Motorcycles and Amputees

[TC]

Ouch.  

I tend to avoid riding when it's cold enough for their to be ice on the
road.

My rear brake tends to not get used much as I am RBK and there is a definite
delay.  It takes some extra time for me to pick up my foot and set it down
on the brake pedal.  It seldom causes me a problem except when road
conditions change suddenly and my brain is not in "rear brake" mode.
Happened last summer in Lake Tahoe when a coyote surprised me on a dirt
covered mountain road.  Crash.  Only the hiway bar and belt (pebble) were
damaged.  The scar on my forearm is a testament to the importance of a
jacket even when the moving slowly on a warm day.  A couple of Forestry
worker helped me pull the Road King outta the ditch, after which I rode it
to the ER to make sure the wound was properly cleaned.  A night in Incline
Village, a quick check by a local builder in the morning, and I continued on
my way.

I think that delay in getting on the back brake, rather than the coyote,
really caused the mishap.  Maybe I should consider modifying my bike too.

TC in TX, rbk 

-----Original Message-----
From: AMP-L-owner at u.washington.edu [mailto:AMP-L-owner at u.washington.edu] On
Behalf Of Wayne Renardson 
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 5:24 AM
To: Amputee Information Network
Subject: RE: Motorcycles and Amputees

One day TC wrote:

TC> His front breaks are activated along with the rear breaks, on an 
adjustable bias setup, normally used on race cars.  He said the most 
expensive part of that mod was the extra brake line needed.  

Great idea. I dislike the notion of having a delay between the 
reaction time(s) of my right hand (front brake) and foot (rear 
brake). This would have come in handy a week ago Sunday when I hit an 
ice patch and ka-boom.  


Wayne Renardson