Dress for the crash, not the ride

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Juan Toledo
  • 56th Operations Support Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) --  Motorcycle riders never want to crash, but true riders get ready to ride by wearing the right safety equipment for the crash, not for the ride.

When I started riding some 34 years ago, I thought all I needed was a motorcycle and a helmet. Although a helmet is a great start, there are several other items of protective gear people should consider wearing.

In addition to an approved helmet that has met safety standards, I wear riding goggles, hearing protection, chest protector, riding jersey, riding gloves, Kevlar-reinforced riding pants with hip pads, riding shorts, kidney belt, knee braces, riding socks and top-of-the-line riding boots.

This was what I decided was important to me after doing my research.

I was glad I selected all of these items when I was involved in a dirt-bike mishap recently. The bike high-sided and threw me off. After I flipped in the air, I landed on the back of my right shoulder. The next thing to hit was my helmet, followed by my upper back. As my lower back and hip area hit the ground, I felt excruciating pain. It turns out my lower back landed on a boulder larger than a basketball.

I ended up in the hospital for a week with a fractured pelvis.

Although I suffered an injury, there is no doubt in my mind things would have been much worse if I had not been wearing my safety equipment. I could be writing this from my new wheelchair.

This is my advice to you: When selecting a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle, you must also consider, as part of your purchase, all of the safety gear required by the Air Force and the optional gear you consider important. If you can buy the motorcycle but can't afford the protective gear, then you can't afford the motorcycle.