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Off-topic Climbers who ride version 2; MOTORcycles 12-Dec-2008 At 9:36:38 PM macey

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Hi. 10 months ago I had the pleasure of having the gearbox on my 99 R1 seize as I changed into 6th gear heading back from a ride around the Hume Weir. As I was knocked unconcious in the accident and suffered PTA, this has only been pieced together from photos, mechanical investigation and prior knowledge of the way my bike used to act. I only purchased the bike 2 months prior to the accident and in hindsight, the gearbox was a bit lumpy and had a little trouble changing from 5th to 6th. It looks like the box seized (witnesses say I was not speeding as they were following in their car), locked the rear, and fishtailed wildly slamming me headfirst into the bitumen at 100kph. I slid 75 metres, hit a metal barrier and woke up unable to breathe due to a punctured lung. I broke my left collarbone, split my right shoulderblade, broke my T4 vertabrae and spent the next 2 weeks in hospital, followed by another 2 weeks in the SWBIRS head injury unit with major concussion, problems with processing information, massive problems with retaining information and general problem solving, along with a great deal of middle ear disruption resulting in poor balance and dizzyness. I still suffer a lot of upper back pain, altered information processing and less than average balance. I've been recovering well and I've returned to climbing over the last few months, though my confidence has been severely effected due to knowing I have poor balance and less than ideal information processing. Having lots of down time DID however, give me time to think about the way I approach climbing. It gave me time to analyse my own climbing style and research the approach that successful climbers take to achieve the amazing things that they do. My accident has taught me not to take life for granted, and to wake up to the fact that it can be lost at any moment without warning. I built a woody and started to really put into practice all the training techniques that Ive learned over this time, and I'm well on my way to climbing harder than I've ever climbed in my life. I just urge other motorcyclists to ALWAYS wear the most expensive leathers, helmet, boots and gloves that you can afford because you cannot look into the future and forsee all accidents and it was only my choice of apparrel which saved my life! I'm lucky that I have the choice to climb again, as many don't even have the chance to walk again or say goodbye to the ones they love. Please be careful out there!!!!!!!