Although I grew up on bikes, there's been a twenty year gap between my last bike as a teenager and my '06 599 that I bought in June. So as a 'new again' rider I've had a strict policy of never going out in the rain until I've got a lot more experience under my belt. I was riding in downtown Toronto with a buddy and it started to rain, so we decided to head home. He was in the lead and turned up a street - I had to wait for traffic, then followed in between the two streetcar tracks. As I'm coming out of the turn, I notice he's pulled over to readjust a package he's got on his tank, and without thinking, I hit the wet track at what must have been a 70-80 degree angle and wham! I'm down before I even know what happened. Broken collarbone and five broken ribs. All that and I was going around 15 mph.

As for the bike - frame sliders are truly a miracle. Scratched mirror, scratched bar end and what amounts to a scuff on the blinker.

Its been about a month now, but its probably going to be another month before I can get back on (I'll likely miss the rest of this season). I think reading this board while I've been laid up has actually helped to calm my fear down a bit about getting back on the bike.

Sorry to hear that. Sounds painful. I had the twenty year riding gap too and the only time I went down when I was younger was in the rain with a slow speed front wheel lock up braking for an intersection. Concerns me whenever I get caught out in the rain.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Unfortunately it seems an awful long time till April 09 here in Canada!

Sorry to hear that. Get well soon and back on the bike!

I've always been paranoid about those tracks. Sorry to hear that my fears were justified! Hope you feel better soon.

I've had 2 significant wrecks on bikes. Totaled my 550 (not hurt - miracle), got all cut up and asphalted falling off my 650. You just get back on and keep riding. Then, you're one of those people you always hear about who "got back on and kept riding". You become a person like that. :ride

Welcome to the Clavicle Club!! The collar bone is not so bad to deal with, but the ribs hurt like hell...How's it feel trying to lay down or sit up in bed? Ouch! I'm glad you're more or less OK, and the bike damage sounds minimal.

Sorry to hear about this, get well soon!

Jeez, it always sucks to have a get off but the injuries are always the worst part. Hope you get better quick, broken ribs are no fun. I never broke a clavicle and hope never to experience it. Get better and get back on - it's nerve wracking sometimes to get back on a bike after a accident but find some quiet streets and you'll be OK in no time. Good luck to ya!

Ouch, ouch, ouch. Take care of yourself and get better soon. I'm glad the sliders did their job.

The ribs are definitely the worst part of it, but they're a lot better now. The old clavicle is just ... well, a little painful but just odd. It broke in two places so I've got a free floating piece in the middle and a pointy end sticking up. They tell me that will go away with time.

The big irony was that I received my new windscreen, centerstand and Rizoma mirrors the week after I got busted up. They're all sitting in their boxes ...

I plan on getting back on my Hornet asap - starting on the quiet, rail free streets first. Thanks for the feedback!

The big irony was that I received my new windscreen, centerstand and Rizoma mirrors the week after I got busted up. They're all sitting in their boxes ...

Wow! What a nice "get back on and go" present! Luckily, that stuff wasn't on the 599 when it went down. Maybe you won't crash again anytime soon. May ALL OF US not crash again anytime soon.

Try to get out of the city if you can. There are some fun biking roads starting not far east of you... check these out when you're up to it. Satisfaction guaranteed.

County Road (CR) 10 south from Newcastle, along the lake, then north to Millbrook. And, in no particular order,
CR 29 from Hwy 45 to Hwy 30
CR 21 from Hwy30 to CR 25
CR 25 from Colborne to Warkworth
CR 24 (Dartford Rd) from CR25 to Roseneath
CR 18 (Rice Lake Scenic DR) from Roseneath to Cobourg

Happy ridin' 8)

I'm sorry to say, but that's a football season-ending injury. Heal up in the preseason and get ready for a less action-packed year!

:cry: Well that really sucks. Wishing you a quick recovery.

Try to get out of the city if you can. There are some fun biking roads starting not far east of you... check these out when you're up to it. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Thanks for the routes - just what I've been looking for. I guess me and google maps have some planning to do :wink:

Try not to sneeze :D

Ouch!! there's a painful memory...