Bike Crash

[MarkU]

Had my first big crash tonight. Was doing about 20 mph in the aerobars and caught the front wheel in deep grove in the pavement. Bike stopped and I didn't. Bounced/skidded about fifteen feet. Shredded the shoulder and back of my LiveStrong jersey. Skinned both knees & elbows and major road rash on my right hip, butt and shoulder. Something on the bike put a 4" cut on the inside of my left leg, not sure what.

Took one pretty good wack on the top of my helmet against the pavement - may need to trash it (the helmet, that is).

In spite of being on Coumadin, I somehow have managed not to bleed to death so far. (Hmmm, I wonder if this falls in the category of "bleeding event" that was being discussed elsewhere?)

Good news is the bike seems to be okay.


A woman going the other way in her car saw me go down and came back to see if I was okay. Nice of her to do that.

Collected my wits then pedaled three miles back home very slowly.

Guess it was my turn in the barrel.

Numbness is starting wear off. Starting to feel sore and crappy. Think I need a glass of wine...

Mark

 

[Lynlw]

Mark I am very glad you are ok. I was wonderring if you thought about getting checked out, especially since you hit your head and thank God for helmets. I think i would rather be safe than sorry, lyn

 

[geebee]

Definitely trash that helmet. They are only meant to take one big hit and then the protection is shot.
I would be mostly concerned about the head bang since that is the one thing that would not be an apparent bleed.
I am starting to hurt just reading about your crash.
Please take care and I hope things are not too painful.

 

[hensylee]

must've been a pothole from all the rain. My son says there's been a huge amount. Tomorrow you may be a heap more sore than tonight. Hope you wake up feeling whole.

 

[Ross]

I swear grooves are magnets for bike tires. I got mine caught riding through a trailer park and got sent square into the side of a mobile home. I got banged up pretty good, but felt like a total fool when the owner came running out screaming that he thought I knocked his house off of the foundation. Never did go near that park again!

Another testimony that being on Coumadin, you can still sustain some pretty significant damage and still go on. Have another glass of wine for me will ya!

 

[MarkU]

Have another glass of wine for me will ya!

Done.

Mark

 

[Mary]

Mark,
Would you advise anyone still recovering from replacement surgery, say at about 6-8 weeks post-op, to take a chance on bike riding after you suffered this fall?

We had this issue raised a few weeks back, but I can't remember who asked the question.

And please have a glass of wine for me too. I asked Ross to drink one for me, but I see he's passed it on to you, so, if you don't mind . . . .

I hope you get over the residual soreness quickly.
Mary

 

[LLJ]

Crashes make good stories as long as you don't get too hurt! I bet you will have some very pretty technicolor bruises tomorrow! I will have a glass of wine for you since by now you're probably 3 sheets to the wind from all the glasses you've drunk for others!
"Scars are just tatoos with better stories!"
LLJ

 

[Karlynn]

My guess is that you are going to be REALLY sore tomorrow. If things seem out of the ordinary - don't hesitate to head to the ER. While it sounds like your helmet served you well, I think anyone in a crash like that, whether on Coumadin or not, should be a little more watchful for signs of injury.

 

[MarkU]

Mark,
Would you advise anyone still recovering from replacement surgery, say at about 6-8 weeks post-op, to take a chance on bike riding after you suffered this fall?

We had this issue raised a few weeks back, but I can't remember who asked the question.

And please have a glass of wine for me too. I asked Ross to drink one for me, but I see he's passed it on to you, so, if you don't mind . . . .

I hope you get over the residual soreness quickly.
Mary

Absolutely not. I'm 5-1/2 years post-op. Didn't start doing this triathlon stuff until about 2-1/2 years ago. It took me 9-12 months to fully recover from my AVR. Sure, I may have been "functional" and back at work in 4-6 weeks post-op, but it takes a long time to truly and fully recover from open heart surgery. I also sense that my experience may be the exception rather than the rule. I was in good physical condition prior to my surgery, and my AVR went very smoothly. I consider myself to be very lucky and blessed to be able to do the things I do.

Mark

PS - going back for the 3rd glass of merlot. Good thing I'm not getting my INR checked this week.

