Bruise Redux

Yesterday is one week from the initial injury. Saturday and Sunday were uncomfortable to say the least. I really wanted to go hiking at Government Canyon (and use my new Texas State Parks Pass) but I just didn't feel well. My calves were cramping and my left arm hurt. I took some aspirin and put some heat on the bruise last night.

I spoke with someone else who had the same thing happen to her (only perhaps even worse) and she told me it took three weeks for the bruise to go away. I would say that by week one I've gotten a modestly large bruise whose size seems to have stabilized.

For the record, this bruise is as large (if not somewhat larger) than any I've ever picked up in a motorcycling accident. I am also starting to wonder about the possible side effects of regular platelet donations. Evidence exists for long-term health problems, but finding and understanding what those problems are remains slightly elusive. Anyone willing to help decipher this stuff for me? I'd be very appreciative!

Taken Saturday, April 28, 2007 after
returning home from work (Day 6).

An Eye for a Bruise

This is about two things: contacts and donating platelets. The latter involves a picture which may or may not be cool to look at during work. Then again, why would you be looking at my blog during work hours? Quit wasting company time and keep America productive! (Everyone else from other countries can disregard that last statement - gotta keep the dollar strong, right?)

I got fitted for contacts Monday and have worn them for the first time all week. Oh, the joys of poking my fingers in my eyes! I'm using two different brands (one for each eye) to see which I like best. So far, it's the one that's easiest to put in and take out!

Now for the cool part: I donated Sunday. (If I donated Monday, I could have had a full cholesterol bloodwork run for free). But my arm slipped just a little, causing the needle to go through the vein. When the machine drew blood from my arm, that wasn't really a problem. However, it siphons out the platelets and returns the blood to my arm. In this case, it didn't pump the blood into my veins but the cavity in my arm around the vein. Fortunately I had a technician right there when it started happening and he stopped the return when he saw me suddenly express a lot of pain in my face.

Yeah, it's funny now. That's why I'm saving the picture for last.

I won't be able to donate for two more months because the machine kept whole blood. In the mood I was in this weekend - despising humanity ad nauseum - it didn't really matter to me.

So with three days to fester, here's the bruise now. You can see the red mark where the needle went in my arm.


Didn't I have a rough time the last time I went to that particular center to donate? (Yes.) Will I ever learn? (No.)

FJR Damage Spots

Here are some things to look for when your FJR takes a fall:

On the back side of the bike, check the muffler for scratches. The swingarm may be susceptible to damage, but I've been fortunate that the muffler has taken all of the impact from those situations each time from that side of the bike.

From the front, look for damage to the mirrors, handlebar ends, levers and turn signals. The handlebars may distort. If you have risers, those may become damaged, too. The upper and lower fairings often show damage on their extremeties.

I had mounted a pair of PIAA 1100X driving lights under the upper fairing. Obviously, it was completely destroyed in this lowside.

Even with thousands of dollars in damage,
the FJR can still strike a pose!

Check the windshield for scratches. Debris kicked up from a slide will scratch it. Same goes for the headlight. Take the upper fairing off on the side of the impact and inspect the headlight for broken tabs. (This is an indication you will have to replace the headlight). Check for smooth operation of the windshield. If it does not travel in the middle of its openings at all time, then either the lifting mechanism is bent or the subframe (which is more likely) is bent. Heavy aftermaket windshields may cause more damage in a lowside. My first lowside sheared all the plastic screws and sent the shield skimming down the road. The FJR has two subrames in the front of the bike; I've destroyed both of them. One holds the windshield, the other the battery.

You can see the frame slider bent and wore away. This bugger saved my jeans-wearing right knee from becoming one with the asphalt. I can still walk, thanks to this. Those guys that think these are for saving plastic don't know what a truly excellent investment these are.


Not shown: The upper and lower fairings were hit so hard, they pushed into the gas tank and chipped out some of the tank's paint. This happened because a small support behind the battery that connected the frame to the upper fairing failed. There are a few small tabs on the upper fairing that are easily broken but impossible to find without pulling the plastic.

I found a little road rash under the front fork. This is common on all laid-down bikes.

I hit some serious gravel. The evidence on the tires shows a telling story. See the "Merry Christmas" top picture.

On the left hand side, the clutch basket will take damage. Also check the kickstand, centerstand, shift lever, brake pedal and foot pegs for abnormal wear.

Backroads Playground

I took this route recently:
Google Map

Loop 1604 to Babcock Road.

Babcock Road to Scenic Loop Road.

Scenic Loop Road to Boerne Stage Road/Toutant Beauregard Road.

Toutant Beauregard becomes Upper Balcones.

Enter Beorne. Take 46 into town, jog left onto US 87, and right back onto 46.

Beorne is an excellent place to stop for gas, food or shopping.

Hang a left onto South Esser Road which becomes 474.

