Another crash and feeling like an idiot!

[emily_in_nc]

So....yesterday was an absolutely GORGEOUS day in central NC. Sunny and 70s, beautiful blue sky, a little breeze. A day that makes you want to get out and ride. After raking leaves all morning, I talked DH into a ride to the local ice cream shop (and post office) in the afternoon. Got the Bike Fridays and us read to ride. Bike shorts and a short-sleeve jersey in November -- what a concept! A bit overzealous, I took off first, down our rather steep gravel driveway. I've done this a hundred time before on my Bike Friday, which has 1.35" touring tires (wouldn't dare attempt it with 23c road tires), but I've mostly been riding my mountain bike lately with 2.1" knobbies, and I guess I just kinda lost track of the fact that my Bike Friday is NOT a mountain bike. I took the gravel too fast, and towards the bottom of the descent, started fishtailing. I couldn't recover in time, and my bike slid out to the right, dumping me on my left side.

At first I thought I had pretty bad road rash, but it ended up being quite minor, just small abrasions, nothing bleeding for more than a minute or two. But as the hours passed, the bruises started coming out. I've got three decent sized ones on my left arm, a small but painful one on my left hip, and a HUGE one on my left upper/outer thigh. I also must have strained my intercostal muscle as my left ribcage is sore and hurts to cough, laugh, or bend/turn quickly. Today my neck is very sore on the right side from where my head hit the gravel. I had had a very similar fall in August on my mountain bike and had nearly the same injuries, so I think my neck is worse since it's a reinjury.

Of course I bashed/dented my brand new Giro Havoc helmet I bought after my August crash, so a new one is already on order from ebay - what a drag!

I got really emotional after the crash. I felt so disappointed and frustrated that I wasn't going to get to ride on such a gorgeous day; I was mad at myself for hitting my head again and needing yet another new helmet; I was disappointed to ruin my DH's ride. I was really weepy and doubted my ability to even RIDE a bike again, if I manage to wipe out on my OWN driveway. I just couldn't seem to stop crying.

I need to remember that a road bike is NOT a mountain bike.

I sure am getting tired of crashing. Lessee, this is my fourth since August (three on the mtb, and now one on the road bike). I rode thousands of miles without a crash until my major accident on the road in April 2005. Now that I am finally trying to ride again, I seem to spend more time on the ground than on the bike. Ugh!!!!

/end pity party

Emily

[DeniseGoldberg]

Oh Emily, ouch!

I'm sorry to hear about your crash, and I'm hoping that your bruises heal quickly. Healing wishes are coming your way, as is virtual support for your next ride...

--- Denise

[CyclChyk]

Geez EM you pulled a Petra! That sounds exactly like something I would do! And I totally understand the being mad at yourself and the "pityparty" cuz Lord knows I've done it enough too.

Wish I could offer you words to make you feel better. All I can do tho is send mental hugs and wishes for a great ride the next time. Hang in there.

[xeney]

Oh, Emily, I'm so sorry and I hope you heal quickly! It seems to me like every time I crash (not that I've had anything as serious as your big crash), I go into this terrible confidence spiral where at first I'm scared to try again, and then I get my nerve up and maybe have some minor spills (you know the ones where you fall down because you were being TOO cautious?), and then I finally get my confidence back and bam, I do something silly because I forgot to worry about not crashing. It's like I have trouble getting back to a balance of confidence/caution, and I overcompensate in both directions for a while. (Actually, that is true of life in general for me, not just cycling. Ha.)

Anyway, I wonder if you are going through the same kind of process, trying to find your confidence equilibrium again? I am sure you will get there in time, but in the meantime I hope your bruises heal quickly.

[silver]

Oh, emily! here you are helping me out so much when you are still bruised up from your crash. Thank you! You are certainly a selfless person. We'll get through these things together.

[Bikingmomof3]

(((((Emily))))),
I am so sorry about your crash. Thankfully you were not injured more. My prayers for quick healing.

[pooks]

Emily, I'm so sorry -- I hope you drowned your sorrows in chocolate!

But listen, you are a jock. You are tough. You fall, you get a little weepy and a lot mad at yourself, then you eat chocolate and go ride your favorite bike!

Look at all the people you know who can't ride a mile or two, and if they stopped too fast and scared themselves, would just walk away and say, "I'm too old for that!" (No matter how young they are.)

You're here because you aren't one of those people.

And you'll be back on your bike and telling us what a great ride you had in no time.

I'm sure of it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Poor Emily!

It's always worse when you do something that you knew better than to do and want to kick yourself for.
Just think of it as getting all your falls out of the way for a good long time.
I guess every fall teaches us something too.

Keep that ice cream in your mind as a goal!

[Fredwina]

Emily,
Ive also been on falling/ Helmet buying binge recently as well. (I totaled my Havoc as well)
I look at a averaging out, which , hopefully, will mean I'm done for a while. I'm supposed to do a century this Saturday that has reputation for being a crash-o-rama (El Tour De Tucson). I admit , I;m more than Little nervous about it. I may even call it off and stay here. But then again, the only way to get your confidence is to get back on the horse, so to speak.
Prayer are with you

[LBTC]

Emily....

Sorry 'bout your scrapes and bruises. Heck, my bigget injury (broken shoulder) happened less than 300m from my house on a ride to work!!! s**t happens.

I've got a 5" long scar on my shin that constantly reminds me to never think about anything but riding while on a mountain bike. The broken shoulder reminds me that it's okay to brake when death wobble kicks in. I guess your new bruises are a reminder that a road bike is not a mountain bike, as you said.

You'll have a speedy recovery. And you'll get that ice cream soon!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[fatbottomedgurl]

C'mon girlfriend, stop that blubberin'. You'll be fine in no time at all! Hey remember- this is supposed to be fun (rinse and repeat). If my camera was working I would post pic's of my bruises so we could commiserate. Chin up!

[emily_in_nc]

Thank you, friends.

Every single post here was so sweet and some made me laugh.

I just knew you all would get it!

And come to think of it, I did eat rather a lot of chocolate this weekend (70%, bittersweet, very dark). I didn't connect that with my crash until you did!

Thanks again - y'all are the greatest, as you remind me again and again! That's part of why I keep coming back to riding no matter how badly I mess up. I'd just miss you all terribly if I stayed away too long.

Hugs,
Emily

[jeannierides]

Emily, I worked all weekend, so just read about your crash this morning! What a bummer! Thank goodness you weren't hurt any worse! Take care, girl! Sending healing thoughts along with the others.

[7rider]

Bummer on the wipe out, Emily.

Chin up, tho. At least your helmet did its job.
It's easier to replace a helmet than a head!

Feel better soon.

[Jo-n-NY]

Oh Emily....I don't get to read the boards too much on the weekends and just say your post and let me say, reading those words made me let out a huge GASP and OH NO!!!! But I know read that you are feeling better. Thank goodness.

It sounds like you got all the bad feelings out of you. That is some nice chocolate that you ate. Oh how I love chocolate and ice cream. I know you will be back on the bike before you know it. Next time you will remember which bike you are riding and I am sure it will be just fine.

~ JoAnn