El Presidente Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Di and I went for a short drive yesterday up to Mount Nebo. It was a blue sky chilly winters day and the idea was to take a picnic lunch and do a 4 km bush walk. Good plans can go astray Mt Nebo is a perfect 30km set of winding roads through the hills that back onto Brisbane. They are a magnet for Motorbike riders on the weekend and by god from the minute we hit the start of the hills all thought of a relaxing drive went out the Window. It was akin to a video game where Motorcyclists (and pushbike riders) would scream around an oncoming bend and near miss your car by centimeters. We were passed by a host of "Rossi's" that near missed oncoming riders. Passed by an ambulance in full flight and we talked aloud at how many bodies they must see in this stretch of road. It wasn't 5 minutes later that we were flagged down by a woman in her pyjamas on the side of the road. I lowered the drivers window and asked "what was up". " A motorbike rider just went off the cliff" she said. We were first on the scene. Di hopped out. I parked my car as tight to the side of the road and put the hazard lights on. I ran back to see Di pointing to the body 5 metres off the road down the escarpment. His bike was a further 10 meters away further down. He wasn't moving, The thought crossed both our minds that he was dead. I asked the lady to call an ambulance and bring a blanket. I climbed down and he stirred. His right arm was bent into a position no arm should be in. He was in immense pain. I asked his name and he replied "Ross", I told him not to move, and whether he could feel his arms and legs. "Pins and needles" he replied. I told him I would be with him until the ambulance arrived and that I didn't want to remove his helmet or adjust him. I couldn't see any blood or open wounds. He was breathing albeit labored. Poor bugger was in immense pain and there was nothing that we could do but keep him warm, monitor his breathing and keep talking to him so he wouldn't lapse into unconsciousness. Fire brigade arrived in 15 minutes. Ambulance 5 minutes later. Arm broken in numerous places, leg broken, hips likely broken was what they thought. Nothing more we could do, we left. We went home. Ross was in his 40's/50's. He just pushed the bike too hard on the bend and went over the other side. He was lucky that he did so on one of the few sections of road that had a house on the other side, the lady heard the crash. If not for that I doubt anyone would have found him for hours or worse. He could not be seen from the road. For the riders out there...slow down. Ride in pairs and always know where your mate is. As someone who enjoys a ride and has had his share of accidents, it was a sobering experience. 1
DoubleDD Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Prez, in my line of work I see this all too much. I handled a crash involving a motorcyclist versus a car this week. Luckily it only resulted in a compound fracture of the ankle. It could have been worse if the truck tractor semi-trailer behind the motorcyclist didn't stop in time. I'll never own anything less than four wheels. 1
Jeremy Festa Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 What a heavy experience! Well played on your part too! From my mobile phone
paulF Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 +1 to all the above Rob especially the riding in pairs part. I go on many spontaneous overnight solo rides where whenever i get the chance and many times end up not seeing traveling cars for many hours on inner state desolated roads and it does make me feel a little insecure at times in case i make a simple mistake and end up in a situation where no one is around. Technology is your friend in such circumstances with devices like GPS spot rescue alert and even checking in on Facebook every now and then at townships can help.
WarriorPrincess Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Wouldn't want to go through that again and as Rob and I said to each other, what if nobody saw him and he was there laying for hours in that much pain....hate to think what would have happened. Be safe everyone who rides
Foz Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 I've had the unfortunate task of seeing and dealing with this kind of thing all too often at work, and usually with a worse ending. Couldn't agree more with Rob's words for riders! Good work Rob & Di for getting out and helping, scenes like that are a sobering and confronting thing to see and deal with, glad that the rider made it through, well done.
AlohaStyle Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Wow, thought this was a joke at first... lucky for sure that a lady heard it. My wife's younger cousin went through a nasty crash close to where I live. He was just coming off a knee injury and was feeling antsy to get out and do something an adrenaline junky would do. Drove his motorcycle 100+ on a road where no one has business going that fast. Came up to a hard right corner way too fast... locked up his brakes and was smart enough to jump right as his bike was smashing head on into the guard rail on the opposite side of the road. He was also damn lucky to fly through the air getting the most perfect/lucky flight path in between a bunch of trees before landing. He flew about 30 yards in the air without hitting any trees. A touch to the left or right, he would've been mangled in the trees. He landed clearly but his bones were sticking out above his knee. Bones also sticking out between his wrist and elbow. The nastiest picture of flesh/bones/blood I have seen on someone I knew. He was damn lucky to be wearing a great helmet and jacket with padding.
Munts Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 The sad thing is that there are plenty of signs warning bike riders of the danger in this area. Like here https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.295924,152.649427,3a,49.3y,55.59h,78.39t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srxx2iqUA8-EM-p0NliJDHg!2e0 and here https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.299427,152.65888,3a,75y,38.42h,74.29t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sbc82vAPiFqqM_mgCNLS2Wg!2e0 Interesting to see on both of those signs, someone has graffitied "Stupid dickheads".
AndrewNR Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Adelaides Gorge is the same.. Albeit living there on occasion I was one of the Rossi's.. I ride a variety of bikes and styles regularily nowadays.. It all comes down to respect and self awareness. Being confident, not cocky. knowing your limits etc. And sometimes, Unfortunately **** happens. I've had a reoccuring back injury due to spinal and deep tissue damage in my lower back from an accident when I was 18, And blissfully unaware of my limits and the former.. Over the years my accidents became less and less, my skills got slightly better, and fortunately I got allot wiser. My Ex wife was a nurse.. Living in Adelaide she always looked at the motorcycle accidents on the hospital screen to be sure my name was never there.. one day a single rider arrived in two ambulances... thats all ill say about that except that he was speeding in populated area. Calculated risks people, awareness, respect and confidence a paramount to improving your chances. Never think you can beat them. Love the beast. Live every day like your last, But don't try harder to make it your last! There is no such thing as a good looking corpse, Dosnt matter how young or cool you thought overcooking the risk was at the time. Condolences for your day Prez and Di, Im deeply sorry you both had to experience that. God knows this whole community knows the character of you both and how hard you work. You both deserve beautiful relaxing time together. Same note I'm sure Ross was blessed he had somebody like yourself to console him.
