Lost a Riding Buddy Over the Weekend

[Jeff Higgins]

I just can't believe this has happened... One of my best riding buddies is dead. Patt (yes, that's with two "T's") and I have been riding together for a decade. Thousands of miles - nay, tens of thousands of miles, have passed beneath our wheels together. Patt was one of the best riders I know; he lived on his motorcycle, it being his daily commuter, grocery getter, and weekend escape. One of the kindest, gentlest, most giving people I have ever been privilaged to know. The world is a lesser place today...

http://www.startribune.com/local/27744354.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP

If you read the article, you will certainly notice it mentions he was riding without a helmet. That makes me very, very angry - not that the article mentions it, but that he was. All three of these guys were. I just don't understand why that is so deeply entrenched in the Harley culture. Now I will never support helmet laws, as I feel guys like Patt should be free to pick their own poison, but their stupid decisions just continue to both sadden and anger me. Patt and I discussed this over the years, as he rides in his little bull***** Jewish scull cap of a helmet (Washington is a mandatory helmet state), and me in my full face. He "knew the risks", and "accepted" them. Yeah right. Now he's gone, and I am angry with him for that. The rest of us have to carry on without him. May he rest in peace. At least until I catch up with him...

[rattlsnak]

I just don't understand not wearing a helmet. It's a law here, but when I travel I see ALOT of people not wearing them in different states. But also, I've noticed, it's not the guys on the sport bikes, it's always the guys on the 'cruisers'/harley style, that seem to be the ones who dont wear them.

Either way, sorry for your loss.

[trekkor]

I'm sorry to hear this bad news.

Let me know if I can offer you some encouragement.


KT

[nostatic]

Sorry to hear Jeff. Condolences to his family and friends.

CA has a helmet law, and the beanies are popular with the cruiser crowd. I see them out in force, usually with shorts, tank top and tennis shoes. I just don't get it...

[Rick Lee]

Man, that sucks. The article doesn't say how/why he veered into the median. Was he forced into it by a lane-changing car? Any alcohol involved?

I have to confess that, since moving to AZ, I ride a lot sans helmet. But I only do it between my house and the two traffic lights about one mile away when going to the gym or grocery store. The speed limit is 30 mph there. If I have to go beyond those two lights, I wear full gear - boots, pants, jacket, gloves, full face helmet, even if only going a mile beyond those intersections. I can't stand reading about bike deaths. It gives me the chills. But I still think I'd rather take my chances than spend my life on the road in a car.

[JavaBrewer]

The stereotypical HD rider is supposed to be a rebel tough guy. It's hard to pull that image off when you're wearing a helmet. In States that enforce the helmet law they ride with the beanie style protest helmets that will offer limited, if any, protection. Edit - not to make this a HD bashing thread the stunting sport bike crowd have the same "bold" image to uphold.

I think most folks just don't really understand how fragile the human body/head is. Try dropping a watermelon out the car window at 25+mph and see what happens when it hits a curb.

I have never ridden a motorcycle without a helmet but then I liked motorcycle helmets and thought they looked cool. Now in my 10+ years of road bicycles I refused to wear a helmet on training rides cause I thought bicycle helmets looked stupid. Pot meet kettle...

Jeff, very sorry that you lost a friend. RIP.

[RPKESQ]

Sorry to hear about this Jeff. I understand your anger. Sorry for your loss.

Many cultures have negative aspects embedded within them. It would seem that he "made" his choice and paid for it in full.

[Superman]

Very sorry to hear this, Jeff.

My first few vehicles were motorcycles and I wore a helmet sometimes, sometimes not. I happened to be wearing it on the day I collided with a Dodge Dart. The Dart won. Any quick review of that collision would quickly verify to anyone the fact that my life was saved by that helmet. No doubt about it. Today, I would not ride a motorcycle across the street without a helmet.

Sorry for your loss, Jeff.

[911boost]

Damn Jeff, sorry to see this posted.

Lets not turn this into a helmet / no helmet thread.

It goes to show you, when its your time, its your time.

Bill

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I have to confess that, since moving to AZ, I ride a lot sans helmet. But I only do it between my house and the two traffic lights about one mile away when going to the gym or grocery store.

Rick, I really think you need to reconsider this behavior. Traffic lights/intersections are the most dangerous spots for a bike. Combine that with your attitude that it's "only a couple blocks away" and well...

Last year a very experienced rider was participating in a track day. He had many under his belt. He rode the bike to the inspection w/o helmet. On the way back he slipped on something going 15 mph and fell on his head and did not survive.

Wear the lid every single time!

[jhynesrockmtn]

Jeff,

So sorry to hear this. I know you've mentioned in other threads having gone through this with a few other riding buddies. RIP to your friend.

There was a thread I was reading on PNWriders.com yesterday about a guy killed in Redmond over the weekend wearing one of those thin "skull cap" helmets. Strap broke and he died of head trauma.

I don't understand the no helmet mentality either. I'm a fairly new rider as you know. I've just told myself if I don't have the patience to put all the gear on every time including overpants, full face helmet, etc. I won't ride. It is a pain on an 80 degree day but that's the deal I've made with myself.

I'm the same way on a bicycle. I've broken two bike helmets in falls. They've saved me from worse injuries than I sustained. My broken bones healed. A broken head often does not.

Hopefully others will learn from this tragedy.

[VincentVega]

Bad news, sorry for your lose.

Hopefully this will make some guys think about better protection, I know I am.

[stomachmonkey]

Sorry to hear.

Going thru this with one of my staff. His in-laws did a 2 week trip from TX to NY and back with some other friends.

They were on the return leg on Sunday about 3-4 hours from home when the rear tire (brand new for the ride) blew.

F-in law has a couple of broken ribs and collarbone, M-in law landed on her head, wearing helmet, and is paralyzed from neck down with barely any brain activity. Dr's say IF she lives she'll be a vegetable anyway.

F-in law is wrestling with whether or not to pull the tube.

Sucks big time.

[VINMAN]

Jeff, so sorry to hear. May he RIP.

[Jim727]

Sorry to hear that, Jeff. I'm not a rider, but certainly agree with your sentiments on the helmet.

Condolences to you and to his family.

[The Gaijin]

Sorry Jeff Man.

[scottmandue]

Sorry to hear this Jeff,

When I was a kid I went over the handlebars riding down hill on my dirt bike and landed on my face. If I wasn't wearing a full face helmet it would have been very messy.

[lookin]

Jeff-

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

Dale

[pwd72s]

Sorry to hear about your friend, Jeff....but let's face it, riding a motorcycle entails extra risk. Everybody who jumps aboard knows that. Or should...

[targa911S]

So sorry for your loss. Especially as it may have been preventable.

I hope you don't catch up with him any time soon.