When Kevin Myatt dropped his chain powering into Dragons Tail in Whakarewarewa a few days ago he couldn’t in his wildest dreams have imagined how the slam would unfold. After sliding along the ground he realised the bike was still with him and glancing down at his wrist he soon realised why. His brake lever had slid up his arm (slicing it open on the way) and then pierced the skin on his wrist surfacing a few centimetres later, as Kevin puts it, he was now “at one with his bike”. More after the jump (not for the squeamish)…
His riding buddies Julia and Tim called the ambulance and quickly removed the brake lever and caliper from the bike whilst Kevin Stemmed the blood flow from his own wrist. Now I’m pretty sure that you like me have never seen this type of wound before, as it happens neither had any of Rotorua’s health professionals, starting with the ambo guys; when one realised there wasn’t enough light to shoot a good photo he instructed his partner to use the flashlight to illuminate it better. Kevin didn’t fare much better at Rotorua hospital either where at least 10 hospital staff heard about the brake lever and turned up with personal cameras and cell phones.
Even the radiologist who had been on strike admitted on seeing the wound that she was glad she came in to work!!! A general anesthetic and 15 stitches later, Kevin was good to go. As soon as the stitches are out he’ll be back in the forest and is not deterred one ounce by his freakish (yet slightly entertaining) wound.

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wow! WTF
wow! WTF
you forgot to mention that while I was on hold to 111 Kevin (hardman) said “if they don’t hurry up I am going to ride out of here”!!!111 then asked me “was it an accident?”
No – that takes real skill mate!!
We are all wishing you a speedy recovery and look forward to the usual one-handed wheelies!!
you forgot to mention that while I was on hold to 111 Kevin (hardman) said “if they don’t hurry up I am going to ride out of here”!!!111 then asked me “was it an accident?”
No – that takes real skill mate!!
We are all wishing you a speedy recovery and look forward to the usual one-handed wheelies!!
That’s no good!!!! at all….no good…
That’s no good!!!! at all….no good…
eww! that’s gggggrrrrroooooosssssss!!!!!!
eww! that’s gggggrrrrroooooosssssss!!!!!!
that’s a freak accident
that’s a freak accident
unf-ing believable.
unf-ing believable.
From Daniel’s FB page (Parker Adam Evans)The most amazing freak accident–and the hand is ok! Glory be. I love the 911 query: “Was it an accident?”
From Daniel’s FB page (Parker Adam Evans)The most amazing freak accident–and the hand is ok! Glory be. I love the 911 query: “Was it an accident?”
10 out of 10 for originality!
10 out of 10 for originality!
Ouch- pain much??
Ouch- pain much??
Great brakes!
Great brakes!
So that’s how you bleed brakes in NZ?
So that’s how you bleed brakes in NZ?
Look on the bright side, at least they’ll be well bled next time you go out for a ride! 😛
Look on the bright side, at least they’ll be well bled next time you go out for a ride! 😛
a new meaning to the words “hand Break”
a new meaning to the words “hand Break”
Everyone loves a show-off! That is truely awesum!
Everyone loves a show-off! That is truely awesum!
I’ve always thought it generally good, injury reducing advice to hang onto your handlebars when crashing, but that’s taking it waaaay too far.
I’ve always thought it generally good, injury reducing advice to hang onto your handlebars when crashing, but that’s taking it waaaay too far.
Yo Kev, Congrats man your finally “World famous in NZ!”
Yo Kev, Congrats man your finally “World famous in NZ!”
[…] HERE for the full story. […]
[…] HERE for the full story. […]
Show off!
Show off!
[…] Full story here! […]
[…] Full story here! […]
I’m curious if there were sharp edges on the lever that led to this. I had a much more modest but slightly similar accident on my road bike. I was riding the hoods and a guy swiped the front of my hand. My finger was sliced open on a sharp edge of my DA STI lever (the newer 10spd ones don’t have the sharp edge and neither do my 9spd ultegras). While it was somewhat of a freak accident, as this one appears to be, I also think those sharp edges are a bad design (sharp edges near skin == bad news).