 

[aussigal]

Oh GOSH Mark!...

OUCH!...makes me hurt while reading that!

I'm glad a caring soul came over to check if you were OK...

I hope you dont end up looking like a truck ran you over and you just have a few small bruises...

Now remember to watch out for bumpy roads hey!...

 

[MarkU]

... by now you're probably 3 sheets to the wind from all the glasses you've drunk for others!
LLJ

;
I resemble that remark...

Expect the quality of future posts to deteriorate significantly...

 

[BillCobit]

Mark

So glad you are OK. I agree w/ Gina that your helmet is done, external appearance notwithstanding. In this case, it may well have saved your life. May there be no draft-legal races in your future

Your unfortunate experience is a good reminder of why we should all:

1. wear a helmet
2. carry ID, medical condition and medical insurance info while riding

I don't know what your practice is on point #2, but consider if you had been rendered unconcho, leaving a paramedic or ER doc to contemplate/assume the origin of your chest scar, if you were on coumadin or other heart/CV drugs, if you had a pacemaker, ICD, etc.

Are your injuries going to require you to change your tri schedule this season? Hope not.

No mention of that sweet bike of yours - any damage?

 

[MarkU]

Mark

So glad you are OK. I agree w/ Gina that your helmet is done, external appearance notwithstanding. In this case, it may well have saved your life. May there be no draft-legal races in your future

Your unfortunate experience is a good reminder of why we should all:

1. wear a helmet
2. carry ID, medical condition and medical insurance info while riding

I don't know what your practice is on point #2, but consider if you had been rendered unconcho, leaving a paramedic or ER doc to contemplate/assume the origin of your chest scar, if you were on coumadin or other heart/CV drugs, if you had a pacemaker, ICD, etc.

Are your injuries going to require you to change your tri schedule this season? Hope not.

No mention of that sweet bike of yours - any damage?

Hi Bill,

You make good points. Besides wearing my MedicAlert bracelet, I always take my wallet w/ID and cell phone with me when I ride. Also have a $20 bill tucked into my saddle pack with my spare tube and CO2 inflator, just in case.

Bike seems to be just fine. No obvious damage and the wheels are still true. I'll clean it up and check it closely for any frame damage before I ride again.

Just a minor setback as far as my training. A bit sore this morning, but most the damage seems to be superficial. May stay out of the pool for a couple of days due to the road rash, but plan to go for an easy run this afternoon.

And no, there aren't any draft-legal races in my future...

Mak

 

[tommy]

Mark, I just checked here only to find that you've had an eventful evening - all that wine and all. Seriously, glad that you are okay. Trash the helmet. Take a day off. Get back up on that horse ... er ..... bike.

 

[mntbiker]

Hi Mark,
Sorry to hear about the crash, glad to see you are up and posting.

Enough have mentioned the helmet so I will just say - keep the head, I don't think you need to trash that after a fall.

Happy healing and I hope you are up and riding again soon.

 

[Marguerite53]

yeee-ouch!!! Buy a new helmet and come to biker-friendly Oregon!! I don't ride, but so many of you do, I thought I'd share the recent news series about the cycling community here. See my thread... Bicycling in Oregon.

Glad you weren't too sore (or hurt badly!! ). Maybe you need some polaroid sunglasses......so you can see everything even in the glare and in the shadows.

Take care. Marguerite

 

[Adam T]

Mark,

Hope you're feeling better. You gotta hate going down like that. Every cyclist has to have a good crash story.

I did an endo right in front of an auto repair shop one time. A bunch of guys sitting out front had a good laugh. I landed in the grass in the ditch so no major damage other than to my pride.

 

[Sherry]

Yikes, Mark, that just makes me cringe to hear it. Glad you're o.k. and proof positive that coumadin users aren't going to bleed out anytime we have an accident. Still, I can't imagine the pain you're feeling right now. Better drink a few glasses...

Off the subject, are you attending any PU football games next year? With our son up there, we're going to hit a few, namely Wisconsin. Send me a PM if you are.

 

[Lynlw]

i was wonderring how you are doing today? Lyn