Crit Crash

[Gowest]

Owww - first crit training race of the season and I get taken out!!!! I was in an open field of cats 1-4, so I stayed in the top 10 the entire 45 min race - over 40 women present. Was feeling great - rounded last corner into sprint finish - and next thing I know I am on the ground travelling at a high rate of speed listening to the sound of my helmet and my bike (no longer attached to me) scraping the pavement.

Apparently I picked up something in my rear derailleur or got accidentally clipped from behind (like anyone will admit to that..hee hee) and had the rear tire go out from under me with an explosive blow out and me riding the bike down to the asphault - I don't remember anything.

My beautiful orbea was trash - frame fractured in 3 places - I saved the cassettes, cranks, stem and brakes - that is all. Sob......

I did a number on the seventh cervical vertebra, lost a lot of skin and jammed up my left thumb - worst injury was the bad concussion I got from knocking my head so hard. I am lucky to have not broken any bones...

I just took two weeks off the bike and rode today - went climbing slowly - it is hard to feel good on the new bike - even though it is the same orca - it doesn't feel the same. I also don't feel like the same debi. It is amazing how fast we loose our fitness.

Well, sorry to have to start the race season off with such a crappy update - but as they say $hit happens.

Debi

[mimitabby]

aw, so sorry you fell and got hurt! and your poor bike...

I'm glad you're riding again. watch out for those sneaky blowouts!

[Blueberry]

Debi-

Really sorry to hear about your crash Hope things improve soon.

Did you still have the insurance on your bike? (inquiring minds were wondering whether they had done right by you....)

Heal fast!!

CA

[smilingcat]

OMG!!! Did anyone else go down with you? Last corner before the sprint finish can be pretty bad. Glad to hear you didn't break a bone. Do take care of your head. and your spine. Doesn't sound like you are spooked from the experience so that is good.

Sounds like you were tapped Can't imagine sucking something up in the rear deraillure.

Be safe. Some men I know tell me that I need to use other riders to cushion my fall.

Smilingcat

[Aggie_Ama]

You poor thing!! I am curious about the insurance or do you have a team bike?

DH just got back into racing and I asked him not to do Crits because we simply cannot afford another $3,000 bike. Now he will probably trash it on some training ride because I said that!

[Andrea]

Ow! I had a last-corner crash last year, although not nearly as bad as yours.

Hope you come out of it OK physically and mentally.

[bouncybouncy]

OUCH!!! Glad you are riding again! I am not a fan of groups/races/crits...I would rather take myself down on my own on the dirt...hehe!!!

Keep healing

**pink Gunnar you gave your Assault on Marion ticket to last year...Thanks again!!!

[indigoiis]

Owwwweee! That sucks.

Take it slowly. Baby steps.

[sundial]

Oh girl, did you have a nasty fall!! Your poor body....and head....and BIKE! I'm glad you weren't injured worse and that you are back in the saddle again. Are you eyeing another crit in the near future?

I was reading Lance Armstrong's War and during one of the TDF's there were 99 crashes at the beginning of the race.

[bouncybouncy]

I saw Debi at the track last night...as one of her crit-riding-mates said...

"she is one tough cookie!!!"

Glad to see you back out there...You looked great!!!

[Gowest]

Thanks for all of your thoughts and kind words.

It was great to see you at the track Laurie - sorry it took me a minute to put you and Bouncy together - head injury you know......

No - no crits on this schedule - going to Atlanta to the **** Lane Velodrome this weekend for training on the banked track - I also do track racing - oh $hit - no brakes and this is safer than a crit????

Regarding insurance - b/c the bike was a year old I DROPPED the policy weeks before the crash - oh darn......I just got the crash replacement 20% discount from Orbea - not too great a deal. As I said though - I did save a few bits from the original bike.

I think that rather than having someone in my derailleur - cause I would have known that - I may have had a mechanical to lock the rear - or had a blow-out - who knows?????

Next up for me is ???? But I can't stop racing. I did a group practice on the track yesterday and did not feel sketchy in the tight paceline. I have gone out four days in a row this week and feel ok - trying to get that fitness back.

debi

[Gowest]

Oh - how funny - the censors got me - I was talking about going to the *ick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta above - oh hee hee hee.................

Debi

[Blueberry]

Debi-

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle and not spooked!!!

Sucks about the insurance, though.

Have fun in Atlanta!

CA