Demise

What's this page for?

I'm sad to report that as of 13-Apr-2003, Wolfram is no more... ~:(

This page gives a brief summary of the tale. (It's also a form of catharsis, helping me come to terms with the event!)


I binned the poor chap (on public roads - in case you thought it must've been on the track!) Okay, so it's not the worst accident that ever happened, and there're plenty of people who've had accidents worse than mine...

Seven weeks on and I'm only just weaning myself off the big-time pain killers - though most of my joints are still sore and/or swollen - particularly my neck (which suffered 'whiplash') and my wrists. But the good news is that I've been discharged from the Fracture Clinic, and I've every confidence that I'll be physically back to normal with time and a bit of physiotherapy. So there's something to be thankful for. Psychologically, it's been a bit of a rude awakening to my own mortality, and has given me a renewed appreciation of the things I hold most dear. Being back at work has helped keep my mind focussed on the more immediate challenges of life. Whether I return to the biking fold, or eke out my days with nothing more powerful than a 3.5hp Briggs & Stratton is currently TBD. In any case it'll be a while before I'm physically fit to ride again, so I'll defer the decision until then.


Should any of the many people who assisted me in recovering from this accident be looking in... thank you. You saved my life.

Thanks too to the many people who've expressed concern and hopes for my speedy recovery. Your wishes were greatly appreciated.

Most of all... Thanks Jay.

BRG 2003/06/06



Details

Due to concussion, I can't remember much (if any) of the detail, but from what witnesses have told me...

Conditions:	Dry for several days. Bright spring day (not sunny)
Accident	I was making [very] good progress along a known route. The road was straight, but undulating. I was overtaking a car and noticed a car coming in the opposite direction. I braked hard and locked the front wheel (a witness says the rear of the bike was half a metre in the air) with the bars not straight. I released the brake and caused a violent, lock-to-lock tank slapper. I caught the oncoming car a glancing blow, which sent me and the bike sliding down the road. Opinions differ as to whether Wolfram and I ended up in the road or the hedge. I don't like to think about it, but it was apparently a toss up as to whether they called the helicopter or the hearse. Luckily the 'copter won, and I awoke a day or so later in hospital.
Bike	The scale of damage seems slight, considering the cause. Alas, some major components have bitten the dust, and make repair uneconomical. He's been written off. Chassis Cylinder head Front wheel Fuel tank Rear subframe Silencer
Me	Concussed. Two fractured ribs and a fractured scapula (shoulder blade). Abrasions to knee, hip, hand and shoulder. Extensive bruising. Swollen hands, knee and foot. Sore joints just about all over - I must've rag-dolled down the road for quite a distance.

Pictures

The following pictures show the state of Wolfram. It surprised me that the front forks appeared to be OK, and that there was so little damage to the right-hand side. Alas, various (expensive) key items seem to have bitten the dust (see list above).

Before:



After:


This is the oncoming car. The driver said that he was half off the road when I hit him.



The next batch show the state of my riding gear.

My Schuberth Concept seems to have helped keep me in one piece. The chin-guard stayed in place! I can't tell whether the visor came off in the accident or as taken off afterwards. It's in one piece and relatively unscratched.

right

rear

left

My suit was a two-piece made by Stadler (Germany) out of Keprotec. Keprotec was billed as a leather replacement when I bought the suit in 1994, though it tested a poor second for abrasion. The suit doesn't seem to have faired too badly, though my skin would tell a different story... Stadler don't make full Keprotec suits any longer.

left shoulder

left knee

right hip

Daytona boots - they seem to have withstood things pretty well.

right boot

left boot

The light glove has a knuckle tear; the left glove came off!


right glove

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