My First Road Rash

So I finally get back on my bike after a month of very little riding due to an infected colon, yuk!, and what do I do? Fall going over a very nasty group of RR tracks! :mad: These track stick up a good inch from the road and cross at a weird angle, add in lots of sand and gravel and you have one sore hen! Very impressive road rash though. No permanent damage. Just scrapes, bruises and a sore shoulder. And my bike is OK. Rode on to work and got no sympathy from my boss and customers. Most seem to think a 50 year old women has no business riding a bike to work. Personally I like to think they are just jealous that I AM/CAN ride my bike to work. :cool: Anyway, I know you all understand. :D I took the day off from riding yesterday to lick my wounds, but I'll be riding home tonight - I think I'll take a route without RR tracks! Wish me luck. BikerHen

Glad you're OK. Wear your wounds with pride.

Should you report those RR tracks to the county/city authorities? If they've had a number of bike accidents they may take a look at fixing the pavement to make a smoother crossing. I know the RR tracks inside and near our city limits get plenty of attention because of vocal bicyclists.

These RR tracks are well known to bike riders who ride in North Spokane. They are on a direct route to some very nice riding out on the local prairie. Unfortunatly they are on a lesser traveled road so the county doesn't give a rip about their condition. Ah well, they are on the short route to work, I guess I will have to stick to the long route! BikerHen

Glad to hear that you're OK, even if a bit bruised.
And I'm another 50+ rider who commutes to work by bike, usually 2 or 3 days a week, and only in the warmer months. I think your riding to work is a great thing - just tell your co-workers that they should join in!

I've actually started walking across some of the train tracks on my biking routes. If I know they are flat and the tracks cross the road at a reasonable angle, then I just ride across them. If not - well, I may be a chicken, but I walk!

--- Denise

Hen, glad to hear you're ok. Keep commuting, you're darn right they're jealous!!

Don't feel bad, my family jokes at all my road rash wounds and tells me too bad I can't ride as well as the "older" riders. I agree, where them with pride!

P.S. The LBS told me they were posting my lastest road rash pix on their website :eek: I hope they were kidding......

yikes glad you're OK! RR tracks are always tricky.... out here they use this weird rubber substance to either side of the trolley tracks that may as well be ICE! UGH!

and I agree about the jealous co-workers... :rolleyes: riding is NOT age/height/weight exclusive! My mom is 64 and just got her first comfort bike... she hasn't ridden in almost 50 yrs so I am still running along next to her yelling, "Put your feet down! :eek: " when she stops cause she forgets and tips over... :D

Glad you're okay!
And if your coworkers were to try to keep up with you? You'd easily drop 'em.

Hey, ya don't ride, ya don't get road rash. Simple. But do take care of the wounds.

I'm glad you're OK (mostly). Your co-workers don't know what they're missing.

Man, I must have really pissed off the bike goddess! I nearly got run down by a pair of white tail deer tonight! :eek: I'm planning a long ride through town on Saturday . . . I think I need some good vibes sent my way! All my receptors are wide open! Thanks, BikerHen

I'm here for ya Henny Penny! Sorry I've been absent the past few days and not only did this website just Explode (117 posts) but several of you have been hurt. Looks like I just can't be absent ever again!

Tell ya what - you do your awesome ride Sat and you will be Just fine and I'll keep you in my thoughts while I do my "sure I wanna ride up the mountain to the Ski Basin coz I'm stupid and forgot how to say NO" ride!! :p

how far you say??...depending on where we start it'll either be a 5,000' or a 6,000' climb. Me?...I just keep telling myself yeah the climb might kill me but the Descent is gonna be Screaming!!!! wheeeeeeeeeeeeee

Oh, BikerHen, so sorry! As a newbie, RR tracks scare the poop out of me. But I guess it's true, sometime I'm going down and I'll get the badge of ridership...road rash scars.

As far as the people at work...you live in the NW too? Spokane? It's weird, we're supposed to be living in the area of the country w/really active people, but I find that's not the case. Not only isn't that the case, but the non-active people really don't understand at all about excercise. I think the blank stares are their inability to relate in any way shape or form. Of course, some of them really are jealous, so I've found. I'm sorry about your co-workers. But, if you work in a large enough office (mid size or larger), chances are one day someone you don't know well will come up and say something like "I think I saw you biking to work. Was that you? I wish I could get in shape to do that.." and that's really nice and will make you feel good. That person's out there, I'm sure of it...

BikerHen, so sorry about your crash, but I'm with the others ~ wear the rash with pride! I'm another 50+ rider, and I could outride ~ or outrun ~ even the youngest of my co-workers!
I have to remind myself everytime I go over RR tracks, to keep the wheels straight...they are kind of scary, but keep rollin'!

Aw, poor Hen!! but I love knowing a 50+woman who rides, falls, gets back on, and stands out in a crowd of sissies. Here's quick healing to you and a double expresso to wake up your guardian angel.

When I was a sendentary person, people who athletic in any way made me miserable. They threatened every excuse and barrier of denial I had about my body and how little I could do with it. I bet that's what your coworkers are feeling. I see it in people too. Took me a while to figure it out and learn not to take it personally.

hugs!