Don't know if you guys remember me too well or not (formerly "The Mole"), but wanted to say thank you none-the-less.
Back a few years ago when I joined this forum and went on some group rides with you in LITH I wore very little gear, if any at all. Eventually I started wearing just a helmet so I wouldn't feel like an oddball or "odd man out". You guys were always giving me a hard time about my lack of sufficient gear, almost to the point of irritating the shit out of me! Looking back now I know why you did it and I wanted to thank you for doing it (as much as I hated it at the time).
This last fall I had a pretty bad accident. And I faired pretty well all things considered. If I didn't have your voices stuck in my head about getting proper gear including boots, gloves, jackets etc. and finally buying and more importantly WEARING some of this stuff, I probably wouldn't be here typing this post. Either that or I wouldn't be walking, or able to feed myself for that matter. On the ambulance ride an EMT commented on things and one of the things he said was that I was damn lucky and also smart to be dressed the way I was. He stated that if not for what I had on chances are he'd be taking me somewhere else besides the hospital. All that time I painfully smiled and thought about you guys busting my balls. I was still a bloody mess, and to this day, months later, I'm still not fully recovered. Though I'd say that I'm about 99% at this point. Even the doctors and nurses in the emergency room were saying the same thing, how much worse it would be if I didn't have on all that stuff. The damage to my head, torso and feet/ankles would have been much more severe.
After riding with you I got more gear, and wore it to a point where I started feeling naked and vulnerable without it, which I was.
So I just wanted to thank you guys for setting me straight. My wife would also like to thank you, as well as my friends and even my dogs
When this all went down, for a while I doubted whether or not I would ride again. Happy to say that this spring I'm getting back in the saddle again. With surprisingly little resistance from the better half, I think she understands just how passionate I am about this stuff.
Just bought my first leather suit, as well as my first back protector. Already making some arrangements for a few track days both here and in other states.
This was keeping me up at night, the fact that you just didn't know how much you all have done for me. It's easy to flame someone on the web, and come off standing on a pedestal preaching "wear this, wear that". But you did it in person and to my face and I respect you for it. I still don't think you guys will ever know just how grateful I am, but I had to at least try and convey how I feel. It took me a long time to do it but I'm glad I'm getting this off my chest.
You guys remember Ben? He was Mr. I ain't wearin' no stinkin' helmet. Well I took your lead and started giving him a real hard time. He finally gave in and started wearing his. This last summer it saved his life. So you see you started a dominoe effect, I credit you guys for saving his ass as well. I just took the torch and ran with it.
So a sincere and heart-felt THANK YOU goes out to you Jim & Jeff. I lived to ride another day and so did my good friend. I'll still be riding street, but hopefully I'll get a chance to see you at one of the tracks this year. And if I see your asses before then (or whenever) I'd like to buy you a beer, or two, or three....
Sincerely,
Vic
PS- Thought I'd post this here as this seems like the place you like to frequent.
:bow :bow :cheers :cheers
Back a few years ago when I joined this forum and went on some group rides with you in LITH I wore very little gear, if any at all. Eventually I started wearing just a helmet so I wouldn't feel like an oddball or "odd man out". You guys were always giving me a hard time about my lack of sufficient gear, almost to the point of irritating the shit out of me! Looking back now I know why you did it and I wanted to thank you for doing it (as much as I hated it at the time).
This last fall I had a pretty bad accident. And I faired pretty well all things considered. If I didn't have your voices stuck in my head about getting proper gear including boots, gloves, jackets etc. and finally buying and more importantly WEARING some of this stuff, I probably wouldn't be here typing this post. Either that or I wouldn't be walking, or able to feed myself for that matter. On the ambulance ride an EMT commented on things and one of the things he said was that I was damn lucky and also smart to be dressed the way I was. He stated that if not for what I had on chances are he'd be taking me somewhere else besides the hospital. All that time I painfully smiled and thought about you guys busting my balls. I was still a bloody mess, and to this day, months later, I'm still not fully recovered. Though I'd say that I'm about 99% at this point. Even the doctors and nurses in the emergency room were saying the same thing, how much worse it would be if I didn't have on all that stuff. The damage to my head, torso and feet/ankles would have been much more severe.
After riding with you I got more gear, and wore it to a point where I started feeling naked and vulnerable without it, which I was.
So I just wanted to thank you guys for setting me straight. My wife would also like to thank you, as well as my friends and even my dogs
When this all went down, for a while I doubted whether or not I would ride again. Happy to say that this spring I'm getting back in the saddle again. With surprisingly little resistance from the better half, I think she understands just how passionate I am about this stuff.
Just bought my first leather suit, as well as my first back protector. Already making some arrangements for a few track days both here and in other states.
This was keeping me up at night, the fact that you just didn't know how much you all have done for me. It's easy to flame someone on the web, and come off standing on a pedestal preaching "wear this, wear that". But you did it in person and to my face and I respect you for it. I still don't think you guys will ever know just how grateful I am, but I had to at least try and convey how I feel. It took me a long time to do it but I'm glad I'm getting this off my chest.
You guys remember Ben? He was Mr. I ain't wearin' no stinkin' helmet. Well I took your lead and started giving him a real hard time. He finally gave in and started wearing his. This last summer it saved his life. So you see you started a dominoe effect, I credit you guys for saving his ass as well. I just took the torch and ran with it.
So a sincere and heart-felt THANK YOU goes out to you Jim & Jeff. I lived to ride another day and so did my good friend. I'll still be riding street, but hopefully I'll get a chance to see you at one of the tracks this year. And if I see your asses before then (or whenever) I'd like to buy you a beer, or two, or three....
Sincerely,
Vic
PS- Thought I'd post this here as this seems like the place you like to frequent.
:bow :bow :cheers :cheers