Helmets. You just never know what can happen...

[dancetothedrummersbeat]

Since the tragic passing of our BMX brother Dan Ca$h, many of us have had a long hard think about safety on the rides. I was at the Blackpool ride last Saturday, and it was good to see that the majority of riders were wearing helmets, something i'd never done until after Dan's accident. I had my ramp helmet ready to wear, but luckily this ebay purchase arrived on Saturday morning, and even better - it fitted me.



Ant factory pilot kindly picked me up and he drove us to Blackpool. We parked up about half a mile from the meeting point, put our helmets on and set off on our bikes, Ant on his trusty Skyway Streetbeat, and me on my T/A.....

We were riding in single file with me in front. Suddenly a car door opened just as I was riding past. I hit it full on at speed, fell to the right and hit my head hard on the floor. I was badly shaken, but luckily only had minor injuries - a small cut to my nose and a grazed right elbow. Sadly my Adidas track top wasn't so lucky, and now has a nice rash mark on the back. It'll live to fight another ride though 

Luckily I was ok and managed to enjoy the rest of the ride despite having a banging headache for a few hours after. You can see the marks on the sleeve of my top following the fall...



My neck has been really sore due to whiplash from the impact/fall. Thanks to all the folk on the ride who made sure I was ok, to Ant for remembering that women usually carry painkillers, and to Jane for the tablets. It's taken until today for my neck to feel ok, although it's still not 100%.

Without being too dramatic, I can honestly say that if I hadn't been wearing my helmet, i'm not sure i'd still be here, as I hit the ground hard. It was pure luck that there were no cars immediately behind us either. My good fortune is 100% down to the aftermath and re-think following Dan's tragic accident. He must have been looking down on us that day and working his magic. If you were Dan, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Be careful radsters - you just never know what can happen, but keep riding.

[deeman]

Glad you are still here Andy....a lesson to be learnt ,,,

[Gnarlyscoots]

Nice piece Andy, and stoked you are okay buddy 

Most of my riding is done on the pavement and off road paths these days, but then it always has been really    I still get the odd pensioner shouting "you should be on the road"  Memories, love them.

I love that picture of you two. Totally Awesome 

[rodriguez]

Nice one DTTB glad you're OK

Don't forget where there's blame there's a claim   

[Andyboy77]

Thanks for sharing  Get well soon  Andy!

[Retrodan72]

Jeez, I didn't know about this. Glad to hear that you're ok though mate. 

[factory pilot]

Really glad you are feeling better mate ..  I'm also glad you put this up to remind people that it can happen at any time to any of us anywhere on our bikes.

I nearly didn't put one on myself as I told Andy ' there's not much riding in Blackpool'  but in the end saw sense and thought of poor Dan.

Let's stay safe. Let's honour Dan's memory every ride out.  Let's ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET lads 

[factory pilot]

Ps that's a pretty cool picture by the way .. Love it .. Looks like Coney Island 1984! 

[pickle]

Tis a great picture and so glad you had a lid on mate!  hope you feel okay now 

[NORTY40]

You were pretty shook up when we met you Andy    Glad your feeling better and if anything good came out of our trip to London the other week it was the decision to wear helmets on the rides .  We could have been looking at another seriously injured rider but for your lid 

Great picture of you two by the way 

[pickle]

Did you twat the fook out of the car owner?

[chubby]

Blimey Andy, didn't know about this . Glad you're OK & deffo another reason for wearing a lid these days,there's some thick fookers about that just don't look or care when they're out n about, normally the poor old cyclist or pedestrian comes off worse

[BMX1973]

Glad you are o.k. 

[rooski]

Glad your ok dude, that helmet looks pretty cool btw, really suits you!

[griff]

Glad you were ok mate, same thing happened to my mate from work and he ended up having to have some of his fingers rebuilt