474 dead ends into 473. Go East through Kendalia. Exit US 281.

The convenience store in Kendalia offers a nice
midway point to stop and grab a cold beverage.

Go south and take 311 to 3159, which turns into Smithson Valley Road.

Smithson Valley Road jogs at 1863 to return to loop 1604 or you can take 3009 to 2252 to loop 1604.

Back in the saddle again...

Thanks to Aerosmith (lyrics) for the "return to duty" as I rode to work for the first time in two weeks. My sinus infection is all but gone, though my allergies still have a hint of irritability. Regardless, I feel ten times better than I did a week ago, and it's good to be back on two wheels.

But even just taking the long way home last night, I noticed that I was a bit out of shape. Between that and the cooling evening air, I made a good decision to make the ride a little shorter than I originally desired.

The ability to ride for longer periods of time takes conditioning. When I first started riding, half an hour or an hour seemed like a long ride... A trip from Daytona to St. Augustine and back seemed like a major ordeal. Since then, it's not uncommon for me to do twice that on a weekend.

Perhaps those all-night/all-day rides from San Antonio to Daytona a few years ago put things into perspective. Regardless, conditioning played a big role in how well I handled the stress of those rides. I could tell that I'm at a low point right now with just that ride home.

I do have a plan: I'm going to sell the XT (*sigh* - it's running great now) and make room in the garage for exercise. I'll dedicate about 45 minutes to an hour each morning (during the week) to exercise. We have a ton of videos (thanks to my wife), some free weights and an exercise mat. Plus, much of the garage is carpeted. (Are my bikes spoiled or what?)

So, I'm going to finish the antibiotics this week and start arranging the garage in such a way as to have some room to exercise. (And, no the living room won't work for us).

A Bloody Nose, A Pain in the Butt...

Remember those allergies from my last post? Well, it's gotten worse. I've mostly lost my voice, I've been draining a little bit of blood from my snot and coughing up some blood in my mucus and it's still that nasty green color. It's definitely from all that nose-blowing, coughing and drying out from my allergy medicines.

I went to see the doctor yesterday (after a week of the bad stuff) and he suggested a shot to help out. He also prescribed an even stronger anti-histamine/decongestant. And if that didn't work out, he said, he hand-wrote a prescription for an antibiotic. The shot is some kind of steroid that would supposedly make me feel great and the pills would only be a precaution.

I volunteered for the shot, despite the fact that I'm nearly phobic towards needles. (One must confront their fears instead of shying from them to become stronger). I didn't realize that I'd have to cross my legs, pull my pants down a bit and take it in my "hip." If one of my coworkers had been the doctor, he would have said (rather crudely) that I should "take it in the bobo and like it!" Well, my butt is still sore and I've not even been riding!

I'm still draining the nasty stuff. So, I'm off to fill the antibiotic prescription.

In the meantime, the XT has been lounging around the Yamaha shop and is ready for it's return home. Sadly, it will ride home in the back of my truck. But it's good to know that having been tinkered with by the mechanic that it's probably good to go for another 5 to 10 thousand miles with only routine maintenance.

On the other hand, a coworker has offered to buy it in the next couple months, so we'll see how that goes. Perhaps once this is all done, I can start back to work on losing a few pounds and getting back in to shape. Again.

'Tis the Season

I've not posted for a while. Part of that was deliberate. I've had a lot of posts lately. On the other hand, I've been busy with work - which is normal - but I've been extremely tired afterwards. In the middle of last week, I began an affliction of allergies which - over the weekend - turned into a sinus infection.

When I went to work yesterday, I did not eat as much as I normally did. I excused myself regularly to blow my nose, hack up some green stuff or whatever. The fact that the air conditioning was broken (and it always seems to get warmer inside the building than outside), I was plenty miserable. I fell asleep watching the Spurs game last night - though that isn't altogether very unusual.

So, did I ride? No.

As a rule - and I've discovered, it's a very good rule - I do not ride when I'm feeling unwell. If my reaction times or judgment seem impaired, then I eliminate riding as an option. I did spend about two hours riding on Sunday, but I was exhausted upon arriving home.

So, this Spring and Summer here are two things to look out for: allergies and dehydration. Both are easy to overlook. The medicines we take for allergies cause many of the same symptoms as dehydration: dizziness, sleepiness, lack of clarity of thought - all of which can be fatal to a biker or any commuter, for that matter.

In hindsight, the accident that precluded the purchase of the XT600 gave me lots of warning signs: I was not feeling 100% (I convinced myself that I just needed some 'fresh air.') I also got that "feeling," which told me that something was not right. I decided I'd just be careful. I also thought about wearing some leg protection, but opted for jeans - just that day - I thought. Any extra protection I could have worn would have been used.

So, I'm taking the cage to work today. But it's okay: they know me there!