Well, My Summer's Over

[lauraelmore1033]

Whoa! I just now had a chance to look at my helmet and I was very surprised to see 3 cracks in it! I didn't even think I hit my head! I almost went without my helmet when I realized I had forgotten to bring it out to the car with the bike, reasoning that since I was riding a recumbent on a trail, it wasn't as important. Now I'm feeling extra, extra lucky...

[Eden]

Oh man - sorry to hear this happened to you. I had something similar but without any really bad consequences recently. I was turning left and someone came up to the opposite stop sign after I'd started across. I thought I made eye contact with her too, but right about when I was just in front of her she gunned it and rammed me - fortunately slowly and when I yelled (and probably her kids in the back seat yelled too….) she hit the brakes, so she just bumped me.

Don't let any police officer tell you otherwise - a driver exiting a driveway does not have the right of way a MUP is treated like a sidewalk in this case and the driver has to come to a full stop, check for pedestrians and yield.

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, I learned years ago eye contact means nothing. The few who do see you are aiming for you on purpose. It's pretty much as simple as that. But holey moldy, SO glad you were wearing your helmet!

[AppleTree]

Oh Laura, I am just HORRIFIED to read this... I'm so sorry that happened to you, can't imagine how scary that must have been. Holy $hit.... Stupid, stupid drivers...YOU were in the path right in front of them and they say YOU should have yielded.... oh give me a break... Was this in Lake Stevens?? I can't think of any other industrial area along the trail there.. honest to gawd can't believe that happened. We always think we are safe on the trail. But thank heavens, as bad as it was, it wasn't even worse, and it could have been worse. I would also get a lawyer in this case, $10,000 may not be enough in the long term, if you need ongoing therapy for anything that may show up later?

What a year this has been! MY DH crashed on ice in January, broke ribs. I crashed at the Tulip Pedal in April, knocked myself out...thankfully wearing my helmet, which was cracked in two places. So we both have had ambulance rides this year, both of which were our faults (I hit a ridge on a rough patch of road near Mt. Vernon)...

Well, so glad your beloved Sparky is still there waiting for you to heal. You WILL heal and get back in the saddle again... for now just take the time you need to rest and recover. Oh and good luck with the constipation..., my DH went through that when he took his pain meds for his ribs... it was not fun or easy to get that resolved. He needed more than "fiber" to get things moving again, if you know what I mean.

[Jolt]

Ouch!! Sorry to hear that happened to you, and glad it wasn't worse. Heal up quickly! And yes, take a stool softener with those pain meds, they are notorious for causing constipation. Not something you need on top of everything else.

[lauraelmore1033]

thanks everyone, for your support. Cindy! I had no idea you'd taken a fall recently. I hope you are all healed up yourself. Yes, beloved Sparky is all I'm allowed to ride until the ribs heal. My Dr actually said I could TRY to continue training for STP on Sparky, but I decided it was just too much pressure. He said to let my pain be my guide, but there is also the element of anxiety about being on the road when the reckless drivers are absolutely everywhere. I am opiate free this morning, and was considering taking the trike out for a spin (after buying a new helmet), but the thought of all the traffic I will have to engage with just on that mile jaunt over to the Interurban is giving me a fluttery stomach.