Personal Injury Law

When You're Over 50 How Much Bike is Too Much?

By Steve Lombardi

I read where a man 67-years-old was riding eastbound on I-80 at the 142 mile marker. He's in the left lane, his bike leaves the roadway on the left side where he rolls it and is killed. This accident happens at 4:01 pm and he's heading east so the sun would not be a factor unless it's being reflected off of something. There is no indication that was a factor.

First of all I'm sorry this happened to him and his family, but it reminded me of a woman I saw the other day riding a Harley-Davidson in West Des Moines. Like this man, she too was riding a large Harley Davidson and she also looked to be in her 60's. My first reaction was that's way too much bike for those flabby arms. If the bike's front wheel gets out of sorts she's going to be in trouble really quick. And without the necessary strength, which she obviously didn't have, she'll never be able to pull it back to straight or level.

Hey I'm in good physical shape, but I'm also 55 and willing to admit when my age is catching up to me in ways that make certain things just too risky. Woman and old men riding bikes need to evaluate how much is too much bike for them to handle. While this may have been a nice lady, accidents don't have a conscience.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on August 03, 2009 (boomark / email).