[inspiron]

Since it was raining today, I was in my cage instead of on my bike. I was following a slow-moving truck up the motorway (doing about 50 mph) when I heard that sound - you know, that *bang* that means your windshield has just been visited by a projectile. Well, I now have a nice new chip in the windscreen (on the passenger side this time).

If I had been on my bike, that sucker would have hit me right in the chest. Without gear, that would probably send me straight to the pavement, with some serious pain (and possibly a broken rib). With proper gear, it would hurt, but not be that serious.

That's why I wear gear!

 

[c50tiger]

Great point, inspiron. I've caught stones and such across my fingers that would surely have drawn blood had I not been wearing gloves. I'm also reminded of Meatman's 'bird to the head' story. (I think that was MM, wasn't it?) Without a helmet, that would have left a mark :shock:

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Yep. That was me. Took a bird to the helmet!

Some little gear reminders:

1) I took a bird to the helmet once;
2) I have taken MANY bugs right in the sight line (i.e. they would have hit me in the eye; and my favorite
3) I once saw a guy with a skull skillet (brain bucket, 1/2 helmet, whatever) take a bug RIGHT in the EYE as he crossed the intersection in front of me. Golden. Top drawer material!

Gear is good.

 

[c50tiger]

3) I once saw a guy with a skull skillet (brain bucket, 1/2 helmet, whatever) take a bug RIGHT in the EYE as he crossed the intyerseciton in front of me. Golden. Top drawer material!

Gear is good.

I do admit to having, and sometimes wearing, a shortie helmet. But only in daylight hours, and only when I'm wearing my Oakley's, too. 8)

I did catch a bug to the ear yesterday, though.... stung for a minute, but nothing like catching one with your eyeball. :shock:

 

[SeattleKatana]

Agree on wearing the gear! Helumts and bugs...... A couple of weeks ago, was out on a ride. Wearing my gear. It was early evening, was 2up with my daughter. Had my visor part way open, wear glasses so eyes were covered. I don't know what kind of bug it was, I just know it was big and juicy...... It flew through the 1" opening, smashed against the lower edge of my glasses and dripped down.... felt gross, but had to keep riding to a safe place to stop. My daughter couldn't figure out what was going on. I guess I was shaking my head a lot. :lol: Murphy's Law... If it can happen, most times it will.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

My dad told me a few years ago about when he was younger (back in the 70s) catching a bird in the shoulder he said it almost knocked him off the bike it hurt so bad. I'm sure it will happen to me eventually (I hope to god it doesn't) when I get my bike being that we have a lot of suicidal birds that like to divebomb in our neighborhood.

 

[Madura]

I took a rock to the helmet two days ago. I also took a HUGE dragonfly in the face shield recently. It was so big I heard it over my motorcycle, swear to God. It was less an insect than a biplane. I was going about 50 and it didn't even splatter, just kept on going.

Florida has a mandatory eye protection law, but no lid law. I guess that bug would have screwed up my vision pretty good and I know that rock would have sent me reeling.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

It was so big I heard it over my motorcycle, swear to God. It was less an insect than a biplane.

 

[Louis]

Where I live, we got bumblebees, the 4-engines type :shock:

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Where I live the possums are armored (armadillo) and they drive around in tanks. They set up checkpoints at the county line. They even have ranks. I hit a sergeant the other day in my truck. At the next checkpoint, I was dragged from the driver's seat and beaten with a brick.

The cops can't even help you.

 

[Nexus242]

If I had been on my bike, that sucker would have hit me right in the chest. Without gear, that would probably send me straight to the pavement, with some serious pain (and possibly a broken rib). With proper gear, it would hurt, but not be that serious.

That's why I wear gear!

Let's play point counter point. And I'll be Jane the ignorant slut too.

You have CE pads in the chest of your jacket?? Kevlar body armor then???

Some how I think if you were wearing any jacket, your ass still would have been knocked the F out. That object was also moving faster then 50mph when it hit your front windscreen. I mean if Mike Tyson was gonna punch you in the stomach, do you think the time you'd be knocked out on the floor would more or less with a jacket on, leather or textile??

 

[LayinLo]

.......You are correct about it lessening superficial (skin surface) damage, but the problem with blunt trauma is that it presents its true injuries under the surface of the skin.
According to Paramedic Care: Principles & Practice Volume 4, Trauma Emergencies. (authors: Bledsoe, Porter, & Cherry 2001) :
Blunt trauma is the most common cause of trauma death and disability. It results from an energy exchange between an object and the human body, without intrusion of the object through the skin. The energy exchange causes a chain reaction among various body tissues that crushes and strecthes their structures, resulting in injury beneath the surface.
True this injury could be minimized by something thick enough to absorb the shock.......

I think Nexus has a good point. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If the bird is flying at 20 mph towards you and you are going 65 mph...the birds hitting you at a speed of.....You get the picture.

 

[Madura]

I mean if Mike Tyson was gonna punch you in the stomach, do you think the time you'd be knocked out on the floor would more or less with a jacket on, leather or textile??

One point to gear is that it spreads the impact over a larger area, thus reducing the damage. Also, Mike Tyson's fists are larger than rocks.

 

[LayinLo]

Yeah, they're more like big cantoulopes.

 

[007]

hey LayinLO, I just noticed your signature panel. :lol: :lol:


I always knew that bike riding lowers your cholesterol! :lol: :biker:

 

[wavyredlaurie]

As for Mike Tyson, you would be safe from him as long as you have a 3/4 or full face helmet on........you know, the kind that covers your ears! :wink:

 

[LayinLo]

AAahhhh......good one Laurie. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[LayinLo]

hey LayinLO, I just noticed your signature panel. :lol: :lol:


I always knew that bike riding lowers your cholesterol! :lol: :biker:

Actually, it was the cheerios... :lol: