CurveJunkies

Some random guy with road rash.

Once again, only a few days ago, the topic of wearing your gear came up.  I was out riding in nearly 100F weather and I was pretty hot because I had my jacket on.  Most often, I’m wearing a leather jacket, but when summer rolls around, I switch to textile…and when it gets *really* hot and I’m just doing slow, casual riding, I’ll move to a mesh jacket.  I was complaining about the heat to a guy wearing only shorts, a t-shirt, and no helmet and he says back to me, “Well, of course you’re burning up…you’re wearing that jacket.”

Well duhhhhhhhhhhh….Jackets in summer do tend to keep you a bit warmer than usual.  I’m glad I had Einstein next to me to point out the obvious. 

I figure most of you who are reading this already know the value of wearing your gear.  We’ve seen more than our share of accidents both simple and serious and they’re never pretty.  Even with good gear on, lots of things can go wrong and still mess you up pretty bad….but with no gear on, even the tiniest spill can be pretty terrible.

On at least two occasions I was availed the opportunity to inspect helmets and jackets up close after very serious and non-fatal accidents.  The helmets were totally split in two pieces down the center in both incidents — and the rider had absolute no injury to the head.   If even a fraction of the force had been direct to the skull, these riders would not be here today (they thank god, I thank good gear).  I have seen have their bodies skip down the highway with hardly any injury, although they do almost always lose a shoe for some reason.

The first accident I ever witnessed was when I was just a child and in the car with my parents.  Some dude was cruising down the highway with only a pair of shorts and some flip flops when his bike suddenly locked up.  Since I was so young, only four or five years old, I didn’t understand exactly the cause of the accident, but I do clearly remember watching the man tumble and slide about 50 feet down the highway.  The next thing I saw of this man was only a red, oozing mess with a few missing teeth.  My dad stopped to help him so I was close enough to look out the car window to witness everything.  This incident has plagued me for years — the details completely burned into my mind.

It’s often said to dress for the fall and not for the ride.  I’ve seen enough to know the wisdom in that simple statement.  I know that I’m mostly preaching to the choir and most of you will agree, but there are always a few who just don’t get it.

So what is my point?  I’m not really sure I have one.  People will do what people will do.  I look at the gearless guy and think he’s an idiot.  The gearless guy looks at me and thinks I’m overdressed for the weather and therefore stupid.  We’re both probably right on some level.  All I can say is that I’m likely to continue being stupid and will always be wearing at least the very minimum of protection (helmet and jacket) — even if I’m only going to the store around the corner.

But really, what do I know?  I’m sure you’re more interested in what William Shatner had to say about it.