AndrewNR Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Wouldn't want to go through that again and as Rob and I said to each other, what if nobody saw him and he was there laying for hours in that much pain....hate to think what would have happened. Be safe everyone who rides Again.. And only for the sake of awareness and enforcing Robs comments.. Ride with a mate or let people know what your doing or be safe! Local bloke Thursday passed away 3 minutes from my house. 31 years old. He died Thursday evening on the highway not 5 minutes from town. Approx time of incident 8:30PM.. He wasn't found until 8:30 AM the next morning. He was 50 meters from the incident, his shoes were 500.
Grahamsant Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Cracking effort both of you! Between yours and the other lady's actions you've probably saved that mans life! It's a shame that the few ruin it for the many when it comes to motorbikes. I absolutely love them, haven't ridden in a few years as a car has just been more convenient but would love to get back on 2 wheels again. A lot to be said for quality of gear though! I see so many people now on sunny days riding sports motorbikes in nothing more than a t-shirt and shorts!!! If they come off they're going to do some serious damage!!
Ken Gargett Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 and you tried to convince me to get on one of those things and drive a squillion miles through jungle with you? i might do some dumb things but never, ever that silly.
StingMeadery Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 We have the exactly same problem here in Coromandel. Sunday mornings brings the motorcycle weekend warriors out...accountant by week evil kenevil by weekend Seriously these guys can't ride! Few years ago a big convoy went by and one came around a blind corner totally out of control on the wrong side of the road and embedded his bike so far into the front of my Landcruiser it pierced the sump. Then he proceeded to play superman flying over my bonnet, cartwheeling down the side of my car hitting the road where the next "hero" in line promptly used him as a judder bar breaking nine ribs and puncturing his lung on top of the compound fractured thigh and wrist he already took from the handlebar strike. Lucky for him I'm a EMT Instructor from a diving career and called the police while assessing him and because of my quals the police operator had the helicopter in the air within minutes. He was in the air for two minutes when the bird got diverted... If he hadn't been on the chopper he wouldn't have lasted until an ambulance arrived 45 mins later. Moral of the story, hire a hot chick if your having a mid life crisis Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Fuzz AI Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 After seeing a mate go too hard round a bend and fly off into a concrete barrier, I haven't gone near a bike in 14 yrs.. My mate survived that fall, but unfortunately didn't survive the next one just 18 months later. Too young, too dumb.
NJP Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Lost a mate under a car on the Great Ocean Road, at a time I was saving for my own ride. Needless to say I don't have a Roadie. Good form on helping out RA so many people just go on by.
IPORTER Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Holy Smokes! Fair play to you Rob and Diana! Sobering experience indeed!
... Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 Driving sober also helps... So many cases of drunk driving up here in Canada
NastyPirate Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 I couldn't see any blood or open wounds. He was breathing albeit labored. Poor bugger was in immense pain and there was nothing that we could do but keep him warm, monitor his breathing and keep talking to him so he wouldn't lapse into unconsciousness. And you didn't offer him a cigar?????
ogus Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 Everyday I see X-rays of broken vertebrae from motorcycle wipe-outs. I have never met a person who owned a bike that did not fall off one.
mncz Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 I sold my bike at the behest of my family's incessant pleading. Storage was becoming an issue as I'm in college. Luckily, I was able to sell it back to the same guy from whom I purchased it originally... classic bike collector had been dreaming about the darn thing since he gave it up to me, so I made his first half of the year. Quite a story Rob. I will ride again one day, when I'm more settled after the formal schooling's all over. Good advice, though: safety first. I've had some friends come very close to death as well.
markmurase Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 Just a thought It was really windy in Brisbane that Sunday. My wife seems to think that windy weather makes some people go a bit crazy - must be a bit like the full moon
Fosgate Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 I live in South Dakota where there are a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts here. Every year we hear of nearly a dozen people getting killed on their way to or from the Sturgis rally. Aside from that I have many friends and family members who own and ride Harley's etc. Had an aunt killed 6yrs ago coming back from Sturgis when they lost a tire sent her and her husband over the bars onto the Interstate. My brother found a guy in the ditch on his way to work at 5am 40yds off the road just by catching a glimmer of the chrome from the bike that seemed out of place. Pulled over and walked out, sure enough a guy flew off the highway into the ditch and had been laying there all night. Turns out he had been drinking the night before and lost control on the curves. He died a few days later and the state in it's tradition setup a "Why Die" alcohol related death marker along side the highway where he went off into the field. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=baltic+sd&ll=43.669672,-96.708183&spn=0.027721,0.066047&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hnear=Baltic,+Minnehaha+County,+South+Dakota&gl=us&t=h&z=15&layer=c&cbll=43.669605,-96.708267&panoid=5wUxjxvKGQgb98NLSQErnw&cbp=12,287.88,,0,13.63 But those experiences pale compared to what a police officer friend of mine has seen. Knee caps found on the sidewalk because guys take off down the street at a high rate of speed and loose control or they simply get smoked by a car. Like this one he just recently had to deal with. http://www.startribune.com/local/263836881.html#lJo8lDi8G6C4E5bt.97 I would say not only watch your speed but drive defensively and keep your ride in tip top shape, looking it over weekly for service needs.
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