Not
a Scratch, Thanks to Riding Gear
By
George Hartwell
It
was around 6 a.m. one morning, with the sun just starting to show, as I headed
to work. Traffic was stop-and-go, the norm for this stretch of road.
I
hadn't gone very far when I suddenly heard a noise, then saw a lot of steam and
smelled a putrid odor. A quick look revealed something I didn't want to see: My
bike's cooling system had sprung a leak. Hot antifreeze was spraying all over
the inside of the cycle's instrument area, on the front tire, and down the
radiator--the source of the steam I was seeing.
At
this point, the drivers of the cars in front of me decided it was time to hit
the brakes, and I immediately realized I had a big problem. I was in heavy
traffic on a two-lane road, with nowhere to go. On my right was a steep
embankment, and to the left was oncoming traffic. I had to hit the brakes or hit
the car in front of me.
As
soon as I squeezed the front-brake lever, I knew my day had gone from bad to
worse. Anyone who rides motorcycles knows that one of the most slippery
substances is radiator fluid--especially when it coats a front tire sliding
about 25 or 30 mph. As a last-ditch effort, I applied a little rear brake, which
only exaggerated my slide. I had to make a choice: Put down the bike, or
rear-end the car ahead of me. With the distance closing quickly, I opted for the
first choice and laid down my bike. It was a fashionable demonstration--I
crushed the entire left side of my motorcycle.
Luckily,
I was wearing all the required protective gear, including a bright, reflective
vest. The articles that provided the most protection were my boots, gloves,
helmet, and, most of all, my leather jacket, with integrated armor in the
shoulders, elbows, forearms, and kidneys. Without that gear, I may not have been
able to walk away with no broken bones. As it turned out, I immediately got up
and didn't have a scratch on my body.
Perhaps
you're wondering how long I've been riding to have let something like this
happen to me. The answer is 16 years--and that doesn't include two years of
amateur road-racing experience. Incidents like mine can happen to anyone. You
have to be prepared to react in a split second. When I realized I had to put my
bike on its side, I was glad to be wearing some of the best protective gear
money can buy. Otherwise, I feel sure my story would have had a grotesque
ending.
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