Bike crash (long)

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 05:28 PM

I was thinking of posting this under June 6th rides but since it wasn't much of a ride, I thought it deserved it's own post. After only riding about a mile this morning, I crashed. I was on a stretch of road that is closed to motorized vehicles on the weekend. I had just yelled, "Passing on your left" to a slower moving couple. I saw 2 cyclists heading my way so I started to veer back over to the right. My tire got stuck in a rut on the double yellow line so the bike started wobbling back and forth (I was NOT in control at that point). When the bike eventually moved over to the right lane, because of the slick, wet road (it's been raining a lot lately), I wiped out. The bike slid under me and the left side of my body took the fall. Fortunately, since it was early on in the ride, I was not going too fast. The couple stopped and the woman helped me up. They kept asking if I was okay and the first thing I said was, "Is my bike okay?!!" Classic. They probably thought I was crazy. The guy that had passed did a U-turn and came back to see if I was okay. All I remember is that he said that he actually had a clean handkerchief (for once) and he wrapped it around my bloody elbow. I remember saying that I lived close by and I would be fine getting home.

I'm assuming that it was the combination of being an athlete (toughness) plus the adrenaline that made me get back on the bike. Dangerous combination since this equals stupidity.

After that, it's a blur. I don't remember getting on the bike. I don't remember clipping my shoes in the pedals. I don't remember biking home. I don't remember going through 3 stop signs or up the steep climb to my home. I don't remember pulling in the parking lot. I don't remember walking in the door. I got inside and looked at my daughter and asked her if it was Saturday or Sunday. I asked her where her little sister was (the one I had dropped off somewhere earlier). She looked at me and said, "What's our dog's name?!!!" THAT I could remember. I knew I had to get to the ER so she called my friend/neighbor. This story could be even longer because I had the pleasure of hanging out with my friend for a few hours at the ER and also 2 of her college friends - who were in town for their 40th college reunion. It was definitely the most entertaining ER visit I ever had in my life! The bottom line is that I am fine but I have a nasty cut/bruise on my left knee, major road rash on my entire quad and a part of my shoulder, and an open wound on my elbow (they couldn't stitch it because there was no skin left

) But of course the scary part was the memory loss. So they did a CT scan and it came back negative. Yay! The guy doing the CT scan rides mountain bikes so the first question he asked me was, "How is your bike?!" The doctor asked me about my helmet but I never thought of looking at it. But yes, it has a dent and a large crack in it. The Madone is down at the shop until Tuesday - maybe Wednesday. The one mechanic thought that she would be okay since it was fine on the ride home. Or was it fine

I don't remember! I got a doctor's note to take off 3 days of work but if I can't stay home and bike, what am I going to do?? Unfortunately, I won't be able to do the morning training ride with 7rider.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 06-06-2009, 05:35 PM

Thank goodness you are going to be all right!! What a scary event for you.

Your helmet saved you from a real head injury- you must have smacked down on the pavement with your head.
Give a toast of thanks to your cracked helmet that gave its life to save your brain.

Lucky outcome- I'm so glad you'll be ok.

**Kalidurga** · 06-06-2009, 05:39 PM

Wow, pfunk, I'm glad to hear that you're ok aside from being pretty well banged up. And, in light of my own recent wipe out on the C&O, it's very nice to hear that the folks around you stopped to help. Definitely take it easy for a couple of days, enjoy the excuse to be lazy. And good luck with the healing process!

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 05:43 PM

Thanks, BleeckerSt Girl! Everyone (friends and hospital staff) all asked if I was wearing a helmet. I don't think I would ever get on a bike without one. You're right - I guess the helmet took the brunt of the fall. I needed to get a new one anyway to match the color of my bike.

Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Thank goodness you are going to be all right!! What a scary event for you.

Your helmet saved you from a real head injury- you must have smacked down on the pavement with your head.
Give a toast of thanks to your cracked helmet that gave its life to save your brain.

Lucky outcome- I'm so glad you'll be ok.

