Sorry for length but had to write it down so I didn't forget
Well they say events come in threes so I am now hoping that this is the case. I crashed the MTB twice in the past six months, once in the dark on slippery roads, once into a car at Oberlands. This week managed to have the largest crash in a very long time. It was made worse by being another cyclist being the cause of my crash.
It was a normal morning, in fact it was a great morning. Riding along i was feeling good the lurgy had gone and I was able to speed up at will. I was on the new giant as I was going for a training spin after work as I had been working on timings. So hit the Oberlands as normal get the legs wound up as I like to sprint past the place of my last crash. Just about to launch when from out of no-where a kid on a bike pulls out straight in front of me. He had come from a blind exit and rather than check oncoming traffic just rode straight out. I shouted, I swore, I hit the brakes...... however I could not stop in time and hit his front wheel.
The crash itself is a little hazy, i can remember going over the handlebars but not sure if my head hit his head or the road. Doubtless to say I came crashing down onto the road with a thump, from there I introduced him to as many expletives I could think of and then realised that I was in pain. Also felt the warm drip of blood down my face. This is when I realised that probably best I don't get up.
There were a couple of people who had stopped, this is a road after all. Hats off to them they told me not to move, somebody phoned an ambulance, and then a nice guy phone my wife to say there had been an accident. Most though I had broken my leg so were concerned. I was more concerned with my brand new giant lying in the road and the fact my iPad etc in my bag would have probably been smashed. As it happens the bike was fine, and looked after by one of my helpers who kept it safe till i was able to collect. The iPad also was completely fine all the thanks to Timbuktu, their bags rock. Even the Oakley had survived another crash intact, although blood splattered.
After what seemed like an age I was collected by ambulance crew, after asking after the state of my fellow crashie who it appears was fine but shaken. They did all the check to ensure things were as they should be, the leg was fine but hurt like hell, my face however apparently was a mess. After more checks I was loaded into the back go ambulance and off we went. luckily A & E was about 30 secs from my crash site so couldn't have planned it better. It was at that stage that the guys showed me my helmet. I am not getting into the whole helmet debate but the damage to helmet scared me. I checked after and my impact was a 20mph which is not a bad pace and one I would say is fair for a weekend racer such as myself. In fact I was praised as all my gear had saved me much worse injuries.
After a checkover by nurses and doctor , I was released to a very tearful wife and off to speak to parents and my children who were very upset at my crash.
No action was taken from police however it was explained to the school child that had I been a car it would have been fatal for him, in fact had i not had a helmet the impact may have been fatal for me. Hopefully he will learn from this and actually spend that extra 10secs waiting to check nothing is coming.
Me I have the black eye from hell and split lip, so perfect for my night out with the lads on St Patricks night. Gotta be worth a sympathy pint :-)
And yes the Giant appears ok and I will be back on it next week to catch up on another weekends training lost.
Well they say events come in threes so I am now hoping that this is the case. I crashed the MTB twice in the past six months, once in the dark on slippery roads, once into a car at Oberlands. This week managed to have the largest crash in a very long time. It was made worse by being another cyclist being the cause of my crash.
It was a normal morning, in fact it was a great morning. Riding along i was feeling good the lurgy had gone and I was able to speed up at will. I was on the new giant as I was going for a training spin after work as I had been working on timings. So hit the Oberlands as normal get the legs wound up as I like to sprint past the place of my last crash. Just about to launch when from out of no-where a kid on a bike pulls out straight in front of me. He had come from a blind exit and rather than check oncoming traffic just rode straight out. I shouted, I swore, I hit the brakes...... however I could not stop in time and hit his front wheel.
The crash itself is a little hazy, i can remember going over the handlebars but not sure if my head hit his head or the road. Doubtless to say I came crashing down onto the road with a thump, from there I introduced him to as many expletives I could think of and then realised that I was in pain. Also felt the warm drip of blood down my face. This is when I realised that probably best I don't get up.
There were a couple of people who had stopped, this is a road after all. Hats off to them they told me not to move, somebody phoned an ambulance, and then a nice guy phone my wife to say there had been an accident. Most though I had broken my leg so were concerned. I was more concerned with my brand new giant lying in the road and the fact my iPad etc in my bag would have probably been smashed. As it happens the bike was fine, and looked after by one of my helpers who kept it safe till i was able to collect. The iPad also was completely fine all the thanks to Timbuktu, their bags rock. Even the Oakley had survived another crash intact, although blood splattered.
After what seemed like an age I was collected by ambulance crew, after asking after the state of my fellow crashie who it appears was fine but shaken. They did all the check to ensure things were as they should be, the leg was fine but hurt like hell, my face however apparently was a mess. After more checks I was loaded into the back go ambulance and off we went. luckily A & E was about 30 secs from my crash site so couldn't have planned it better. It was at that stage that the guys showed me my helmet. I am not getting into the whole helmet debate but the damage to helmet scared me. I checked after and my impact was a 20mph which is not a bad pace and one I would say is fair for a weekend racer such as myself. In fact I was praised as all my gear had saved me much worse injuries.
After a checkover by nurses and doctor , I was released to a very tearful wife and off to speak to parents and my children who were very upset at my crash.
No action was taken from police however it was explained to the school child that had I been a car it would have been fatal for him, in fact had i not had a helmet the impact may have been fatal for me. Hopefully he will learn from this and actually spend that extra 10secs waiting to check nothing is coming.
Me I have the black eye from hell and split lip, so perfect for my night out with the lads on St Patricks night. Gotta be worth a sympathy pint :-)
And yes the Giant appears ok and I will be back on it next week to catch up on another weekends training lost.
