<p>Courtesy of rorosen:
"feed the cats" is code for "going on vacation," a message left so that the rest of us don't have to break in an find your corpse if you aren't heard from for a while.</p>
<p>Update on TSFH's motorcycle safety training course from this past weekend: I'm sure you're all dying to hear the upshot.</p>
<p>Bad news: It was pouring rain yesterday and they had a 5-hour range training scheduled.
Good news: I can't think of a better way to get experience riding in the rain than to do it on a closed range with professional instructors.
Bad news: The rain was so heavy that they ended 90 min. early and everyone has to come back next weekend to finish up if they want their certificate for their license. (Some of the students can't make it, I wonder what their options are?)
Good news: TSFH has already worked out taking the time off work next weekend, when he usually forgets to talk to his boss until the last minute (funny what the right motivator can do...)
Bad news: He called me from the side of the road on the hour-long trip home, saying he'd just hydroplaned the car on the highway coming home. (It's the first big huge major rain of the season, so all the road oils are floating, in addition to everyone having forgotten how to drive in the rain.)
Good news: In the call he excitedly said, "I used the techniques I learned last summer at the highway safety course you sent me to at Infineon, and they worked!" I am hopeful that the same will hold true for his motorcycle safety training.</p>
<p>H mentioned at dinner that in a similar situation on a motorcycle, he'd be worse than shook up. TSFH went a little ways towards reassuring his worrywart mother by responding, "In a similar situation, I wouldn't be riding a motorcycle in a storm like that, and if I was already on the road, I'd be under an overpass waiting for it to stop." At least he talks a good line, huh. He tells me he's "a really good rider, and it's even more fun than I thought". </p>
<p>Sigh.</p>
<p>mootmom -- my seventeen year old daughter keeps saying she is going go get a motorcycle, and I keep saying "no, you're not." Nevertheless, I am reading your last couple of posts with great interest. :eek:</p>
<p>Did I mention she passed her driver's test on the third try, even though she said she was driving "over the speed limit" and almost hit another car? :eek: :eek:</p>
<p>To be fair, she probably should have passed on the second try. She flunked that one for stopping too long at a red light before turning right, which according to the tester, was "a dangerous maneuver." (Doesn't sound dangerous to me???)</p>
<p>On the other hand, I let her drive her younger sister to a house two blocks away, and little sister reports that she crashed into a garbage can when she was trying to turn the car around . . .</p>
<p>Hmmm . . . What is this Infineon thing you speak of?</p>
<p>
[quote]
What is this Infineon thing you speak of?
[/quote]
Jim Russell Racing, Teen</a> Highway Survival course. It's expensive, but perhaps worth it in reassurance (and if 2 or more sign up to train together there's a discount, plus it's more fun for them).</p>
<p>My ex-brother-in-law was a motorcycle racing champion in California. He still rides them but doesn't race. He has so many pins and old broken bones--incuding some very severe jaw problems due to crash injuries.</p>
<p>It's not a pain free past time....</p>
<p>Racing is another beast, for sure, and so far that particular pasttime hasn't come up in conversations (hope, hope...)</p>
<p>One thing I learned from the classroom training materials is that a large percentage of the injuries received in motorcycle crashes involve the chin and jaw, and that a full-face highly-rated helmet can help alleviate some of those problems. TSFH says he won't get on a bike without such a helmet, so maybe he'll be spared some of those problems. Maybe.</p>
<p>Here comes some motorcycle doom and gloom, but from someone with a LOT of experience. </p>
<p>I spent the first 20 years of my career working as a "cognitive therapist" which translates to a speech-language therapist who specializes in adults with cognitive disorders due to brain damage. In the early years, I worked mainly with post-stroke and brain disease/tumor survivors, since the majority of TBI patients (that's traumatic brain injury) died from their injuries. However, in the mid to late '80's emergency medicine and paramedic care in the field, improved so much that lots of injured people survived their accidents, only to spend months to years in rehabilitation for their brain injuries. Prior to seat belt and helmet laws, many of the patients were car accident victims who flew thru the windshied....the motorcycle accident cases still died from their injuries. Once seat belts became the norm, the percentage of motorcycle accident patients increased significantly. Helmet laws helped to slow the tide quite a bit, but nevertheless, motorcycle riders remained the bulk of my cognitively impaired patients, who were permanently impaired (poor memory, impaired judgement, perceptual skills, coordination, motor control, language, reasoning, etc). Many patients do "well." Translated, "well" means able to live independentely again, maybe able to return to school or work, but usually in a less skilled area. Those that make a really good recovery and return to all prior abilities are few and far between. It is not like Hollywood, where the actor wakes suddenly from a coma and says "where am I?" </p>
