Major Crash2..Just got home from E.R.

[Popoki_Nui]

{{{{{Jenn}}}}} I'm glad your injuries weren't as bad as they could have been! I know you're a bit spooky about getting back on your bike, but just take time to heal your body and spirit, and take it one day at a time.

Sending warm healing thoughts your way....

~Sherry.

[RolliePollie]

Wow Jenn! I'm glad you're not hurt worse! How scary! I hope the guy in the van is feeling very, very, VERY guilty today!!!!!! He should be cited AND required to ride a bike around town himself so he can learn to appreciate the cyclist's perspective on riding with cars nearby.

Take care of yourself!

[quint41]

I can't believe the van came on the bike path! Jeez!! Is there no safe place to ride?!
Annie

Unfortunately, it's true everywhere. Last Saturday on the metric century (Martha's Vineyard), I had cars pass me and line up IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE behind a car waiting to turn left. This was on a downhill run, and I had to stop and hold my bike in check downhill in traffic waiting for the logjam to clear. I saw a moped coming in my direction on the path (against the law), an SUV parked on the roadside, partially covering the path, and a car pull a U-turn up over the path. This is while several hundred riders were in the vicinity attempting to complete a 62-mile ride! I had this vision that I would be killed by a car just as I was about to cross the finish line!

Bottom line -- this will continue to be a problem for us until every one of those motorists owns a bike and rides on the road at least once. And we all know that ain't gonna happen.

Take care of yourself, Jenn. We're all sending healing thoughts your way.

[Ninabike]

Jenn. Hope you are feeling better, although I know sometimes the day after can be quite painful. This sort of thing has happened to so many of us, or people close to us (my DH had fractured pelvis from car versus bike accident). The fear aspect is very real, but will improve once you get back on the bike. Ride with other people for a while. That will help. again, {{{{{Jenn}}}}.

[anaphase]

First of all, Jenn, I'm so sorry this happened. I've been hit by a car before and it is very scary. It took a few weeks before I was even able to get on my bike again, but eventually I got over feeling afraid.

Second, Massbike has a good article on their site about what to do if you crash. There is some Mass-specific legal stuff in there, but it's a good read for everyone, IMHO.

http://www.massbike.org/resources/crash.htm

[IFjane]

OH Jenn!!!! {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Take care, heal and you will be fine. Take all the advice everyone has offered - I wish I had more but they have said it all. I'll be thinking about you & hoping to siphon away some of the pain from your road rash & headache. Please keep us posted on how you feel!

[run it, ride it]

oh Jenn! I almost couldn't click on your post in light of the stresses from dealing with my own recent crash. I can certainly relate to your pain, but the hardest part to read was how preventable your pain was--how unnecessary that kind of accident is. as cyclists we all take risks, but the thoughtlessness of others makes some of those risks very unforeseen and that is the really scary part.

getting back on the bicycle will be scarier for you, as you have the memory not only of pain from the crash but of distrust from the circumstance that caused it. remember to take it easy at first on low-traffic roads, rebuild your confidence--but above all right now focus on healing.

best wishes from another gimp!

[Jenn]

{{I love ya'll{{ I lood kinda like "Elepnaht man" on my right side....MASSIVE road rash, all the way down to my ankels. I hurt when I walk, My pelvis, it's weird. My PCP treated the road rash....OMG...
Anyway, Thank you alll sooooo much. The LAST thing in this world is to be afraid of getting back on my bike!! It's carzy I'm hearing this pop and crack sound and it's the Peroixide cleaning things out............ ugh....
Thank goodeness I ddin't break anything.
I am definately doing to take some cycling defense courses. We looked at my helmet and it is cracked on the right side, that would explain the vision disturabances, and the holes from rocks....ugh.....I thank you all {{{{{HUGS}}} for the supprt....I'm fREAKING hurting. My mom came down to watch my 15 month daughter, and all I want to do is get on my Le Mond.
I have some gnarley pics....if yall can handle it I'll post them
But, to SISTERS, I'll be back out ASAP....and I'm NOT going to quit!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~HUGS~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenn45

[HappyAnika]

So sorry to hear this. Take care of yourself, I wish you a speedy recovery. (And a pretty new helmet).

[colby]

Wow Jenn, what a bummer. Stay safe, take it easy for a little while.

[mountainchick]

*hug* from across the ocean! best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[missymaya]

Oh Jen I just read your post! I'm so glad that your injuries aren't worse even though the injuries you have are bad enough. I hope you heal soon so just dont even worry about the bike. I'm also glad to hear that your not gonna stop riding! I know its a dangerous sport sometimes Im glad to hear that your not intimdated. Just be safe out there and that bike defense course sounds like a good idea. Heal well and fast Jenn and sending positive energy your way.

[Duck on Wheels]

Gurimalla!!! Keep us posted on your recovery, and here's hoping it's a fast and thorough one!

Also keep us posted if the driver gets cited, license revoked, or if you sue him hard enough to get him off the road. He'd probably wind up giving cyclists a bad reputation, but there's a least a teensy chance he'd learn something from being forced to stop driving a multi-ton murder weapon.

[Python]

I've been shopping and just newly read your post. What a horrible thing to happen

Healing vibes on their way and a big (very gentle) ((((hug)))) from across the Pond.

[mary9761]

I'm so sorry to hear about your accident Jenn. I'm glad to know you're not hurt any worse than you could have been. YIKES they turned onto/across the path without warning, I hate when they do that. I also avoid parallel paths at times for the same reason. Of course there is one path that the home owners who live along the path have their stupid lawn service etc PARK on the path when they are at the property. I have to get out into traffic then anyways. UGH... Hope you heal quickly.