[Barry]

Good morning gents

This morning I am full of the joys of life. And why you might ask?

Well on this cold and frosty morning in Dublin, Ireland I decided to take the bike to work as normal. Today however was a little different to most. On route the office, and at about 100kmh my trusty steed and I parted company. Thankfully for all concerned, someone was looking down on me because I used up a few of my proverbial 9 lives today.

Bike and I went in 2 seperate directions, (always good). Thankfully we didn't get tangled up together.

I slid on my back along the road, on to the other side of the road and into the grass/gravel before coming to an unignified halt. Thankfully no oncoming traffic at that moment in time.

Intinctively, the arms cross, legs and head held high and no (human) body roll. All the right gear, body armour, helmet and back protector did what they are designed to to. Thankfully only a few minor bumps and bruises as a short term momento!

And the bike. Well it's pretty indestructible! A few battle scars. Picked it up and rode it home (very, very slowly ). The adrenaline is wearing off now, so that means the aches and pains will be soon arriving! but it's at a time like this you feel most alive and most thankful for fate not deciding to play hardball. I don't necessarily believe in karma, but some good turn I've done in the past paid me back today.

I'm a lucky man.

Stay safe out there folks.

[Saint Bastage]

Jeez Barry... I'm gonna say a prayer for you. I'd suggest one trip out before the adrenalin wears off for a lottery ticket then back to bed, your going to be pretty sore. Very happy to see just a few scratches. (that will buff right out)

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Good god, everything is okay, Barry !!! So relieved to hear that you are okay. Must have been a terrifying moment, I cannot even imagine.

This reminded me of my own experience years ago as a teenager with my bicycle. I was going pretty fast at the time and was turning a gentle curve, either hit gravel or bump and lost balance, tipped over, hit the tarmac and literally passed out. When I regained consciousness, I was flat on my chest and face kissing the tarmac and could not move for so long. It was a humiliating and humbling experience.

It must have scared your family and I can just imagine the faces of your children. Once again, glad to know all is safe and okay. Rest well, and watch out, Barry. Get well soon. w/ smiles Jimmy

[wetpet]

glad to hear you are ok barry. still have a titanium rod and screws in my leg from mine!

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Saint Bastage

Jeez Barry... I'm gonna say a prayer for you. I'd suggest one trip out before the adrenalin wears off for a lottery ticket then back to bed, your going to be pretty sore. Very happy to see just a few scratches. (that will buff right out)

Thanks Lane. And you're right, bit of T-Cut and you'll never know it happened. It's the kind of bike that battle scars add character to anyway.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS

Good god, everything is okay, Barry !!! So relieved to hear that you are okay. Must have been a terrifying moment, I cannot even imagine.

It must have scared your family and I can just imagine the faces of your children. Once again, glad to know all is safe and okay. Rest well, and watch out, Barry. Get well soon. w/ smiles Jimmy

to be honest Jimmy it wasn't really that terrifying. It's funny how you react, I instantly put all 4 limbs and head in the air and just lay there on my back flying down the road relaxed and waiting to come to a halt. travelled about 60-70 metres in that manner! Natural instinct is sometimes to scrabble around trying to slow yourself down when in fact it's safer to just let the slide come to it's own halt, provided there's nothing solid to hit.

in all that time I was thinking very clearly 1. I know there's no cars coming the other way, 2. its only gravel and grass on the other side (no walls to hit) and 3. this is the way the Moto GP rider crash!! Funny what goes through your mind in such a short time isn't it?? !!

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS

This reminded me of my own experience years ago as a teenager with my bicycle. I was going pretty fast at the time and was turning a gentle curve, either hit gravel or bump and lost balance, tipped over, hit the tarmac and literally passed out. When I regained consciousness, I was flat on my chest and face kissing the tarmac and could not move for so long. It was a humiliating and humbling experience.

Summer 2010 did something similar Jimmy. Mountain bike accident. Knocked myself unconcsious and broke my right collar bone. Much less exciting than today's incident but far worse in terms of injuries... Didn't help the collarbone that i drove myself to the hospital after telling the ambulance to bring me home.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by wetpet

glad to hear you are ok barry. still have a titanium rod and screws in my leg from mine!

that was obviously a much bigger incident than my one today Ed?!

[212Export]

3 Angels around you..........always

[champagne612]

Barry

Nice slide!

Sounds like you did it right by kicking off the bike and letting the momentum carry you to safety.

Glad to read everything was in the right place after the event

Your story brings back memeories of my falls - best part is you got back on and finished your ride

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Originally Posted by 212Export

3 Angels around you..........always

Could possibly be devils, 212 !!!!! Seriously, when I had that bike accident, half of my face was scarred from scrapping the tarmac when I fell and for the next couple of months, I looked half Indian.

But, Barry, if a similar accident were to occur here in Japan, it would not be pretty at all. Couple years back, on my way to work, traffic was congested due to an accident where this bike ran into the back of a truck and the bike was stuck there. Not pretty to see. w/ smiles Jimmy

[550JM]

Hey Barry,
Very glad to hear you got out of that unharmed (except from the dent in your ego after not being able to keep the right side up...)
As a bike addict I know the feeling, and I know the ego will heal quickly with the first ride after the crash before...which you already did! You're a hero!

Take a hot bath and a scotch,my friend, and party because this was your lucky day!

[550JM]

@Barry: PS: I'm glad you picked the BMW this morning, would have been a shame if it would have been 1 of the Duc's :-)

[Barry]

Originally Posted by 550JM

@Barry: PS: I'm glad you picked the BMW this morning, would have been a shame if it would have been 1 of the Duc's :-)

Would never risk that on a Duke. For a start my fingers would have frozen off before I even made it far enough to crash!

[550JM]

Originally Posted by Barry

Would never risk that on a Duke. For a start my fingers would have frozen off before I even made it far enough to crash!

Trade in the BMW for a Multistrada 1200...grip warmers...

[Barry]

Originally Posted by 550JM

Trade in the BMW for a Multistrada 1200...grip warmers...

They're on the BMW too. Just not on (and not needed) on the Duc's

[tazandjan]

Barry- Glad you are OK. The black ice in the UK really scared the snot out of me during my 6 years over there. Frozen fog. I can remember a couple of times in the 308 when all of a sudden you had a 30 degree crab angle you did not command. I cannot even imagine how scarey that would be on a bike.

Thankfully you had on all the correct gear so you got to play turtle on its back rather than steak on a grinding wheel. I still remember the ultimate irony here in the States when the rider leading a no helmet protest went over his handlebars, busted open his head and died. Really happy nobody was coming when you went down.