<p>After many years, and hundreds of TBI patients, I grew to really detest motorcycles. Riders just don't have a chance going 35 mph or more when their heads hit the road or some part of an SUV. I even had one patient who ws going less than 10 mph, but his head hit the curb when the bike slid..............I saw professional motorcycle racers after they crashed into walls, and the full leathers and professional helmets did not really help. Yeah, they survived, but life was never the same. </p>
<p>The stories are each a bit different, but the common thread was the rider/injured person, who always claimed that they were a good rider, careful and skilled....and it was the "other person's fault." It's Russian Roulette on 2 wheels. </p>
<p>So that's my story. I know many of you riders will disagree, but I have seen too many destroyed lives to be swayed by the arguments in favor of motorcycles. If you are going to ride, get really good insurance that covers rehab (few cover the extensive therapy you are going to need), get really good disability insurance, and get some long-term care insurance while you are at it. Lots of my patients went to nursing homes..........(on Medicaide). Life insurance is a good idea for the spouse and kids, too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The stories are each a bit different, but the common thread was the rider/injured person, who always claimed that they were a good rider, careful and skilled....and it was the "other person's fault."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I rode a motorbike in college. I was in an accident. guess what? It was the other guy's fault. He (or she) pulled a four lane u turn on wet pavement. Cut me off and just kept going. The helmet did its job. I landed on the back of my skull. Got off with a concussion.</p>
<p>Pretty much cured my motorcyle jones...</p>
<p>How people can ever ride a motorcycle without a helmet is beyond me.</p>
<p>bluecroo-
I am sooooo with you!!! I am a neuropsychologist and have seen all the same horrors you describe. In fact the very first patient I tested as a grad student was an 18 yr old who had had a motorcycle accident. He was wearing a helmet but still sustained a frontal brain injury. At 18 he had no impulse control (even worse than a normal 18 yr old :D). He kept trying to climb into bed with his 12 yr old sister,and was also being a bit inappropriate (shall we say) with me and the testing technician (also female) in the room. So sad. I swore I'd never let anyone I love ride a motorcycle.</p>
<p>I would imagine a motorbike is less frequently involved in accidents? People tend to ride them at lower speeds, for shorter distances, in only "good weather."</p>
<p>I have a good friend who got one recently....</p>
<p>
[quote]
I swore I'd never let anyone I love ride a motorcycle.
[/quote]
Not to bring down the mood in SA or anything, but you know how it's kind of hard to get teenaged boys to do something? Like, close to impossible sometimes? Try getting them to not do something they are committed to with all their soul, once they're on their own. I don't have to buy him a motorcycle or allow him to buy one while he lives in my house, but once he's out, there's no way I can stop him, if he can afford it on his own. The least I can do is make sure he's learned how to ride safely, and knows the terrible statistics. Knowing him as I do, that knowledge won't come near stopping him. And believe me, I know the horrors, and I would give a lot to make him lose this obsession.</p>
<p>Hey, someone get in here and start a party going again, will you? We're seeing a lot of long faces at this end of the bar....</p>
<p>How about if Sinner's Alley sponsors a DIRTBIKE event? No mean cars, lots of dirt, all these terrible teen boys will know their mothers are watching....</p>
<p>What sort of drink goes with dirt-biking? Beer. Beer and what? Boilermakers? Beer and shots? Anything to lighten the mood.</p>
<p>And maybe TSFH will get it out of his system once he tries it. I had a colleague who rode motorcycles all his life. He's still alive. Uninjured. Really annoying person but that had nothing to do with the motorcycles:).</p>
<p>jym, you're a neuropsychologist? There's a thing I didn't know before. </p>
<p>We should have a Sinner's Alley motorcycle rally--to mark the permanent removal of driver from CC. I know she had her caustic moments, but I will miss her wit and counterpoint.</p>
<p>Cheers-
I thought you knew that. I know Anitaw did.
Where'd driver go?? I must have missed that -- but after all the post election bashing, I am not surprised that it was not a friendly place.</p>
<p>Dirtbikes? Still accidents waiting to happen. How 'bout a good ol' fashioned mud wrestle?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Dirtbikes? Still accidents waiting to happen.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Aw, dirtbikes are a lot less dangerous than riding on the street.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How 'bout a good ol' fashioned mud wrestle?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>On the other hand, this suggestion does have its merits...</p>
<p>Some interesting motorcycle statistics:</p>
<p>[ol]
[li] 80% of motorcycle accidents led to injury or death.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] The median (pre-crash) speed for fatal accidents is below 30 miles per hour.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] About half of all motorcycles involved in a fatal crash collided with another vehicle. Most of those were the fault of the other (non-motorcycle) driver.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] A little over one-third of cyclists that died were speeding. </p>[/li]
<p>[li] Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement. </p>[/li]
<p>[li] One out of four motorcycle operators that were involved in fatal crashes had an invalid license.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] 16-29 year olds comprised a significant percentage of those drivers killed in motorcycle accidents</p>[/li]
<p>[li] The majority of fatal accidents happen at night (60%).</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Motorcycles with fairings and/or windshields are less likely to be involved in accidents.[/li][/ol]</p>
<p>So:</p>
<p>Get licensed, don't drink and ride, don't speed, don't ride at night, and do everything you can to be seen by other drivers (high beams in the day, bright clothing, not driving in a car's blind spot, etc). And obviously, WEAR A HELMET! Doing these things will SIGNIFICANTLY lower the chances of being in an accident.</p>
<p>BUT... probably one of the most protective things I do as I ride is to be constantly paranoid. Every car I see is a potential danger and I constantly determine what I would (will?) do when that car cuts me off or turns left in front of me or backs out of a parking space in front of me or does not stop at a stop sign or changes lanes suddenly. </p>
<p>Just two weeks ago the same car almost got me twice: once when it pulled onto the highway without seeing me, and then a few minutes later when it changed into my lane without a signal. But I was EXPECTING him to pull out in front of me (and had a plan) and was EXPECTING him to change lanes (and had a plan), just like I expect every other car to do something stupid. My entire ride seems to be creating "escape plans." After a long while, that become second nature when riding.</p>
<p>All of those who have stopped into SA tonight for a drink MUST turn in their motorcycle keys to the bartender.</p>
<p>Who IS playing bartender tonight?</p>
<p>cheers - What's this about the
[quote]
permanent removal of driver from cc
[/quote]
? I'm not a participant in the politico threads, but this is bothering me. I love driver's voice. And I see driver posts as recently as yesterday.... What's up?</p>
<p>I will bartend. We have put sleeping bags out back, past the hot tub, for the motorcyclists. We have also arranged for the guardian angels of Sinner's Alley, who else but the marmots, to form marmot battalions that will scamper along next to all cyclists, providing protection from bad car drivers and a soft landing for the eventuality that the bad car drivers win.</p>
<p>Now, 12-year old Glenlivet all around, and stoke the fire with wet wood to provide some brume and mist and smoke. Sink down lower in your bar stool, or the armchairs by the window, or the orange naugehyde booth in the corner. All us atheists, waive our convictions and pray for the good health and safekeeping of those we love, even when they persist in foolishness. </p>
<p>The neon lights outside in our sign are buzzing loudly. Someone go fix them. Meanwhile, I'm pouring.</p>
<p>
Geez, I ignore cc for a day or two and all kinds of stuff happens. I'll ask with jmmom: What's the story?</p>