I’m curious if there were sharp edges on the lever that led to this. I had a much more modest but slightly similar accident on my road bike. I was riding the hoods and a guy swiped the front of my hand. My finger was sliced open on a sharp edge of my DA STI lever (the newer 10spd ones don’t have the sharp edge and neither do my 9spd ultegras). While it was somewhat of a freak accident, as this one appears to be, I also think those sharp edges are a bad design (sharp edges near skin == bad news).
Holly Crap!
Holly Crap!
The above picture isn’t pretty…. Here is the story… another odd accident, but no cool X-Ray…
So my husband and I went for a ride here in Denver, in the Green Mountain area. Cool place, neat trails, little bit rutty with some loose stuff. We are about 50 ft from the car when I hit one of those ruts and the loose stuff. The Lizard Skin Lock-on Grip made an impression when it came in to contact with my thigh. The grip went in 2 inches, missed arteries, but it left a nice hole for the doctor to sew up after the ambulance took me to the hospital. I thought that my husband was gonna pass out from seeing my open flesh wound. This is on my front left thigh half way between the knee and the hip. There are 14 external stitches and about 5-6 internal stitches to sew the muscle together where it was torn. I wanted a before shot but the hospital wouldn’t let him take one..Damn! It will be a couple of weeks before I am riding again, but in the mean time I’ll be looking for less evil grips!
It took a month before I was on my bike again, and about 6 months before the wound itself healed fully over.
I can tell you I will never look at my handlebars the same again…and I got rid of the lock-on grips!
The above picture isn’t pretty…. Here is the story… another odd accident, but no cool X-Ray…
So my husband and I went for a ride here in Denver, in the Green Mountain area. Cool place, neat trails, little bit rutty with some loose stuff. We are about 50 ft from the car when I hit one of those ruts and the loose stuff. The Lizard Skin Lock-on Grip made an impression when it came in to contact with my thigh. The grip went in 2 inches, missed arteries, but it left a nice hole for the doctor to sew up after the ambulance took me to the hospital. I thought that my husband was gonna pass out from seeing my open flesh wound. This is on my front left thigh half way between the knee and the hip. There are 14 external stitches and about 5-6 internal stitches to sew the muscle together where it was torn. I wanted a before shot but the hospital wouldn’t let him take one..Damn! It will be a couple of weeks before I am riding again, but in the mean time I’ll be looking for less evil grips!
It took a month before I was on my bike again, and about 6 months before the wound itself healed fully over.
I can tell you I will never look at my handlebars the same again…and I got rid of the lock-on grips!
Hay guys and gals. Hay Dman I don’t think it is to do with the leaver being sharp at all in my case. I think it is all about force. I weigh around 95kgs so add a bit of speed do the calc’s and wa boosh leaver stuck in hand.
Hay Kerry, bad luck. Did you have bar plugs in the ends of your handle bars?
Big shout out to HOPE TECHNOLOGY I love your components!!
Thanks Kev
Hay guys and gals. Hay Dman I don’t think it is to do with the leaver being sharp at all in my case. I think it is all about force. I weigh around 95kgs so add a bit of speed do the calc’s and wa boosh leaver stuck in hand.
Hay Kerry, bad luck. Did you have bar plugs in the ends of your handle bars?
Big shout out to HOPE TECHNOLOGY I love your components!!
Thanks Kev
Did you risk giving your brakes a bleed after your brakes gave your wrist a bleed? Sorry should put a stop to poor brake jokes! Hope you heal quick and are back on thr bike asap.Paul
Did you risk giving your brakes a bleed after your brakes gave your wrist a bleed? Sorry should put a stop to poor brake jokes! Hope you heal quick and are back on thr bike asap.Paul
I wouldn’t be able to leave that in, no matter how painful I’d have removed it before the paramedics got there!
