Man and sloper come a cropper.

[dave.pitt]

Wali Taylor posted something on Facebook...
Anyone know who the poor blighter who has come to grief riding a sloper in Hertfordshire is? Described in the paper as "a 68 year old man, riding his vintage motorcycle..."
He's critical in the George Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. 'Spirit of Ariel' for a full and hasty recovery, whoever you are.

[Simon.Gardiner]

As per Leslie Ore's earlier post here
http://forum.arielownersmcc.com/viewt ... f=7&t=9486

SG

[Bob.Murphy]

The picture in the paper is a library photo - not the actual bike so no clues there (I had a search through the 2019 Sloper Calendar before seeing that small print ).

Someone must know. Best wishes for a full recovery whoever you are.

Bob.

[Dave.Thomas]

Wondered if the library photo bit was correct, seems a needle in a haystack to find another image of a damaged sloper ? Either way, I wish him a speedy recovery whoever he is, sounds a very nasty one.

[john.whiting]

Any crash when you re 68 is a nasty one.

[chris-diamond]

Many thanks for your good wishes, i have just been released from John Radcliffe, a brilliant hospital. On Saturday 1st June i was on my way to meet the VMCC Chiltern section boys to go on a girder fork run, sadly for me i didn't make it. I was doing about 45mph along the A413 in Gerrards Cross the bike was running like clockwork as usual, out of the blue i was thrown from the bike, the results were; i had all my ribs except 1 broken on the left, also my collarbone, my lung was also punctured, my left eyelid and brow needed 15 stitches, the left ankle bone was ground down and needed rebuilding and a skin graft, also my left hand was down to the tendons and also needed a skin graft. I am home now with my leg in a cast and trying not to cough due to the broken ribs, as i was initially in a critical condition, with the possibility of it becoming a fatality the police did a full investigation, photos, measurements etc, and concluded it was the fault of a pot hole, which was repaired straight away. I am really really kicking myself, because if i am riding my old classics or my Triumph speed triple my eyes are constantly scanning the road for pot holes and deep drains etc, this one i missed! I go back to hospital tomorrow to get my plastic surgery checked and hoping to get to see the bike as soon as i am mobile. I am unable to get the bike back until the police have concluded their enquiry and removed the witness appeal signs. Dave Thomas is correct, it is actually a picture of my bike, OFO 805 it was on the Ariel stand at Stafford in 2017, I am praying that the tank is not damaged and looking forward to riding it again. I have learnt two things, to be even more vigilant on pot holes and obstacles and that old people don't bounce very well! Thanks again for your good wishes, Chris Diamond.

[simon.holyfield]

Great to hear you are up and about!

[Steven.Carter]

Thanks for letting us know your on the mend Chris. I've seen a few really big pot holes recently, they have suddenly become even more frightening after reading your experience.

Steve

[paul_turner]

Glad to hear you are on the mend Chris, you are right about the John Radcliffe, took very good care of my grand daughter. I'm sure you will have the sloper back to scratch when you are up to it, in the meantime you still have the best blue mk2 out there bar none! best wishes Paul T.

[Bob.Murphy]

Glad to hear that you are on the mend and hope you make a full recovery and get back on the bikes.

From (thankfully limited) experience, the priorities after an 'off' are:

1. Rush to the bike.
2. look for your passenger.
3. Eventually think about yourself.



Chin up - and keep posting on here, we'd like to hear how you (and the bike, of course) are getting on .

Bob.