Center Stand and Achilles Tendons

[DrSteve]

I have hesitated to write this, thinking readers would find it of little value in the midst of so many other rider ‘experiences’ to read about.  Friends advised me otherwise. 

I’ll make it brief and if you have questions, send them my way.  There are others on this forum who have had the same or similar experiences - I hope they jump in as well.

On March 30,  I was putting one of my bikes on its center stand, something I had done hundreds of times, and my Achilles tendon ruptured - snapped like a rubber band.  The sound was gruesome and it felt like I had been struck by lightening on my lower right leg.  Then, nothing.  No physical pain but the emotional pain was immediate and immense.  I knew something very serious had just happened and the plans for riding later that day, for the weeks and months ahead were no longer certain.  Walking was out of the question too, as I was to learn.

As I imagine many of us do when an unexpected calamity strikes, we look back in an attempt to discover what we did or didn’t do that contributed to the issue.  I can not be certain but I believe I was thinking about something other than the task at hand.  Having lifted this bike easily twice earlier in the day, I was not fully concentrating on positioning my body properly, placing the ball of my foot precisely, pressing and pulling slowly and smoothly.  I don’t recall and I never will know with certainty what I could have done differently.

I am riding again, much to the chagrin of my physical therapists, and being very cautious when putting both feet down, not trusting my right leg, which has atrophied significantly.  Mt doctors say my surgically repaired tendon will require 6 months to a year to fully heal and that I may never regain all the functionality I had before.  One thing is for sure, no more center stands for me - ever.

Some experiences are best had vicariously - let’s hope this is one. 

[brenchley]

Someone wrote about something similar on the NHTSA website.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/TRIUMPH/TROPHY

[HACKLE]

DrSteve, I know exactly how you feel. In April 2016 along with other FarRide/IBA members I completed a SS1600 kilometre ride to honour the son of one of the participants. Young Ethan had spent 12 months recovering from open heart surgery.
   I was riding a Yamaha Super Tenere at the time. With tank bag, panniers [one carrying a full 10 litre jerry], and my tool bag on the pillion seat, I tried to put the bike on the centre stand at a fuel stop. First attempt was a bit lame, so I put more effort into the second attempt. That's when the upper achilles that sheathed the calf muscle let go.
    I might mention that after many years of competitive long distance running I had torn this once before, many years ago. A long recovery brought me back to what was the end of my running days. Then this, to remind me that I was still vulnerable.
    All I can say, is treat your leg with the utmost respect from now on. If you have to put your Trophy on the centre stand, firstly put a piece of five ply or similar flat wood under the rear tyre to lift the rear higher. This will put the centre stand in a more perpendicular position, thus not requiring as much pressure to raise the bike onto it.
    I hope this little bit of info helps. Cheers.

[Coconut]

Hi Dr. Steve,

Thank You for Posting this - it serves as a timely reminder to all
that the Trophy IS a HEAVY machine, and requires respect even when
carrying out something as apparantly mundane as putting it onto the centre stand.

I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you, but glad that you are back riding again 

To try and make light of what must have been a terrible experience,
at least you can say that you have a Trophy which gave you "atrophy" ! 

Cheers 

[earthman]

I'm wondering what's the best foot/leg technique to adopt to prevent this happening in the first place?

For example, I try to keep that foot/leg at a natural position, 90 degrees I guess, I try to make it feel like I'm just stepping up on that prong rather than using any leverage from that area to push down on it as such.

Sometimes my left leg does hover above the ground too, it were a bit disconcerting the first time, to know that my whole body weight is on that prong basically and the bike hasn't rocked backed onto the stand fully,...it always does though.

At 13 to 14 stones, I'm not exactly lightweight, so I dunno how a lighter person would get on with this technique.

I certainly agree about being totally focused on this task in the first place, only attempt it on flat level ground and only retract the side stand after the bike is safely on the main.

[RocketSteve]

Indeed Dr. Steve I had a similar problem - but with trapped Sciatic nerve to my right leg the day before I tried getting the TTSE up on the main stand.

I didn't know the true effect of this nerve until using the ball of the right foot on the stand lever and it resulted in dropping the bike (it fell away from me) as my leg gave way. 

[DrSteve]

Thanks to you all for the kind words, shared experiences and suggestions.  Let's hope we can help at least one fellow rider to avoid this calamity.

Ride on and ride safe.

[AZBob]

Best bet is probably not to use the ball of your foot but rather the heel, this way the achilles isn't involved at all -- I'm no doctor though, so maybe that's dumb.
 
Interestingly (as far as human anatomy goes), to fix my eldest son's clubbed feet, the doctor cut both of his achilles tendons. On a baby (he was only 3 months old at the time), they re-grow and if the parents can keep the child in his Ponsetti braces for the next three years (we did), his feet have a very good chance of being 100% normal (at almost 4 years old, they are). It would be nice if we retained that ability to re-grow them (they re-grew in only ~4 weeks IIRC).