Be Smart
First off, I would like to say that Dirt Rider is the only magazine that I subscribe to because it reminds me of myself: clever and well put together with a mix of off road riding and motocross. But this isn't about me, its about my uncle. He recently suffered a serious misfortune. I went down to his house to help him get some bikes ready and load them in the trailer for the next day. We were doing some maintenance on a 2000 YZ125 for a girl to ride. We cleaned the air filter and fork seals, and we were about to change the oil. My uncle wanted to warm the bike up so that the oil would easier to change. Seeing no need for a helmet or gear, he rode the bike down the alley. We live in Colorado and there is still some snow and ice around, and he hit some doing about 7 mph in first gear. It was a freak accident that broke his left arm, and cut his right hand and chin. I bandaged his wounds and braced his arm in a magazine, and rushed down to the emergency room. While sitting in the ER, I was thinking about how this crash and others like it can affect people's lives so dramatically. Not only will he not be able to ride for a couple months, but he won't be able to work. I'm not writing this because I want people to feel sorry for him. I am writing this so no one makes a mistake like this one, because helmets and gear are amazingly cheap compared to a trip to the ER for surgery.
Thanks for the reminder, Michael. All of us have done this at one time or another, and luckily most have gotten away unscathed. I paid for this mistake once and it cost me a lot of cash. Thankfully I wasn't responsible for a family at the time. We should always remember, whether we are geared up or not, that any sport that involves motion is dangerous. Do all you can to minimize the danger while still enjoying the motion. Hope your uncle heals up quickly. -Karel Kramer