Modern Vespa

This morning, about 3:30 am, while commuting to work on my MP3, I was hampered by a thick fog, the kind you can cut with a knife. Water beads ran off my face shield like rain and visibility was about twenty feet ahead. As a matter of fact, I had to follow a cager close enough so that I could see where I was going.
Was getting close to the airport where I work and I miss a left turn, so I slowed down to an "almost" stop when I noticed a cager right behind me. That caused me to turn too sharp to avoid him and that caused the scooter to start leaning to the left. With the cager behind me, all I thought about was getting out of his way and the scooter suddenly got heavier and heavier as gravity took over.
Down it went with my leg under it as I surrendered and took the fall. The cager stopped behind me and asked me if I was alright. He saw me after all. I told him I was alright and he then went on his way.
With the engine still running, I reached over and hit the "kill" switch, then grabbed the rear handle and lifted the bike back up.
Result: small scratch on the rear pannel and reflector, plus a scrape on my shin.

sorry to hear about your minor mishap and glad you are ok.

this is just another Murphys Law.

Thanks, the odds were against me with that fog so all things considered, I think I fared well.

glad to hear that you are alright.

Without the fog I have done the same. Had to have help get off me and broke 3 ribs in the process. Again glad you are OK Mel

Dang it empty, that sux but glad you are ok. I know what you mean by fog...we are having it up here too and I had to continually wipe my visor on my morning commute. Found myself going real slow in some parts while constantly looking to my mirrors for fast closing cagers.

Again, glad you are ok!

So glad to hear that you are okay after that scary scenario. I have taken a fall in a turn on a motorcycle. The important thing is that you are okay. Then the next thing to consider is how to prevent or avoid or improve the outcome for the next time. I know that I had not given enough power to the bike when I made the turn, and the centrifugal force wasn't sufficient to hold the bike up in the turn. So I went right down. That has helped me when I go into turns to remember to roll on!

I also bet you may have some bruises and scrapes you may not even have been aware of right after the fall.

Happy you are okay!

When I rode out near San Francisco I found out something about fog - it's insidious! It will slowly white out your visor unless you constantly attend to it. So if you're riding in it - be sure to take note if the fog seems to get "thicker and thicker".

Glad to hear you are OK! Sounds like it could've been much worse!

In regards to the shin injury -- the UPS guy just dropped these off for me:
http://www.newenough.com/armor/elbow_shoulder_knee_worn_on_the_body/icon/field_armor_leg.html

(and a pair of boots):
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/boots/teknic/sturgis_motorcycle_boots.html

Ride safe! And you can always get a decal to cover the scratch on the rear panel...
http://www.signnetwork.com/Decals-p-1-c-4885.html
(they'll even do custom artwork)

Glad to hear you're ok.

Oh yeah California valley fog - the land of 50 - 100 car pile ups. Happens every year on either Hwy 5 or 99. I just don't even try. It isn't even safe to pull over cause they hit you anyway. Got caught in it once while I was pulling my horse trailer with a 1 ton dually and a cab over camper. I had to keep going but was scared for several miles. Fortunately loads of lights on the trailer both high and low. But sometimes the fog is so thick you can't see it till you are 10 feet away from it. Pretty scary.

Dale

Thanks again, and it was good in a way that it was dark and desolate. Only the cager saw it and I didn't even see his face, only heard his voice in the dark. He probably works at the airport also and since I have the only MP3 on the employee lot, word will probably get out how the guy on the three wheeler took a header.

glad that you're ok sir. i am lucky that we don't have fog problems here but as with all things being fair, singapore has some of the worst cagers in the world.
hit and run and DUI are very common.

Glad that you are okay. Are you wearing a full face helmet at that time? You should try the anti fog that can allow visibilty. I have a Nolan 102 and the visor have a place where you can secure an anti fog to it. First few days of wearing the helmet without the anti fog was bad as the breathing itself fogged up the visor. Put the piece of anti fog on and it was a world of difference! I think it should work when it is foggy cos' when heavy rain occurs, the anti fog works just as well. Cheers!

I have a 3/4 helmet with a face shield and was shopping yesterday for a full face/flip up, but had a hard time putting on my glasses after the helmet is on. It is too snug (as should be) to be able to slip a pair of glasses on. I'll have to look into "Lasik" surgery perhaps.

How about contacts?

I'm still fortunate to have 20/15 vision at 36yo.

Don't ask me why but I've had this phobia about contacts, but perhaps the helmet issue will have me revisit the contacts issue. Thanks.