Epic stack though! I remember in the ‘Milk Race’, a pro road race in the UK a few years back one of the British riders ended up with a brake lever in the leg after a crash. He pulled it out & carried on racing…
I wouldn’t be able to leave that in, no matter how painful I’d have removed it before the paramedics got there!
Epic stack though! I remember in the ‘Milk Race’, a pro road race in the UK a few years back one of the British riders ended up with a brake lever in the leg after a crash. He pulled it out & carried on racing…
OMG… new meaning to the word “handbrake”.
Very nice brakes, BTW; sorry about the crash.
OMG… new meaning to the word “handbrake”.
Very nice brakes, BTW; sorry about the crash.
Always have bar plugs (a USCF regulation I support). Hope you heal up well.
Always have bar plugs (a USCF regulation I support). Hope you heal up well.
For what it’s worth, this story was “borrowed” (including all the imagery to their own flickr account) by http://bikejerksmpls.blogspot.com/2010/04/hand-brake.html
Well they are “jerks”
For what it’s worth, this story was “borrowed” (including all the imagery to their own flickr account) by http://bikejerksmpls.blogspot.com/2010/04/hand-brake.html
Well they are “jerks”
ouch i cringe up at seeing that i have never fallen bad on my bike amazingly i cant belive i havent took a big spill yet
ouch i cringe up at seeing that i have never fallen bad on my bike amazingly i cant belive i havent took a big spill yet
Hey! As a medical professional and bicyclist, this truly has to be one of the most interesting and “cool” picture I have ever seen. I love it! I am sure that you had different thoughts about that, but I absolutely love this kind of injury. I hope you heal quickly and get right back on that bike asap!! Get Well Soon!!!
Hey! As a medical professional and bicyclist, this truly has to be one of the most interesting and “cool” picture I have ever seen. I love it! I am sure that you had different thoughts about that, but I absolutely love this kind of injury. I hope you heal quickly and get right back on that bike asap!! Get Well Soon!!!
To hell with shorty handles, no ball ends and no gloves… speedy recovery!
To hell with shorty handles, no ball ends and no gloves… speedy recovery!
Wow! This tops any and all injuries I have ever had! It’s definitely gruesome, but oh so freaking awesome!
Wow! This tops any and all injuries I have ever had! It’s definitely gruesome, but oh so freaking awesome!
[…] resto della storia, visto che siamo […]
[…] resto della storia, visto che siamo […]
[…] Not me, but I thought it worthy enough to share. http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ […]
[…] Not me, but I thought it worthy enough to share. http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ […]
That’s some nice kit, ‘hope’ the brake lever was OK. (oh and that you are healing up nicely too! 🙂
That’s some nice kit, ‘hope’ the brake lever was OK. (oh and that you are healing up nicely too! 🙂
[…] man is not holding his brake in that x-ray. Don’t click the link to Spoke Magazine if you’re squeamish about blood otherwise you might throw-up into your keyboard. A brutal, […]
[…] man is not holding his brake in that x-ray. Don’t click the link to Spoke Magazine if you’re squeamish about blood otherwise you might throw-up into your keyboard. A brutal, […]
[…] man is not holding his brake in that x-ray. Don’t click the link to Spoke Magazine if you’re squeamish about blood otherwise you might throw-up into your keyboard. A brutal, […]
[…] man is not holding his brake in that x-ray. Don’t click the link to Spoke Magazine if you’re squeamish about blood otherwise you might throw-up into your keyboard. A brutal, […]
Wow. As an ER doc and a mountain biker, I can say that this is one of the coolest injuries I’ve ever seen! I wish you had come to my hospital. Heal up fast and keep the rubber side down.
Wow. As an ER doc and a mountain biker, I can say that this is one of the coolest injuries I’ve ever seen! I wish you had come to my hospital. Heal up fast and keep the rubber side down.
