my crash!

[ehirsch83]

Some of you already know through Facebook, but I thought I would post the story!

Yesterday was my 2nd day back riding after being off the bike for almost 2 weeks due to a lower respiratory infection.
I have the state road race coming up in a few weeks, and being paranoid about losing fitness I decided to do a group ride to see where my fitness is.(the 1st day is age graded and there is no age group for me, so I was going to have to ride with the 19-29 year old guys for 54 miles)

Right after the mid point of the ride"(out and back route)the pace was just picking back up, probably around 24,25mph and i was just sitting in the middle, so not to work) and this guy in front and to the right of me had one hand on his bars and one on his water bottle. His tire then blew and he lost control. Turns out he was a newer rider(why i don't usually sit in the middle or back) and he over reacted. He started to slid out left and took out the guy next to him. I was right behind them and tried to go left and get around but I couldn't. I crashed into them and then 2 guys behind me piled on top.
EMTs came and they made me go with them to the ER. I thought i was fine! But now that people have told me stories, I was very out of it!! I also almost fainted multiple times.
On the way to the ER, they gave me insulin or something, b/c my blood levels were really low and then all of a sudden I started have excrutiating pain in my left elbow.

Turns out I broke my elbow, in a sling right now and monday I get to go get a cast.
Also, one of the guys who crashed into me went over me and his pedal rant into the back of my head, took a chunk out of my helmet and left a 2 inch gash in my head. I have 5 staples in my scalp!!(think it was a pedal, could of been a chain ring)

so that was my exciting saturday!!

[Crankin]

Oy, that sounds terrible. Rest.
Even though I don't do pace lines, I am less and less enamored of group rides because of the other riders.

[deeaimond]

Ouch... hope you recover well.

Yes I do not like doing group rides with riders i don't already know. Also try to keep at least two bike lengths behind. else i feel very insecure...

[kmehrzad]

Some of you already know through Facebook, but I thought I would post the story!

Yesterday was my 2nd day back riding after being off the bike for almost 2 weeks due to a lower respiratory infection.
I have the state road race coming up in a few weeks, and being paranoid about losing fitness I decided to do a group ride to see where my fitness is.(the 1st day is age graded and there is no age group for me, so I was going to have to ride with the 19-29 year old guys for 54 miles)

Right after the mid point of the ride"(out and back route)the pace was just picking back up, probably around 24,25mph and i was just sitting in the middle, so not to work) and this guy in front and to the right of me had one hand on his bars and one on his water bottle. His tire then blew and he lost control. Turns out he was a newer rider(why i don't usually sit in the middle or back) and he over reacted. He started to slid out left and took out the guy next to him. I was right behind them and tried to go left and get around but I couldn't. I crashed into them and then 2 guys behind me piled on top.
EMTs came and they made me go with them to the ER. I thought i was fine! But now that people have told me stories, I was very out of it!! I also almost fainted multiple times.
On the way to the ER, they gave me insulin or something, b/c my blood levels were really low and then all of a sudden I started have excrutiating pain in my left elbow.

Turns out I broke my elbow, in a sling right now and monday I get to go get a cast.
Also, one of the guys who crashed into me went over me and his pedal rant into the back of my head, took a chunk out of my helmet and left a 2 inch gash in my head. I have 5 staples in my scalp!!(think it was a pedal, could of been a chain ring)

so that was my exciting saturday!!

Oh, so sorry to hear about your crash. Sounds terrible. Fortunately you're up and around now. Suppose you'll be out of commission for a little while, eh? Hopefully you'll be able to continue pedaling on a stationary recumbent bicycle or a stable trainer so that you'll continue to keep your fitness level. Wishing you speedy healing.

[redrhodie]

Oh no! Sorry you're hurt! I'm sending quick healing vibes your way.

[ehirsch83]

here are pictures, i look pretrty good! a lot of pain, but no real road rash or anything.

[redrhodie]

Yaouch!!!! Your head! The rest of you looks to be taking it very well!

[ehirsch83]

i know!! and my helmet stayed on during it!! somehow that occured

[Selkie]

Sheesh, sounds like a scary wreck. Glad you're doing OK. You've got a great attitude (and smile!).

Make sure that you start moving that elbow as soon as you're out of the cast. I broke mine several years ago and fortunately, was able to get by with just a splint as needed. I made sure to move it as much as I could bear it, even though it hurt like a b*%^&. Consequently, I lost no mobility and did not need PT.

Best wishes on a speedy recovery!

[divingbiker]

Wow. You're much more chipper than I would be.

[ehirsch83]

Thanks everyone. Those pictures were from 8:30 this morning(and i had already taken some percoset!)we then went to the grocery and then I came home and slept for 3 hours!! I went downhill real fast with how I felt today. 2 hours out and about was way more then I could handle right now!hehe oops!!!

[Miranda]

Glad you are well enough to post about your crash to us! And so sorry it happened. I recently posted about a nasty one I was in myself. Crimony... these things just sux.

Your helmet and head cut... yea, I know what you mean! My helmet too did not come completely off, but it did indeed shift. Had a couple nice lumps and abrasive cut etc. Though, my helmet certainly did it's job and took the first blow. Sounds like yours did the same.

I called someone at Giro about mine. And I think a bit of it has to do with the nature of the crash. Like I know I landed head first w/my last speed in my Garmin at 23mph.

Yours might have had some shifting to get the gash in your head, then shifted back in place on something. Unless it was completely split where the gash is.

I just was trying to figure out if there was anything I could have done differently to protect my head better. From what I gather with my conversation with Giro, more than likely not.

Hope you have the best recovery possible!

[ehirsch83]

turns out it was a pedal/cleat that went into my head. The guys cleat had skin & hair in it!! soo gross!

[Grog]

ewwww

So sorry this happened Emily. I wish you a speedy recovery!

That's a weird head injury I've seen. Did you get your tetanus vaccination updated? I'd recommend it, if a pedal hit your head and some of the head was left on the pedal.

At least you get to keep your hair!

[ZooZoo]

Wow! You're actually smiling in the pic! More than I could do, that's for sure. Sorry to hear about the crash but glad you're okay.