Was up in Scotland at the weekend - good ride up Friday and Saturday was a memorial rideout from Stirling Services to the Green Welly, onto Oban for lunch then back via Glencoe. Its an event going for about 10 years and good social 'start to the season' The first section to the Green Welly past Callendar can be hectic but it then tends to settle down as most ride outs do as people settle into a rhythm / order. Just leaving Callender it went wrong for the lead rider - we 'think' he gave it a handful of gas over a tiny crest as the road has a slight kink under some tall trees. It had been wet over night but was drying fast. He lost control - maybe the back stepped out and it spat him and bike into stone wall and onto road - thankfully nobody else involved and no oncoming traffic. It took 2 hours to stabilize him before he could get in the air ambulance, what was incredible good fortune is 2 good mates of mine were on the ride out and went into 'work mode' having worked as a team as Traffic / response officers they could administer first aid, identify injuries (which are significant) and even take over from the local ambulance crew such is the level of training they have had in their line of work covering the M40 area. Why do I post this? Well just to act as a caution and also... Please wear proper kit esp a back protector, decent lid / gloves and if you get the chance to attend a first aid course / first on scene bike course etc. then please do so. We all spent the first day and night praying for our phones NOT to ring as that would indicate one thing... He has a long, long road to recovery ahead of him, with multiple operations needed in the next few days alone. Was not sure which section to post this in - but this appeared as good as any
Very sobering reminder that we are not invincible. I wish your pal the best of luck and a speedy recovery.
Very sorry to read this and glad that at least recovery is on the cards. That stretch of road is fantastic when tackled at the right time but lethal at others. Just back in from a run up there tonight as it happens. I second the comments regarding first aid training but temper that with an appreciation that I could not do what these guys do, trained or not.
Sorry to hear about your mate always sad to hear of another biker going down, there has been a few this year so far
Sorry to hear this Alblade, but sounds like he was lucky with the company he keeps. Wish him a good recovery.
Sorry to hear about this, but important that you raise the issues you did about rider awareness of road conditions and also protective gear. I read about the Biker Down free first aid courses yesterday, that emergency services run specifically for bikers in some counties. Looks like they don't have such a scheme where I live tho - otherwise I would have definitely been booking myself on one More info here: https://www.facebook.com/bikerdownuk
I hope his recovery is quick and I wish him the very best. Credit to you and your friends for treating him at the scene.