**7rider** · 06-06-2009, 05:43 PM

What are you going to do?!?!?!?!
You're going to sit on the couch being a vegetable, resting, and changing bandages on your wounds!!!
Wow. What a wreck. Tom was saying that he knows EXACTLY where you went down...as that crack in the pavement has nearly taken out quite a number of the N2 and sunday riders.
Well....weren't we just telling you (kidding you) last week that you needed a new helmet - one that was more stylin' and matched your bike better??? Well...now's your chance!

Seriously...Take it easy. Rest. You WILL be extra special sore tomorrow. If you need ANYthing...call me. We'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 05:45 PM

I guess the people I had just passed had to stop or they would have fallen over me since I was sprawled out on the road and definitely in their way! It was nice that the other cyclist did a U-turn to see if I was okay. And he gave up his clean white hankie to tie it on my wound! How are you healing? Feeling better?

Originally Posted by Kalidurga

Wow, pfunk, I'm glad to hear that you're ok aside from being pretty well banged up. And, in light of my own recent wipe out on the C&O, it's very nice to hear that the folks around you stopped to help. Definitely take it easy for a couple of days, enjoy the excuse to be lazy. And good luck with the healing process!

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 05:52 PM

You know I was thinking of you when I wrote about buying a new helmet, right?!!

And my black bike (not the blue one

) is going to have matching black handlebar tape since the white tape got shredded. And why do they use white tape anyway since it turns yucky gray?

A friend of mine is picking up my Percocet right now. I am already feeling very sore and stiff.

Enjoy your ride tomorrow. At least the roads will finally be dry.

Originally Posted by 7rider

What are you going to do?!?!?!?!
You're going to sit on the couch being a vegetable, resting, and changing bandages on your wounds!!!
Wow. What a wreck. Tom was saying that he knows EXACTLY where you went down...as that crack in the pavement has nearly taken out quite a number of the N2 and sunday riders.
Well....weren't we just telling you (kidding you) last week that you needed a new helmet - one that was more stylin' and matched your bike better??? Well...now's your chance!

Seriously...Take it easy. Rest. You WILL be extra special sore tomorrow. If you need ANYthing...call me. We'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

**Fredwina** · 06-06-2009, 05:54 PM

Most docs I know of want to look at the helmet. (part of their training?)

**uforgot** · 06-06-2009, 05:57 PM

Watch movies. Eat chocolate. Read. Glad you are okay!

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 06:07 PM

Oooh...excellent advice! Thanks!

Originally Posted by uforgot

Watch movies. Eat chocolate. Read. Glad you are okay!

**Mr. Bloom** · 06-06-2009, 06:18 PM

glad you're ok!

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 06:23 PM

Thank you! I'm sitting here remembering all the events of the day and I just laugh. The doctor asked my friend if I was acting normal and we looked at each other and laughed and both said, "Define normal."

Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

glad you're ok!

**ZooZoo** · 06-06-2009, 06:35 PM

Wow! I'm glad you're okay, and that people stopped to help. Hope you're feeling better soon. Three days on the couch is rough, but hopefully you'll find a way to enjoy it.

**pfunk12** · 06-06-2009, 06:36 PM

The nice thing is that my daughters are being attentive, helpful, and loving. How can I make it last?!

Originally Posted by ZooZoo

Wow! I'm glad you're okay, and that people stopped to help. Hope you're feeling better soon. Three days on the couch is rough, but hopefully you'll find a way to enjoy it.

**OakLeaf** · 06-06-2009, 06:43 PM

Wow, way glad you're okay.

I have no room to say this, because I went riding the day after my concussion, and didn't take it easy to let the road rash heal.

BUT. They didn't know then what they do now about subsequent concussions. If you hit your head again, even lightly, before this is healed, you could have major brain damage. So don't risk it.

And I wound up with exhaustion and health issues from road rash pain that I didn't even know I was feeling. So take your pain pills and rest.

Hang in there, we're thinking about you.

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