I am a long distance, endurance rider. So of course, I happen to know a bunch of those folks. A friend was on a rally in the mid- west last year, a 1,000 mile, 24 hour rally (a relatively short, quick rally as they go). He was not a kid and in fact had just retired, was riding a new BMW when he apparently hit the back end of a tractor- trailer; the cause of the accident is unknown but it killed him. Another gentleman, an acquaintance, came to the US from Australia to participate in a 9- day, 13,000 mile rally and was w/in 100 miles of the finish when he was killed by a deer- strike on the highway in Idaho. Processing firewood, motorcycle riding an a giant bunch of other activities are inherently dangerous. The best we can do is to prepare (both ourselves and our equipment), pay attention and forge ahead. Unfortunately accidents do happen and often the best we can do is to deal with the results the best way we can- just as the OP went to the hospital to have his finger properly treated and probably go a long way to fending off related problems such as infection, because the reality of these situations is that they can always be and become worse. I foolishly did not seek medical attention for my own fingers after my splitter mishap and now think a small bone in my index finger has healed incorrectly. Brian
I gave up on riding, to many people distracted driving. I took up a low impact sport of scuba diving, even on shark dives there is less chance of dying.
No iron but rally for me. The inherent exhaustion involved is just asking for stupid things to happen. My biggest days are 500 miles.....
My biggest day was 51 hours (Earth hours). A CC50, the hard way (coast to coast in 50 hours). Started in RI, went to Rye, NY where I picked up a vial of Atlantic and a computer generated receipt. Turned west and hit Ocean Shores, WA in 47:52, not only making the 50 hour time limit but sliding in in under 48 hours. Then I had to go back east 80 miles or so to my final destination in Tacoma, WA. I am the 46th person to be certified on that ride (the northern route, about 800 miles longer than the southern route, hence 'the hard way') and one of the very few to do it in 48 hours. Yep, you would think these types of rides would be inherently dangerous but to the best of my knowledge, no one has died as a direct result of the IBA rally- three people have died during the rally but all were the result of something other than a self- inflicted accident; one was a heart attack, another was a deer- strike and I cannot remember the third cause. But as far as inherent danger, the safest way to ride a motorcycle that I know of is to use a car instead. Preferably one with airbags. Each of us has to weigh our own risk / reward. Brian
No IBA rides for me. After about 600 to 700 miles I am done. I can do that day after day but that is enough for one day. As far as the subject here, I had a dog bite that looked a lot like that first picture. For the first couple of weeks of healing the doctor kept monitoring to make sure the blood circulation was good enough that the sewed on finger tip did not die and turn to gangrene.
Riding on freeway on my Heritage ,following way back behind a semi , tire blew ! pieces flying in the air ! big chunk just missed me, I dodged that , small fragments actuly hit me , scared the chit outa me , if I was closer and not staying back like I was, I might not be here today
OFFTOPIC: yep, trucks are death to motorcyclists and all the riders I know give them a wide berth. And when we pass them, we do so quickly and get in front, the hell with worrying about a ticket at that point. Dem tings' gots 18 tires and 16 are usually re-worked junk (recaps: the two steering tires cannot be re-caps). The one thing that really causes me anxiety are 'forest rats' (deer, white tail around here but all of them are a little nuts, especially during rut). They are unpredictable and a bit crazy. We cannot tell what they are going to do because they do not know what they are going to do even after they start doing it. My blood pressure goes way up riding at dusk or dawn, especially on high- speed secondary roads. Brian
Holy cow - wasn't expecting it to be that bad - I'm glad you got a good surgeon to take care of it - best wishes for fast healing. Accidents sure can happen fast. Cheers!
I'm "white knuckle" (on the bike) on the freeway, always have been. Back roads and under 40mph is my speed.
Hey, all of us have had enough after 600 or 700 miles- the long distance rider just keep going in spite of it being a bit too much. After 10 hours in the saddle, my legs start going numb and it does not get better until I am off the bike for a couple of days. 3,132 miles in 47:52 is a tough ride and I really cannot explain the attraction of doing it.... the closest I can come is the line: 'the question is not how far will you go, the question is if you will go as far as in needed'. A coast- to- coast ride is extremely well defined because you stop when the front tire is damp in the sand But really, it is not for everyone. Brian
And I would like to point out again that seeking medical attention is the way to go. I foolishly did not because I did not think it was that bad but I now think the whole thing would have healed both more quickly and especially better had I had it sutured back together. So for all of you tough guys or stupid guys (like me), go get medical attention even if you can tape it up so the bleeding stops. Sure it takes a little time and a few bucks but it is really more expensive in the end to NOT go than it is to go IME. Often times, 'it is cheap when you can pay with mere money' 'cause lost digits, blindness and a host of other things are far more expensive than a medical bill. As Oldman47 says, a serious infection will really ruin your day(s) and is almost always held off with medical attention and a little bit of relatively cheap antibiotics. Neosporin, wax paper and a lot of tape are just not the same.... Brian
How is the healing going tonight Mike? How is the pain level? If that turns back into a 90% or more 'normal' finger (and I am hoping that it does) you are right, the medico was excellent! Brian
BDF Around here in WI you have to be careful of them in the spring as well. That is when last years fawns are kicked out of the nest, so to speak, before mama has her new crop of fawns. Those yearlings are as dumb as a pet rock and run all over the place. Spring is second only to fall when it comes to deer/vehicle accidents.
That doesn't even sound fun.... days after the ride you. Get feeling back in your legs... not healthy or fun.
Thanks for asking. All is good. No pain, unless I bump or stretch it wrong. Don't need any meds.!!! It's healing up miraculously well. Funny thing, walking out to my car after work tonight, I happened to bump into the Plastic Surgery Resident who repaired my finger. She and I were both very pleased with how it's looking. I'm pretty sure I will wind up with 90+% of my finger. HOPEFULLY, this is the final reminder I (and all of you) need to remember to respect our OPE.
X2 on the pinched glove, plus one flattened fingernail. It was a close call. I see how close now with Mike's picture. I hope you heal well Mike!
Mike, I can give you some more advice if you're up for it. Once the finger starts feeling better and you regain your confidence of using it again, be very careful sliding your hand into your pants pocket.....I had the same procedure with the fingernail being filleted off the fingernail bed and replaced. then slid my hand into my pocket and ripped that sucker off by first bending it backwards! YEOWCH!
You just had too go there didn't ya, Dave! Right now, my fingers are miracllously not in "recovery mode" from anything much more than a splinters or two that I can't get. But that one made them all hurt
