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05-05-05, 05:25 AM
I was involved in a serious crash this past saturday while racing in the final race of the Ohio Valley Spring Series. I was chasing down a breakaway at approximately 25 MPH, when someone swerved in front of me and clipped my front wheel with his rear. I lost control of the bike and hit the tarmac...hard. I was knocked out for a second or two, but I managed to get myself together and drive home. However, due to heavy swelling on my hip, I had my girlfriend drive me to the emergency room. Once there, I waited about two hours to see a doctor, or at least anyone who could diagnose any problems I might have. When the doctor on duty asked me what happened and what hurt, I first told him about my scraped up knees and my hip. However, once I mentioned the fact that I had hit my head and was consequently knocked out, he ordered that I take a CAT scan. Funny enough, I didn't see that as the major problem. When you've got what looks like a small purple brain growing on the side of your body, you tend to take that much more seriously than any "invisible" damage.
Unfortunately, the scan showed two minor blood "spots" on my brain and I was interred overnight for observation. Luckily, the spots never manifested themselves in any form of malignancy and I was released on monday at noon. I'm just glad that I had a steady stream of visitors that kept the time flying and a girlfriend who was more than happy to run to my house to get me REAL food. I'm sorry, but never am I so desperately hungry that I'll break my semi-vegetarian diet in order to eat a shriveled slice of roast beef with gravy, even if it's supposedly nutritious per the advice of one of the nurses. Ewww.
But in all seriousness, without any doubt, I feel that I would be dead or a near vegetable if I had crashed without wearing a helmet. Everyone can be rest assured that my next helmet will be a Giro, most likely a Pneumo. Their lids pass the acid test, so to speak.
Unfortunately, the scan showed two minor blood "spots" on my brain and I was interred overnight for observation. Luckily, the spots never manifested themselves in any form of malignancy and I was released on monday at noon. I'm just glad that I had a steady stream of visitors that kept the time flying and a girlfriend who was more than happy to run to my house to get me REAL food. I'm sorry, but never am I so desperately hungry that I'll break my semi-vegetarian diet in order to eat a shriveled slice of roast beef with gravy, even if it's supposedly nutritious per the advice of one of the nurses. Ewww.
But in all seriousness, without any doubt, I feel that I would be dead or a near vegetable if I had crashed without wearing a helmet. Everyone can be rest assured that my next helmet will be a Giro, most likely a Pneumo. Their lids pass the acid test, so to speak.