I also wear glasses - what I do is this: flip up the front (mines a modular), pull out on the chin straps to spread the front opening and pull down. Sort of like going back to the womb The glasses may get a little crooked but they stay on and require minor straightening using this method. There is no way I can get the thing on with the front down.

+1 BubbaJon. I use the same method with my Nolan modular whether I'm wearing my prescription lenses, my prescription sunglasses, or my new Oakley Nanowire frames with my contacts. 8)

It was a major effort finding sunglasses that my helmet wouldn't deform as it slipped over them, though. The Nanowire fit my head & helmet the best of the several makes and models I tried (mainly Maui Jims and Oakleys).

I tried on one full face helmet that you can raise the chin part by pushing a button. It felt so snug that when I tried putting on my $400 pair of flexible titanium wire rim glasses, I just couldn't get them above my ears. Perhaps I needed a larger size helmet but there weren't any available. That's one reason I won't order a helmet through the internet, I need to try that sucker on my head first.

check out this for modular flip up helmets. I have a Zox and I wear glasses. Just open the helmet leave glasses on and put on like a 3/4 lid .

http://www.compacc.com/cat.cfm/cid/1201002

these are just some that are out there.

edit: just saw your last post about not orderind thru the net. when I ordered mine I used the sizing chart supplied by the manufacture and it was a perfect fit when I recieved it. Aslo comp. acc has a very good return or motosport whom I use also is good about returns. check them both out and contact them and ask questions first.

Yes, I saw the sizing chart on the site, however, I have an odd shaped head in all reality so I would have to physically try on the helmet. I need a store or dealer that carries oodles and oodles of helmets.

Emptynest, +1 on what others have said about pulling on the chin straps. Also very helpful to have a beanie or bandanna over the tops of your ears. My glasses' temples wrap around the ears, so putting them on after the helmet was out of the question.

Another happy, round-headed Nolan N102 owner here.

With the helmet I have now, I put it on while wearing my glasses, then once the helmet is set, I adjust them on my ears since the helmet whacks them out of place as it slides onto my head.
Other helmets I've tried were too narrow and tight on the sides making it virtually impossible to adjust the rims since my ear lobes are too tight against the padding.

I'm happy to read this conversation of how to be safer..

Thank you for having the three quarter on...It worked for you, didn't it.

I have both the three quarter and a full which only the visor flips ups.. With the full I take off my wire rimmed glasses and put the helmet on, then insert the glasses through the visor. It takes a litter effort, but in the end it's worth it...

I know you will do what is right for you...I know this, because you already have. So glad you're with us....

Another rider died here last weekend, he was in his 50s, experienced. A car hit him. He wasn't wearing a helmet. He died of head injuries.
So sad.

I can talk and read and write about helmets and gearing up 24/7/365 until the cows come home, because it means me and my friends are safe....

BE SURE to post a pic of the helmet you buy....You know, I love the ensembles......

Love you guys.,,,,cheers.....jacq

BTW,.. how about a pic of the helmet you wore...

Years ago, I laid down a little 175 Yamaha pn an asphalt curve. I wore a 3/4 helmet...There was such a wide scrape across the face shield I couldn't see through it...That could have been my FACE....So, yeah,, I'm wearing a helmet.

Glad that you're doing fine, emptynest... sorry about your accident, but I'm glad it was something you could walk (drive) away from! Hat tip, sir.

The glasses I wear and the helmet I use.

Both look like mine,,..Preeetty...Maybe you could look at some good cycle pants. Alittle something for the knees you're going to need when you get alittle older....

cheers....jacq

I'm afraid I'm a little too late for your pants. My knees are pretty much shot with my right one being the worse.

Darn it Daddy...I'm truly sorry to hear that about your knees...But still, you might want to think over the road rash skin graft you wouldn't need when wearing some fetching Tour Master pants... Or prehaps Joe Rocket would suit your personality better. First Gear has some dashing selections...Not to mention BMW has some Hi Viz gear that can make you heart race...
I hope I'm tempting you...A splendid fitting pair of pants can make your "walk away" a thing of beauty....

I'm thinking I'm not alone when I write: Toreador Pants is sexy...Hospital visits are boring....

Love ya, man.....I know you will do what's right for you....And thanks for taking my good natured teasing...You know, I just want us to have fun and live well.....cheers...jacquie

I just have to ask Jaqcui..I recognize your avatar as a happy head wearing a WW1 flight mask, but is the rest of the body a hula girl wearing a lei?? It's really bugging me girl and I gots to know..