Nice to be back

I am a returned, older biker, as the picture shows. My main “career” as a biker was cut short in March 1975, the day before Barry Sheenes legendary Daytona accident, when I was riding to work and was hit in the side by a Vauxhall Viva.

The resultant injuriers left me with one leg 2″ shorter than the other,and only one quadriceps muscle in that left leg. I was taken to Bedford General and put in a Tobruck Splint, and after a couple of weeks transferred to Hereford General Hospitel where they discovered that despite my leg being kept immobile the “stiump” of the femur that was left below the hip was moving round…

So I was put in traction where I remaioned for a further 14 weeks, and thence into a Spica from my chest to my left ankle for 6 months and in the December I had a Quadricepsplasty operation which, whilst leaving me with only the one muscle did at least mean I could bend my leg enough to operate the clutch of a car.

I always swore I would get back onto a decent bike one day, and did at least manage to get onto a couple of small ones. Now here I am, 33 years and some months after that accident back on a reasonably big bike, a 1990 Suzuki GSX750F. At first it scared the life out of me, being so much more powerful than the Norton Commando Interstate I got smashed off, but I knew I would get back into it again, as I have, with a couple of hairy moments along the way, where I was pleased to discover that there was nothing whatever wrong with my reactions.

I had forgotten just how much I loved my bikes, and I will not stop riding now as long as I can keep hold of my licence. I still vividly remember flying through the air after the crash, as vividly as I remember looking down after I landed and realising my knee was a lot nearer to my groin than it should have been (apparently I had at least 6″ of shortening).

I also remember, in court later, the driver of the car having the effrontery to try to claim that I had crashed into the side of him rather than the other way round, something which the damage to both vehicles totally belied.

However I found that far less annoying than after the court, as my wife, solicitor and I were walking across the car park (well they were walking I was still on crutches) the driver tooted at me and waved cheerily as he drove off!!!

I still find it ironic that I should have my accident the day before my heroes, even though I know I cannot be the only one who did. It certainly took my mind off my troubles for a while.