Mountain Biking - Uh oh, I screwed up

Yesterday afternoon I took a 2 hr ride out into the hills of Shenandoah County near the WVA line. No problem on the way out, but I screwed up royally on the return trip. I came up on a fallen down tree over the trail and had to lift my bike up and over. No problem. There is a limb hanging down low and angling upward that I thought might be nice to get out of the way, so I broke it off. Left leg up and over the tree, now Im lifting my bike over, now right leg up and over. But as I brought my right leg over it dug into the sharp point from the limb I had busted off. I can look into my calf muscle and see fatty tissue and blood pouring out. Uh oh...Im about 40 minutes from the car in the middle of nowhere. I have a kerchief in my buttpack and I tie off the wound to keep the skin from flappin and to stop the bleeding. Nothing to do but pedal out of there. 2 1/2 hrs later at the ER I get 13 stitches and Im on crutches for a week. No riding for 2 to 3 weeks. Nuts.

Oh yeah, here are some photos I took before the incident. Early Spring in them there hills, not a lot of beauty, but one shot turned out nice considering the time of year.

http://www.user.shentel.net/vonz/Jaeger.htm/wvaline.jpg

http://www.user.shentel.net/vonz/Jaeger.htm/vahills.jpg

http://www.user.shentel.net/vonz/Jaeger.htm/varocks.jpg

Very nice pictures, bummer about the leg though. Take it easy, a week will be up before you know it.

Nice pics! Too bad about your leg, though... I know what it's like to not be able to ride... :(

Nice pics, sorry to hear about the accident. Trust me, I know what it's like without a bike... I'm already something like 7-8 weeks without riding and to be honest I'm in a horrible shape and it really does suck.

Nice pics,especially the 2nd one.stay right side up & keep the blood flowing.:beer:

Wow, sorry to hear about your leg. Nice pics, take good care of the leg and you'll be back on those nice looking trails.

Thanks guys. Yeah, I hate to sit around and not ride. Funny though, the other day I was thinking, my right leg seems stronger then my left. Now since my weight has shifted on my left, maybe they'll even up now. :) Plus, Im getting some upper body strength on these freaking crutches. But I must admit, I'm going to miss it out there for awhile. First aid kit is going into my butt pak after this one. I carry a cellphone but service is usually not available in that location, and bye the time they got to me, I'd be bled out anyway. hehee

Wow, take care of that leg.

Boy you sure went through heck just to get us those nice pictures;) Lucky you didn't lose too much blood. Take it easy, the weather will be better by the time you are.

By the way, did you get pics of your leg?:D :p

Nice pics. Sucks about the leg.

Oh, wait. Has that been said yet?

Hey Peek, you followin' me?:p

whoa had nearly the same injury about 3 weeks ago.. bailed off the side of the trail going to fast... got up felt alright.. look down and my ankle is split open. rapped a bandana around it and then had to push bike up 500+ feet elevation back to teh head... 10 stitches later... 2 days later back riding, even raced with the stitches in


nice pics though... ... get well soon

Hey Peek, you followin' me?:p

If I admit that I am, does that make it less disturbing or more?

Sorry about your accident but that brings back a thought I had the other day on how valuable it woud be to keep even a small ace bandage while riding. It could wrap a wound,sprain or most anything to get you out of the woods, think I will add that to my pack for sure and keep the larger first aid kit in the car. Get well and get back out there!

If I admit that I am, does that make it less disturbing or more?


Less disturbing. I like the company:D

wheres leg pics?

I actually had a thought about the wound photo, but it quickly left me when I was going through my options out there in the boonies. I wrapped it up and didnt look at it again until the ER, and even then it looked pretty bad. I think the doctor and the nurses were surprised how large a wound I was able to inflict on myself in such a stupid manner. Okay, never let it be said a mountain biker trail correspondent shirked his duty. I think I heard a squirrel laughing as I wrapped this thing and headed out.:( http://www.user.shentel.net/vonz/Jaeger.htm/stitched.jpg

wow, thats worse than i would have expected. that had to hurt! get well soon.

my condolences on the leg, but hey, at least you are gunna get an awesome scar outa it!

Okay I take it back. I didn't want to see the pic. That was gross. Ewwwwwww. You can even see where the branch went in. Yuck. Geez I hope you didn't tear up too much inside. At least it's not all bruised and red and purple. Ick.

Poor thing. ((hugs)) Feel better and don't over do it, okay?:)

Ouch, that's gonna leave a mark. Like the other guy said, though.. at least you'll get a good scar. :) That last pic of the rocky trail looked like a blast to ride.

Took a two mile spin this morning out in front of the house, and was surprised not to feel any super muscle pain in my calf. I still have to be careful about the actual cut, but I should be back in the woods on Wed or Thursday.

For therapeutic reasons I'm going to return to the scene and manually chop that freaking tree in two.:D

No way Am I gonna let you get the award for the biggest selt inflicted wound. I'm on my way to the trail now!

Well, technically I was off the bike. All you have to do to beat me is actually be riding the bike. :D Of course I was holding the bike in my hands at the time of the injury. I might need a "ruling" on this...