Awesome looking injury Kevin! Chicks dig scars! I got the big chainring stuck in my ankle and the pedal in my shin on a ride once, but your photos are heaps better. Keep riding Rotorua!
Awesome looking injury Kevin! Chicks dig scars! I got the big chainring stuck in my ankle and the pedal in my shin on a ride once, but your photos are heaps better. Keep riding Rotorua!
[…] levers – sharp!! How's this for a crash?? don't click if you're in the least bit squeamish!! http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ (__/) (='.'=) (")_(") This is bunny. Copy him into your signature to help him […]
[…] levers – sharp!! How's this for a crash?? don't click if you're in the least bit squeamish!! http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ (__/) (='.'=) (")_(") This is bunny. Copy him into your signature to help him […]
[…] Leave a Comment the photos are pretty brutal so I won’t pop them on here, but go to the original article to check them out for […]
[…] Leave a Comment the photos are pretty brutal so I won’t pop them on here, but go to the original article to check them out for […]
you ever going to sell the brake just gives us a shout :p
you ever going to sell the brake just gives us a shout :p
[…] why you should never have brakes – http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ […]
[…] why you should never have brakes – http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ […]
That was pretty sick, glad you’re ok.
That was pretty sick, glad you’re ok.
sure hope you heal soon;and and everything works well!get well soon!!!!!
sure hope you heal soon;and and everything works well!get well soon!!!!!
[…] Gnarly bike accident. If you are a pussy and have a weak stomach do not open this link….. http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ […]
[…] Gnarly bike accident. If you are a pussy and have a weak stomach do not open this link….. http://www.spokemagazine.com/2010/04/hand-brake/ […]
Think i’m GOING BACK TO COASTER BRAKES
Think i’m GOING BACK TO COASTER BRAKES
Oh my godddddd
Oh my godddddd
Now that’s 100% Braking commitment!
Now that’s 100% Braking commitment!
THIS… IS NICE!
THIS… IS NICE!
and thats why i ride brakeless.
and thats why i ride brakeless.
Best brake in arm I’ve seen.
Best brake in arm I’ve seen.
[…] Ouch! […]
[…] Ouch! […]
[…] FUTS. West Coast Cap Peelers? The 1115.org. Who the fuck is John Kirchner? from KJT, the ol’ brake lever skewering of the hand trick (in case you missed […]
[…] FUTS. West Coast Cap Peelers? The 1115.org. Who the fuck is John Kirchner? from KJT, the ol’ brake lever skewering of the hand trick (in case you missed […]
Heyyy, the brake lever shines like when it was purchased. Overall quality!
Heyyy, the brake lever shines like when it was purchased. Overall quality!
[…] Here it is… This is really icky so dont blame me if you click it! HAND BRAKE – Spoke Magazine Reply With Quote Subscribe to this Thread… + Reply to […]
[…] Here it is… This is really icky so dont blame me if you click it! HAND BRAKE – Spoke Magazine Reply With Quote Subscribe to this Thread… + Reply to […]
proud to be kiwi … were differnt
proud to be kiwi … were differnt
ouch!!!
ouch!!!
oh myyyyyy GOD
oh myyyyyy GOD
severed my fingers openinhg a bottle of wine @ the skatepark!!!!!
severed my fingers openinhg a bottle of wine @ the skatepark!!!!!
I HOPE he gets better
I HOPE he gets better
pretty rough suturing guys….could have been a lot neater than that….good luck keven
pretty rough suturing guys….could have been a lot neater than that….good luck keven
Today I put the very same brake into my shin. It made a deep hole, and needed stitches, but doesn’t really compete!
And then it went infected…
Today I put the very same brake into my shin. It made a deep hole, and needed stitches, but doesn’t really compete!
And then it went infected…
HOPE hurts often 🙁
HOPE hurts often 🙁
no selfie?
no selfie?
Hurts and expensive
Hurts and expensive