Didn't "bonk" today . . . crashed instead!

[michelem]

So, I really prepped myself well (nutrition- and hydration-wise) for today's 50 miler (see http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=15814 for more on that).

I'm so glad I got up at 5am to eat breakfast as I had to hit the bathroom for that TWICE before leaving for our 8am ride. And I had to hit the bathroom THREE times before 8am to relieve myself of the approx. 32 oz. of water I drank. Also had to hit the toilets twice on the ride. This is why I hate to eat or drink before going out to do anything athletic - I don't want to have to bother with the bathroom!

But, enough of my toilet troubles . . . my energy stayed high and I was able to keep up! Yay! Probably helped that I adjusted my rear break so tha it would spin more than one revolution . . . turns out that when I tipped over on the last ride I knocked the brake out of whack and it was rubbing, so I'm sure that slowed me down immensely in addition to my poor nutrition/hydration that day.

We were on the American River Trail and there were lots of joggers/walkers/kids/dogs, etc. I felt like I was becoming slightly more comfortable with riding in a paceline (only second time doing so). Note, I say "slightly." I have A LOT of trouble judging distances. I can't tell you how many times I've parked my car and gotten out only to realize I am several feet away from the end of the parking space . . . have to get back in and move up . . . get out and look again . . . get back in and move up. We did an experiment in middle school or high school where we had to set up two chairs back to back at the distance we thought we needed to walk through without more than an inch on either side, but not so close that we touched the chairs - I was off (chairs too wide) by several inches.

All that to say, I kept to the back of the group. They kept saying, "Come on Michele, tuck in here. You need to practice this." This group is all about building a base and working on the basics of group riding. Well, you can probably guess what happened. About a mile from our end point in Folsom, we came around a very sharp turn and I caught the back wheel of the guy at the front left of me. I landed on my left shoulder and slid across the asphalt and into the dirt. Didn't hit my head or anything, but my shoulder is very skinned up and sore, outside elbow bruised, and I think I'll have a bruise on my left out thight by tomorrow. They weren't questioning my choice of long sleeve jersey, full-length tights, and full-finger gloves after that! I can't imagine how much worse of a case of road rash I'd have! I have a very slight hole on top of the shoulder of the jersey, and a small hole in the palm of the left glove (pi gel-lites, go figure!), and the outside left of my shoe is gouged, but nothing some darning won't fix.

I was able to ride the rest of the way to our start/end point (only about a mile left). Got home, ate lunch and then took a shower - OWCH!!!

So, that's the story of today's ride and my first real crash (besides tipping over because of shoelaces getting caught in the chain or same during learning curve of clipping in and out). At least I didn't "bonk" this time, right?

[Fredwina]

{{{{michelem}}}}
is the bike OK?
Seriously sorry to hear about your crash, but take your time, and you'll hopefully be more confident next time. I know about wheel touches, I wound up with a broken humerus the last time....

[michelem]

Bike is no big deal - scraped left handlebar and scraped wheel skewer, but that's it.

Thanks for the response and kind encouragement.

[ehirsch83]

so sorry about the crash!!! Hope the shoulder heals up fast!
I can totally feel for you with the distance judgement, I have the same problem!!(except that I am always walking into things like walls,bookshelfs,dressers,etc. because I think I am farther away). But yeah, I feel for you!
Get better soon!!{{HUGS}}

[michelem]

Thanks Emily. I appreciate it. I think I'm going to need to get back on the bike sooner rather than later, just so I don't let fear get the best of me. Part of me says I might not be so lucky next time . . . but, the other part of me doesn't want fear of what might happen in the future keep me from living life (and having fun on my bike!) in the present. Sigh . . .

[Mr. Bloom]

I wish you a speedy recovery from the road rash and I hope this won't discourage you from doing this again.

Something similar happened in the Horsey Hundred yesterday at mile 8. A woman went down with cuts to her knee, shoulder, and eye (from her glasses...). I was amazed that she finished the remaining 92 miles! Personally, I would have said "call the SAG wagon...I'm going home"