Goodmans wrecked in KY

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Goodman4

Pressing on
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
574
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360
Location
Hopkinsville, KY
Tammy and I had a low-side Thursday on the second day of our Ohio trip on the Goldwing. We didn't even make it out of Kentucky.

We both have broken wrists that need surgery. Tam got it a lot worse than I did, which I can't figure out. I have no other injuries except the wrist. She had a level 5 liver laceration that has already settled down, which was #1 concern at first. She took a hard hit on the right shoulder and has a brachial plexus injury to where she can't lift her right arm. She has feeling and can move fingers so they think it will come back but they say it is slow and could takes weeks. With the break in her left wrist, she's pretty helpless with no arms. I only have my left arm which is not dominant. She has no breaks in shoulder and no broken ribs, but they are bruised. Gear made a huge difference here and they say saved her life.

We both had good gear on and I believe it made a huge difference. The only two areas we did not have top protection types of gear was on our wrists. We wore short-cuff instead of gauntlet and that is the only place we have broken bones. Zero road rash, too.

I have first appt with hand doctor tomorrow. She is still in Lexington and has left hand surgery Wednesday then goes to rehab for the right arm. Prayers appreciated.

So to the part I don't want to talk about... My stupidity. We've been almost 100,000 miles together on our bikes without an accident. I've had lots of training and this last year I've done 6 track days. I should know better than to override a blind curve when it's wet. I'm so disappointed in myself. I've had accidents before. Thankfully none till now since starting rider education 12 years ago. Hurting yourself or your bike sucks. But hurting someone you love is a whole different game and it is brutal.

I can't remember how fast I was going, but I wasn't riding hard. We were just getting to some twisty areas between Danville and Berea Ky. With the rain, I almost decided to skip the twisties and take main roads over to Barboursville, WV, but pushed ahead since we came for the twisties. Ugh.

When I saw the curve I said to Tam, "I don't think I can make this curve." I've had it drilled into my head to always make the curve so I didn't lock up or we would have launched into a fence and it would've been bad. I think I was smooth and lightly squeezed the brakes before the curve and then leaned into it. We made it most of the way through and lost traction on the back. It's pretty fuzzy. The bike took out a fence post. She was laying face down with her head under the fence.

I should not have been riding at that level on an unknown wet road. I really thought I was not taking any risk at the time until I was in it. Maybe I panicked and did something else wrong I don't remember. Maybe it had been too long since we had ridden a curvy road on that bike. It makes me sick when I look at the area on google maps because it's not nearly as a tight of a curve as I remember it.

Anyway as of now there is a 90% I'll be back to riding as soon as I can, but an 80% chance the special time of our lives taking these trips together is over. That's really sad for both of us, but I can't imagine she will be comfortable again, and I can't ask her to take that risk. Thanks to this forum for getting us into it in the first place. It's been awesome.
 
Heal well my friends, don't be to hard on yourself. Sounds like you have learned something, we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
 
It happens to the best of us. Don't beat yourself up. You learned a valuable lesson and you both walked away from it. You need to treat her like a queen for several weeks and make sure she knows you're thankful she is alive and well. Praying for a quick recovery and time back in the saddle soon.
 
Thanks for sharing that. It wasn't easy to read but nonetheless very valuable. I'd like to join in and say don't beat yourself up any further but I know if that was me, I'd probably find doing that really difficult if I had someone so important behind me. Still . . . you guys spent all that time and miles together, good and some not so good. This was part of it. We've never met but somehow I can't believe she'll hold you responsible or think less of anything with you.

As far as what the future holds, I'm a firm believer in not making any decisions or looking too far ahead in times of turmoil. Skies clear with time and it becomes easier to see what directions you could go in. No telling what the two of you might end up doing next after this healing 'adventure' you're both on eventually ends.
 
Wow! Just thought of something. You wrote all that out with a broken wrist?? Sheesh. And not to make you write more but do you think longer gauntlet gloves would've helped there? With road rash sure but with the breaks?
 
Those were all left handed thoughts :)
On the gauntlet gloves, of course we don’t really know. I just think it would. They make you wear them at the track for a reason, though.
I picked her thinnest gloves for that day because she was going to take road pictures. Grr. If not protecting the wrist it would’ve likely kept a couple fingers from breaking.
 
Wow, very heart felt to read. Please don't beat yourself up. I too learned a valuable lesson. Treat every blind turn like there is an elk standing in your lane as you exit the turn, in my case it was a car load of tourists. Did the low side thing, I was ok but my gf broke her right foot. Every time I'd look at her I felt terrible until finally she looked me in the eye and said " let it go, I have". It's very difficult when you are at the controls and bad stuff happens. I will pray that you both heal in every way. It appears to me that forgiveness is part of your daily lives and this too shall pass. Take care brother.
 
I am familiar with that guilt. It's very sad what happened, but if you keep talking through it with your girl, you will both get through it. Very glad it didn't end worse. I guess those track days paid off. I know they have saved my bacon more than once. And good on you for wearing (mostly) the right gear. Heal well.
 
Sorry to hear of your accident; hope you both heal quickly and with no long term problems. I don't like riding on wet pavement because it is so much harder to see the patch of spilled oil or diesel that can cause a loss of traction in a curve. Good luck to both of you and hope you're back riding soon.

Edie: Sorry about the avatar - I didn't even think about it till after I posted.
 
I'm sorry about your crash & the injuries to both you & your wife but on the good side your post has hit home to everyone who reads it about being careful - in that respect I believe you have touched many a rider which will allow them to think of this as the riding season opens up & we all do some twisties - I believe your post was very valuable to us all - A speedy recovery to you both.
 
Wow, so sorry to read your post on the crash, hope you and your wife heal up. If you ride long enough, it happens. as others have stated, take some time off, reflect on your blessings and see if you will get back to riding, I bet you do and she will as well. Rain and curves just makes me pucker more and I really back off. all the liquids from 4 wheelers really come to the surface during rain. I remember coming down off the Blue Ridge parkway (Hwy 180) heading home and we were fully loaded on an 1986 Concours (1992). Little Switzerland area. We had to leave and it was raining heavily as we left the hotel, with rain gear on. so it was going to be that kind of day. That road in the rain made every muscle on my back side pucker. off camber curves, negative camber curves etc. I had new tires on which helped a lot, but with blind curves and the camber issues, I don‘t think i got out of 3rd gear for 45 miles. So, heal up, take some to off, do the medical healing and bike insurance damage thing and once over, then decide which direction you guys want to go. Either way, on 2 or 4 wheels, life is a journey and it should be in joyed. cheers.
 
There is an old Cliche' that comes to mind concerning those pesky corners, If you think you can you might, if you think you can't you won't.
I have found this to be true on many occasions.
This-^

Got the quotes messed up there but That’s SteveO311’s quote that I’m trying to agree with strongly. Left hand :)
 
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