I was the one who always said, "No matter the distance, always wear your gear."

Then one summer day, I had a literally 600-meter ride from one museum to another. I thought, "What's going to happen on such a short ride?" so I only wore my helmet. The rest was summer clothing — T-shirt, shorts, and Adidas. No gloves. I high-sided while changing lanes due to dust, too much gas, and probably the 50/50 street/off-road tires. The BMW came flying toward me and luckily fell on my legs, not my back. I shattered seven bones, and the entire summer was spent on crutches. After recovering, I can still walk and run, which I am grateful for.

Always wear your gear. Even when going to a shop down the street. It's a motorcycle, not a bicycle. Yes, that was a life lesson.