So here is my first post and it's a really annoying and intense reminder. I know, not much riding going on this winter and we know what that means.. some great sales on gear.

The hard core scary graphic version is here - Brittany hops on a bike in 2005 and though she's got protective gear, didn't wear it. Bottom line is she lost over half her skin to third degree burns from "road rash" and a year later, she's still in pain.

The point I took away from this story is that while we have no control over what happens when we're airborn or what we hit when we land, the one thing we can count on - unless we're tossed into the woods or a river - is that we're going to land on pavement. In the game of flesh, concrete and pavement, flesh loses every time.

Sounds like Brittany was fortunate in avoiding any major injuries, but still hellbound for a long time from road rash. Any decent leather or textured outerwear would have at least reduced that road rash to bruises. She's started a new site w/support from the MSF - http://rockthegear.org/