help me feel better?

[lkrider]

Went out for a little ride and to run some errands on my new bike (many, many miles on old bike and tandem) slipped in the rain on very nasty set of rail road tracks. Nothing serious, but sad... scratched up new bike, big bruises to body and ego. I could use a little sympathy. Anybody out there? I have only been registered on this forum for a little while...you all seem like a friendly bunch.

[jobob]

Poor bunkie!!! Railroad tracks can be treacherous, especially in the rain.

So this is a new bike? That sux! The first dings & scratches are always so traumatic. Can you get some paint or nail polish to touch them up?

And how about those bruises - are you putting ice on them ???

As for your ego, well ... that'll heal too , hopefully really soon you can look back on this and chuckle. Well, a little anyhow.

Take care, - Jo.

[mtnbikenmama]

Hi, I feel your pain, I'm sorry to hear about your fall and messing up your bike. One of the biggest bruises I've ever had, and would probably would have go me 10,000 dollars on AFV was when I had a garage sale and one of the bikes didn't sell, so I rode it down to my sister in laws house and the tires were kind of flat so as I leaned into the turn of her up hill driveway - whap! I hit the ground like a ton of bricks! I had a bruise on my hip the size of a dinner plate- I kid you not! My husband can testify to that! Anyway I guess we have all had our falls, it hurts we patch ourselves and our bikes up, build up our courage and get back on because we love the sport. I hope you heal quickly. Feel better!

donna

[lkrider]

Thanx...just what i needed. I went by bike shop (Bike Gallery-awsome folks) right after the spill. The wrench there told me to take alot of Motrin and not be surprised if I couldn't get out of bed in the morning.(I did the ice too!) My bike is basically OK, so I guess I just needed a hug and knowing I'm not the only one to do this stunt. So now I'll just take my nighttime dose of motrin and see what tommorrow is going to be like. (at least it's a monday)

[slinkedog]

Hey, don't feel bad, lkrider! On Saturday I managed to fall over just stopping. I was stopping quickly on a hill and only clipped out one foot. I was leaning the other way and went right over. Thankfully I was wearing tights so my left knee isn't too munched. So don't feel bad. Keep getting out there!!

[yellow]

At some point you'll be able to say "see that scratch there? That's where I ____________" (fill in the blank). Hope you're feeling OK today. For me it's always the second day after.

My last spill was on a wood bridge. The planks run the direction of the roadway and I thought I'd be able to stay out of the grooves. Yeah, right! The next time I rode that route I got off and walked my bike, to the surprise of my riding buddies...until one of them did it!

I think that's the scratch on the hanger!

[MightyMitre]

Hi lkrider - sorry to hear about your tumble. Hope you'll be feeling better really soon. Take care of those bruises.

As for the scratches on your lovely new bike.... In our bike club if anyone is getting precious about they're equipment someone normally pipes up ' Aaah, it's just a tool'. But everyone knows that's not true and we promptly go home and polish our bikes till they shine, keep them in the living room and ooooh and coo when anyone buys something new.

Hope it's not too badly scratched up. Maybe your LBS can give you a hand to make her beautiful again.

[lkrider]

How did you know I was keeping it in the living room! I was using the excuse that there is no room in the garage - too many other bikes (8 total for a family of 4!), then hubby squeezed in a WWII jeep. It looks good in the living room - right!

BTW, feeling better..., althought I had to drive the car to work since I can't squeeze bike brakes until the swelling goes down in my hand. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

[LBTC]

Hi, lkrider

thanks for sharing! lessee...I've had plenty of bruises, scratches and more, usually from less than heroic crashes. It seems the full-tilt crazy stunt crashes don't leave a lasting imprint....

so here are a few, in no particular order:

the 4" long, 1/2" wide scar on my right shin from not thinking about the trail. It's my reminder to always think about the trail when I'm riding my bike!

the bursitis in my left hip. caused by a failed wheelie drop off a curb. buckled the front wheel and landed right on the hip socket. silly me, I had a friend over that night and we drank wine and sat in the hot tub. turns out that's the exact opposite of what I should have done!! ice and ibuprofen. so now it flares up from various things...including my new favourite pastime - kickboxing

the broken shoulder from trying to get to work faster than my husband did. dont' brake for the corner, don't worry about the death wobble, don't touch the brakes, why am I flying through the air?? a bicep tendon that tends to get a bit inflamed easily.

and the bruises....well the funniest one was that my pedal (before the candies...I love the candies!!), was a bit too tight, so there I was thinking I was loosening the bolt while I turned it saying turn it counter clockwise to loosen it, but in my blondeness I was turning it to the right.....that's when I learned rightie tightie, leftie loosie. heehee

what I learned from the bruise, and several others I've had, is that as soon as it is possible, and you'll have to grit your teeth the first few times you try this, you have to massage a bruise to heal it properly. there's a bunch of blood pooled there and the healing doesn't happen until the blood circulates better. the massage also tends to lessen those horrible spider veins that happen after a wollop of bruise, too! hey, a doctor told me that one, and my physiotherapist backed the story up. massage. ouch, yes, massage!!

hope you're feeling better! don't be sad. turn it into a puzzle, a challenge, a learning experience and make yourself well!!!

namaste,
~T~

[CorsairMac]

Hey LK - after being off the bike for several years I decided to try and ride it to work! My first foray across the slanted railroad tracks I became a member of the "over the bar" club - and of Course I did it in the bike lane on a busy street so I could be sure LOTS of people saw me! After all, when doing stunts one should Never do them alone in the dark! The saddiest/funniest part of the story? The poor biker that saw me go down and rode over to help me and did Exactly the same thing! Now theres 2 of us down in the bike lane! Oh Lordy it was sad!
Recently: After forgetting to unclip (new clipless pedals that I THought I had practised enough on!) I went down and tore up my knee. First thing I checked was the bike and once it was ok and I was riding again I decided to look at my knee. Needless to say, cleats on a slanted top tube Will scratch the paint. Now I just point Very Proudly to that scratch and say - "oh yeah, thats from when I tore up my knee!". My LBS guys thought it was hilarious that I could immediately tell them what, where, when and how I got a scratch on my bike!

[shewhobikes]

Awww, LK, I'm sorry about your busted self and your scratched up bike. Isn't it surprising how fast it happens? One minute you're sailing along and the next you're prone in the ditch. Yowee! Take care off your sweet self and I hope the bruise settles down soon.