Bonehead on a bicycle...

[On_yer_left!]

... me, that is. Had my first crash in about 4,000 miles yesterday, and it was one of those sheer-stupidity-bordering-on-insanity moves. I was 35 miles into a 45-mile ride, had hit a two-lane parkway with a huge shoulder. With the wind at my back, I hit a nice little groove, pedaling to a song in my head, going about 25, daydreaming and looking ... down? Just happened to look up in time to see a broken-down car looming in front of me -- not enough time to veer completely out of the way. So I hit it, fortunately flying over it and onto the breakdown lane and NOT into 65mph traffic. Somehow cracked both knees, got a bit of road rash and once again beat up my poor girl (bike). It must have looked hilarious to passing traffic when it happened.

So I had a nice, slow, painful 10-mile ride back home, with the bike groaning and grinding the whole way, chanting, "I'm a moron, I'm a moron" the whole way. I'm actually a damned lucky moron, considering how it could have turned out. So, I'm icing my knees and promising never to fall asleep at the wheel again. All it takes is one stupid move...

:confused:

[Grog]

Oooooouch!

Sorry about that!

Surviving a crash allows us to be a bit more careful afterward. I crashed at about 2000 km (lifetime total!), sliding in a curb covered with debris that was announced at the very last second (i.e. by a cone ON the debris). I am not sure I could have avoided that but still, nowadays, I am especially careful in downhill curves (i.e. braking down to 35-40 km/h instead of 60!!) If your crash inspires you to look ahead more... then those bruised knees will perhaps have saved you from a worst event.

May I suggest a new helmet?

Heal well!

[jeannierides]

:eek: Wow! Well, thank goodness you weren't thrown into that traffic...guess the cycling goddess was watching after you for sure... Take care with those knees, and - I suppose we should all remember to look UP! ;)

[On_yer_left!]

May I suggest a new helmet?




Got one after my previous crash, where I flew off my bicycle into the middle of an intersection, bounced off my head and rolled a couple of times. The paramedics asked if they could keep my broken helmet for a bike safety class.

Sigh.

[Lise]

Yikes. I know what you mean about obstacles that appear out of nowhere. Glad you had enough knee power to make it home. I know that was a long 10 miles! Funny that the medic guys asked for your helmet as a teaching tool. Must've been a doozy of a crash. Rest up & heal, Lise

[Grog]

Got one after my previous crash, where I flew off my bicycle into the middle of an intersection, bounced off my head and rolled a couple of times. The paramedics asked if they could keep my broken helmet for a bike safety class.

Sigh.

Well you need one again, unfortunately... At least get it inspected at a bike shop that provides that kind of service. Even if you think you didn't touch the ground with your head, it is very likely that you did... Even if it doesn't seem to be cracked...

Take care!

[Selkie]

Holy moley you were lucky not to have sustained a serious injury (other than your pride, of course). Thank goodness you're OK! I hope your knees and road rash are feeling better soon.

By the way, I sing as I pedal, too. Sometimes aloud. "Climb Every Mountain," from the Sound of Music, is one of my signature tunes when I'm hauling it up long hills.

You take care of yourself, ok?

[sydney_b]

Whew. I'm glad you're OK. It's hard to pay attention all the time, but what a doozy of a reminder.

/s

[RoadRaven]

Hey there on-yer-left... glad all is ok... sometimes we need a bit of a scare to help us remember to be aware and thereby prevent something that is harder to recover from...

Glad you and bike are ok and just a few scratches for you both...

[On_yer_left!]

Thanks for the well wishes! Road rash healing nicely. Bruises getting really nice color. Growing brain matter.

On another note -- a year after being told by an orthopaedic surgeon that I had NO ligament holding my knee together and that I would need surgery, went to another (a woman recommended by a triathlete friend) and she SHOWED me I have an intact ligament on X-rays and MRI and said skip the surgery, do some physical therapy to tighten and strengthen the surrounding muscles. That's it. The other guy was getting his appointment book out to see when he could fit me in the OR.

Another lesson: get a second opinion. Don't rush to surgery. And thank God for women of integrity. Yahoo!:D :D