Big Ole Bike Bash
Hello all - introducing myself - Printable Version

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Hello all - introducing myself - banditza - 20/05

I am a biker from South Africa, and FWIW, I am blind from a major bike accident I had in November 2005, when someone in a car swerved into me and my wife on our BMw R1100GS, and I ended up in a coma for around 3--4 weeks, and I only really knew where I was, and that I couldn't see around 3 months later.
I got out of the hospital in March 2006, and I have done all sorts of 'training' to sort of make it possible to live at my own home, with a friend living with me, and I am back at work as a web developer for around the last month or so, and I must say, technology is amazing in relation to what I was expecting when I first realised I was now blind.

One more thing - inspired by a guy from the UK, called Billy Baxter, who's in the Guiness Book of Records for doing 180mph on a bike even though he's also blind - I have already ridden my other bike, a bandit 1200 streetfighter, up and down the main straight of Phakisa racetrack with a radio headset, so my friend could instruct me when to veer left, right, and when to stop. If you want to see photos, go to my bike club's website (http://www.hellrazors.co.za), look for the link to the 'gallery' on the left-hand side of the main page, and look for a gallery specific to 'phakisa' or 'razor rash', and you'll see me getting ready to ride, and I think there's also a photo of me actually going down the track.

Anyway, this is my first post, but I'll be back...

Cheers

Jacob
Blind Biker


RE: Hello all - introducing myself - PeteSa - 20/05

Hi Jacob,

Cheers for popping by and saying hi - sounds like quite a massive bunch of circumstances you've had to deal with on all of this since your accident. I have to say though, I'm extremely surprised and very impressed that you've been back on two wheels after your accident again, especially as you've been blinded. Wow.

That must be extremely difficult to carry on. Personally, although I still deeply love biking, I've kept off two wheels ever since my accident (haven't even ridden pillion) so I can only imagine what it's like to get back on. Tell me, is it still as enjoyable as it was for you as I don't think I can ever be so free and easy about it now I know what it's like to experience an off. Never want to go through anything like this again - do you feel the same?

Anyways, as I say, cheers for popping by and hope you keep well.


RE: Hello all - introducing myself - banditza - 20/05

Hi again.

I know it's a little bit silly, but I reckon that with the bad luck I've now had, almost no matter what I do, I'll never come close to anything bad on a bike again...

Who knows. FWIW, I was very careful when I rode on the bike, and even though I took it very slow/careful, I wore full leathers, and a good helmet etc.

Plus, that bandit streetfighter is my baby. I bought it brand new, and have done over 100 000kms on it, and ended up rebuilding it into a streetfighter after it was completely paid off.

Anyway, like I said, stay well, and FWIW, I've sent the link to this site to a bunch of friends, and we'll see who rocks up.

Cheers

Jacob