for a group and there are none in the Southern end of Va and none I can find in North Carolina. I wish I could find someone to ride with between Roanoke, VA and Bristol, TN. Thanks for all the suggestions. I am trying most of them. I haven't put the cones out. I had a MC mechanic check my Savage and he said I can't reach the handlebars well and also it doesn't run in low gear well- it is geared to high speed driving. He has suggested changing the belt or something to make it run better in lower gear. He had trouble riding and turning it in low speeds too. – Joan Note from Mama: thanks Betty and Joan for your own personal insights. Joan -- even if there is no local riding group, many of the women may belong to the closest women's riding groups available and still be riding in your actual area. Also try posting your message searching for women in your area by visiting the ShinnySideUp chat forum or the Ride My Own site. Changing the gear ration on the Savage sounds a bit extreme unless you're totally committed to riding this bike. Changing the handlebars is doable and you can read up more about this by reading a previous posting and following the links to see how to define what you need to make it work for you. I checked the MotorcycleEvents.com site for bike shows and there are several this winter in VA and TN. Go to this site, click on the Events Calendar link, then type in the state abbreviations and you'll get a listing. Although you might need to travel a bit to get to them, I'm thinking you would benefit by seeing a wider range of bikes all in one place so that you can better define what bike you want after you've got more time in with the Rebel and how the Savage stacks up against them. – Mama Friday, January 3 Dear VTwin Mama, I am doing much better but still have some problems with tight turns and occasionally I don't stop well- I have been going out on the rural roads some but the cagers fly pass me on double lines because I am 5 mi under speed limit. I like the little bike but it does not have enough power for the hills here and I need a better handling maybe less raked bike with at least 750 cc- I am 5-3 1/2 and wide in the legs and hips- what do you recommend me trying? I do not like the fact that you can't ride the bikes you try- how can you tell if you can balance and steer it? Thanks a bunch – Joan Dear Joan, Rural roads are notorious for speeders, so if possible, practice your shifting and speed control on regular roads during light traffic times -- Sunday mornings are usually the best! If that parking lot is big enough -- you could go there as well. Dropping a bigger bike seems to a rite of passage (!) so don't be too discouraged by your initial outing with the Savage 650. If your height and girth don't allow you to sit on that bike with your feet flat on the ground when the bike is at a dead stop and centered underneath you, you'll need to have that bike lowered with a lowering kit, or consider shaving the seat or choosing a new one that is narrower to get your thighs more comfortably around it. Trust me on this -- if you can't sit flat-footed on the bike, you'll never feel in control of it -- no matter what the gear ratio is or how the front end is raked out. That's the key! So even if you can't test ride something, checking your footing, comfort of arm reach and leg reach to the controls, and such, can be done just by sitting on the bike. Explore these suggestions for your bigger bike with your local dealer, and then when you're totally comfortable with the smaller bike, do the same parking lot suggestions with the bigger bike. If necessary, have someone ride that beastie to the safe practice zone. You're on the right track Joan -- you've only been at it for a few months, so don't beat yourself up too much about not being an expert rider yet -- it does take time. "Natural" looking riders started from scratch just like you are and I can guarantee that they had a learning curve just like you do. So take it nice and easy and reward yourself for small techniques accomplished. For added emotional support, consider contacting and joining one of many excellent woman riding groups (see the links at the bottom of the home page). You might find a mentor, coach, or just a friend so you don't feel alone in your quest to ride better. They've all "been there and done that" -- and it does make a difference to know that you're not the only one experiencing these beginning riding challenges. At 64 you've already braved the first test -- getting out there and trying, so I know you've got what it takes! Every VTwin Mama sister looks forward to seeing you on the road and giving you our best biker wave! – Mama Thursday, January 2 Dear VTwin Mama, My name is Debbie and I live in northwestern Washington. My first year of riding I put on almost 10,000 miles on the bike in this picture (far right photo above). Its a custom VLXCD 600 and I am still going strong...although the weather here does put a damper on things! My favorite is touring and camping on a motorcycle. I have been doing this all my life although I have only had my own ride for the last 16 months. But I believe that I have it down to a science now. I can pack my bike for 9 weeks of camping and still have room for little gifts to bring home. However, I do mail most of my stuff home. I am looking for a bigger bike this year and hope to move up to the Harley family. My other half is teaching me to do all my own maintenance work in our home shop and we do all of our own custom work. Hey, Thanks for being there! – Debbie F. Dear Debbie, Thursday, January 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jamie, |