Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

So, on the plus side, I now have a pretty good idea of where the adhesion limit of the Michelin pilot city tire is.

On the minus side, I'm in a surprisingly large amount of pain.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

Just eat a block of cheese and wash it down with a rum and coke like you know you want to

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

I'm on my fourth glass of the evening. It's a fine analgesic. What sucks is that I usually rest my drink on a table to the left of the sofa, and that's the side that the broken ribs are on.

At any rate, an update:

The bike has been 100% reliable. Been commuting 4-5 days a week since I built it, and not a single problem related to the electrical drive system at all. The firmware in the CycleAnalyst ECU has also reached a pretty decent level of maturity. Closed-loop current throttle is working like a charm- that feature alone justifies the purchase price of the system. I've no idea when they plan to finally put a stamp on it and call it a release (Justin is still fiddling with torque-sensing cranksets) but I'd say it's definitely ready for prime time.

Speed/power are still impressive. Ironically, I've gotten used to cruising along at 25 MPH on level ground, and find it amusingly frustrating when I'm stuck behind an Olympic-level cyclist and have to wait to pass.

Range is turning out to be slightly better than expected. Yesterday I rode 21 miles of fairly hilly terrain, pushing the system pretty hard and fast (peak motor temp was 72° C) and consumed just under 7 Ah. For this terrain model, that puts total range at around 30 miles. Flatter terrain (and lower speed) would easily extend that to 40+.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

Pics of your injuries

JasonC SBB

Ouch. Cracked ribs take 6 weeks.

You need to avoid catching a cold. Sneezing will HURT.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

six weeks? I still get pain on my right side from cracking two ribs when I was a teenager

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

Some blood on there with a fake bone so dont watch if you cant handle it.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Nothing much to photograph, actually. A little road-rash on my left arm and shoulder, and some bruising on my left hip. Only one abrasion serious enough to merit bandaging, and that only just.

Unfortunately, the silk shirt I was wearing is a write-off. I really liked that shirt. It was *really* comfortable and airy.

I was coming downhill at about 30 MPH, approaching a left turn signal that I had seen turn green from a distance, and knew from experience would be going yellow just before I hit it. I had more than enough room to stop, but decided to gun it and take the light.

I'll note at this point that I am running the equivalent of NT-01 tires on this bike. Sticky as hell, right up until you hit the limit. Great for building false confidence

Unfortunately, a street-sweeper had just gone through the cross-street, and had left a trail of water across the intersection. I was already leaned over hard into the turn when I hit it, and there was just no recovering.

Ironically, I had a six-pack of Trader Joe's Dunkelweizen in the left-rear basket, and while the bottles were scattered all around the intersection, not a single one broke. A nice older gentlemen who stopped at the scene helped me gather them up.



Also, a brief note on helmets and helmet-usage:

This is the fourth time I've kissed the pavement in a serious way. The first time (on a 10-speed) knocked me out and landed me in the hospital with a concussion. After that I got serious about protecting my head, and have had the pleasure of standing up and walking away from the three which followed. (Well, technically I was carried away from the third while strapped to a backboard and wearing a cervical collar, but I never lost consciousness.) Given that #2-4 all resulted in multiple fractures and involved a motorized vehicle whereas #1 did not, I anecdotally infer that those crashes were far more severe, and that a lack of cranial protection would have resulted in either death or my being rendered a drooling vegetable.

All the gear, all the time. Live by it.



Yeah, this ain't my first time. I'm not looking forward to the next few days.

Bring on the naproxen sodium.


On the plus side, the bike fared pretty well. The left handlebar mirror was destroyed, but the collapsible rear cargo baskets (which were both extended and full) acted as frame-sliders and soaked up the majority of the damage. The electronics all came out unscathed. In fact, I rode the rest of the way home (about a mile) on battery power alone. The battery bag has partially failed at the upper seams (at the point where the velcro straps which secure it to the frame are attached) and will need to be replaced, but it did its job and protected the battery and BMS, which appear to be totally unharmed.



This is just another in a long list of orthopedic injuries. The only ones that ever give me trouble are the right clavicle (which healed crooked as hell due to shitty medical care) and the fifth metatarsal in my left foot (that bone apparently never really heals properly owing to insufficient vascularity.) I've busted up the ribs before, and they've never given me trouble. The trick is to avoid giving ******** during the healing process, just FYI. It puts a lot of strain on the torso.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

There's an older guy who used to get his hair cut at the local barber shop. It was impossible to miss the pathetic site he made, drooling and carrying on trying to pick his favorite flavor of lollipop from the little basket in the waiting area. He had been an attorney before he took a spill on his bicycle sans head protection and the fall left him in that beshitted state. The poor guy is like a walking billboard for helmet use. I cycle roughly 15 miles a day when I'm home and I always wear my helmet. I'd rather look like a retard than be a retard.

What's AbeFM going to do without your sweet, pouty lips wrapped around his weiner while he catches up on The X-Files?

curly

iTrader: (25)

Make/model of helmet? I use a Nutcase. After using a full faced motorcycle helmet, those styrofoam yamakas everyone suggested looked laughable. Mine feels like a helmet and has the most interesting buckle.......................in the world.

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

I did.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Funny you mention this. I haven't seen Abe in a couple of years, and he still owes me money. Gonna have to do something about that...


It's a pretty ordinary styrofoam yamaka (lol), a Giro Indicator. Wasn't terribly expensive, but it's extremely light and comfortable and has good airflow.

The helmet actually fared pretty well. I smacked the pavement pretty hard on the left side, and while the outer shell is dented in a couple of spots, it stayed in one piece and did its job. I will no doubt be replacing it with an identical unit. Few things give you as much confidence in a helmet as actually putting it to the test and walking away afterwards.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

I'd pay good money for the video of your wreck

curly

iTrader: (25)

They're only rated for one impact, and the older they are, the easier they tend to shatter. Has to do with how much UV it's been exposed to or some crap like that. I'd highly suggest replacing it.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

I wouldn't mind the Nutcase helmets if they had a more "aggressive" shape.

Also, some of the graphics are questionable.

I do realize that you're wearing it for protection and not to make a fashion statement but c'mon bro.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

It probably didn't look all that impressive from the outside. Just a bike coming into a turn way too fast with the rider leaned over like a Moto GP wannabe, hitting a wet patch, and then getting all out of sorts. I actually managed to get it more-or-less upright before losing it altogether, which in retrospect was a mistake as it made the wreck more of a high-side. I should have just laid it down, but you know how it is in the heat of the moment... "Noooo, I can save this!"


Yeah, like I said before, I plan on replacing it with an identical unit. I'm a firm believer in the one-hit rule when it comes to lids. My skull is worth more than $50.

pusha

iTrader: (5)

I busted my *** a few months ago when I hit some damp tree sap and, according to witnesses, it looked pretty spectacular. Also my gun flew out of my band and landed in the middle of the street. That was an awkward way to stop traffic.

curly

iTrader: (25)

Oh, I was under the mistaken impression that you weren't replacing it cause it only got dented. Good boy Joe.

blaen99

iTrader: (6)

Joe, I am glad to hear that you are all right, for certain meanings of all right (In this case, not being dead!)

I am sorry to hear about the body damage. I hope you heal up soon!

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Reminds me of the joke about how 2+2=5, for extremely large values of 2.

In retrospect, I probably seemed like some macho ******* telling one of the ladies who was offering me a ride home "no, I'm fine. Just a couple of broken ribs."


So now, I'm sitting here watching OJ Simpson play an astronaut who is part of a conspiracy to fake the US manned landing of Mars.