tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767318503668121403.post3444265533454837612..comments2023-09-07T05:42:13.959-04:00Comments on Scooter Revolution!: Okay....gearing up. Time to be serious.The City Mouse in the Countryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06522133156580411938noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2767318503668121403.post-26294189549870091392011-12-19T02:16:47.619-05:002011-12-19T02:16:47.619-05:00ATGATT is the only way to ride. I learned that th...ATGATT is the only way to ride. I learned that the hard way on my first time out on a scooter test drive. Yup the test drive. I was fortunate that I had a full face helmet on, a borrowed motorcycle jacket from the shop (it had armor), motorcycle gloves. Where I was lacking was riding pants and motorcycle boots. I was wearing jeans and loafers. I wiped out doing 40km/h and hit the pavement directly on my right hip and quad muscle & knee. I felt my hip joint flex and thought holy crap, I am done. My elbow smashed into the pavement and it would have shattered had it not been for the armored coat. That was within the first 45 minutes of my riding journey. I stupidly got up (in shock) and convinced myself I was ok and actually finished the test drive. A few hours later my leg was swollen and purple from my hip to below my knee - front and back. I could hardly walk and was in shock. I was too afraid to tell my hub what I had done and thought I could tough it out, that was until I almost passed out 5 times on my kid. Then I called him and had him take me to a doctor. I was a mess. I had xrays of my hip, pelvis and femur, I was lucky no broken bones. However I had a 14 cm long X 10cm wide haematoma on my quadriceps muscle. I couldn't walk right for a few weeks and have had 3 ultrasounds and a bone scan. The haematoma never fully reabsorbed and has since hardened and 'turned to bone'. That was 11 months ago and I am still dealing with pain, joint stiffness and muscle weakness. <br /><br />In a nut shell what I have learned is that EVERY time I get on my bike or scooter, even in 90 degree heat I wear full gear head to toe, including gloves. Pavement hurts when you hit it and there is no forgiveness when you go down. You can lessen it by wearing armored coat and pants. I would recommend wearing motorcycle boots because of the plating in the ankle, if your Burgie falls on you it is the only thing that is saving your ankle from breaking. <br /><br />I commute every day to work and I wear jeans unders my riding pants and change into suitable work attire when I get to my office. It is a hassle, but honestly I gladly put up with it. <br /><br />When I took my motorcycle Novice course & Traffic Safety course there was myself and another girl who where full ATGATT. My instructors were impressed because they knew I was serious and they knew I understood what was at stake. I did my motorcycle endorsement 10 months after my scooter crash. *I bought a scooter 2 days after my accident and haven't looked back since. I take every precaution available to me that gives me any sort of edge when I am dealing with the 3,000 lbs of rolling car death that shares the roads with me. I know this sounds preachy but if I can save anyone the misery I endured from my fall and lack of gear I gladly share it. <br /><br />I hope you found great gear and good for you for being visible! You may need more than one set of gear one for colder weather and one for hot weather. <br /><br />check out TourMaster gear by Cortech, their Men's Flex pants are awesome, they are 3 season and are waterprTourMaster Men's Epic jacket is awesome looking with lots of great features. I wear ladies TourMaster gear and am so happy with it. I had another lower end gear before this and it was terrible, it didn't breathe, it leaked and it was falling apart. Hope you find what you are looking for!Dar https://www.blogger.com/profile/14690180541358767168noreply@blogger.com