rufvelo,

GLAD TO HEAR YOU ARE OK!!!

First off, this is your post/thread [as you started it] where you are basically telling us about your accident and situation. I respect your opinion and only wish you the best.

For those who come in and spout their beliefs and guidance and such, there needs to be another thread on helmet issues that they could have easily link here to bring awareness to helmet issues.
They started their own discussion within your thread. I have yet to seek a particular thread out, but I do believe in wearing helmets such as you.

I do not put my life in the helmet, as I know it is not the total solution, I think we all know that. There is not an "absolute factor" but we take the risk based on our wishes to pursue transportation on two wheels. Two feet or four wheels is a perceived safer mode and we know that. We choose two wheels, it's dangerous, but that is the adventures of life.

For those who wish to put all hopes in absolute safety through equipment… think of it like this – the equipment is safe, VERY SAFE but people are not.

I too came close to the edge. Oct2007 I had a major “get off” at somewhere between 65-75mph in the dirt. I broke my C1. In the hospital I had doctors swarming me and grilling me about my accident. I told them I did this to myself, I can not be mad at the motorcycle or even the man-cut road in the middle flat dry-lake bed, even though the cut-down road [knee deep] did not make any sense, it’s still my fault. PERIOD. But the doctors treated me with this “disrespect” as though I have disrespect for life. BUT, not funny thing is, that same day there where about four other incidents where people came in with broken necks due to accidents. Hey, California is rough! But, for those people, they have real reasons to be mad as their situation was done to them; someone else hit them. They can be mad and place blame. I’m lucky, I can only blame me. I cannot blame my equipment or the bike. The bike was only doing what I told it [controlled] it to do. If it was up to the bike, it was just be sitting in the garage on the kickstand looking all pretty.
The doctors continually asked me if I could, would I ride motorcycles again. I said, if the doctor clears me, I would be back on the bike…. JUST LIKE THOSE FOUR OTHERS who also came in with my same type of injury. They too will purse the automobile upon release from the hospital. I even think they will leave the hospital the very same way they came to the hospital, via vehicle, the very same thing that hurt them… as perceived by doctors… It’s not the cars that hurt those people… it was people, who just happen to be driving cars. That’s what we do…

We cyclist choose to put ourselves at risk. We cannot put blame or 100% faith in helmets, nor can we blame automobile drivers – they, [us] when driving is the moral majority. When cycling, we are the minority. Yet we seek the adventure of life. No matter if we fall victim of avalanche or commuter cycling accident, these are the risks involved and usually simply overlooked until something happens.

Remind yourself every morning… there are natural risks and human risks. I personally, more easily accept the natural risk. But there is risk, most ignor it. You must embrace it and then push forward, but now with awareness.

Sorry rufvelo as I too placed my thoughts and opinions within your thread. I was simply wishing to reinforce your thought that yes, helmets are good.

For kicks click it, if you don't think my story is based on my reality...