General Cycling Discussion - Today they had to scrap asphalt out of my Arm

Right now, I am having a slight difficulty with the keyboard. Today they scrapped asphalt out of my right arm. This crash was caused for reasons I am unsure of.?
I was gradually turning about a flat S curve, did not hit any small objects in the road, road surface was clean, turned the bike gradually into the curve, but the bike skidded from under me, skidding on the pavement to the right. Directly hitting the uppper back part of the right arm and slidding across the coarse ashphalt.
I looked down as I skidded and have no idea why this loss of traction ocurred? Turn was gradual at about 12 miles per hour.
I was far away from the phone to call someone to come out and rescue me and take me to my doctor.. Doctor x rayed the shoulder and says it appears to be either strained or sprained legiments or muscles. It hurts. Particularily when I left the arm up using the shoulder. I have some good pain killers.
Biggest concern is when Do I get back on the bike. A nice weekend weather wise, too.
Anyone loose traction for unexpected reasons, and can't figure out why it happened. Can't see much damage to bike and headset seems tight. Why did this happen.? I am cheated out of riding to work next Monday night. dam...
Somehow I am able to type this two handed.. Have to think about cycling next couple days at Bikeforums.! This is my weekend to be pampered and no yard work . Whether be on the bike tomorrow.. How long does it take to recover from liagment/muscle damage soreness? Should I need to edit, please excuse if I don't . Not that I always do....

I'm sorry to hear about your crash, I hope it gets better soon. As far as what caused the loss of traction goes, the first thing that comes to mind is a build up of oil deposits on the road. I remember when our drought was at it's worst, it was totally impossible to hold any transaction on the road at all (yes, even in the dry) because the roads were covered by this film of oil. It was impossible to even brake gently without skidding. In fact, when the rain finally came I found I had better traction in the wet than in the dry. When was the last time it rained heavily over there?

The thing about oil is that it's just about impossible to see, so you wouldn't have seen 'what caused your crash'. How far was the bike leaning over when you made the turn?

Chris. I am here typing with my right arm in a sling.. It only rains here December through April. Last light rain about 7-10 days ago. Pretty dry now.. Area I was riding through - It is horse country? Any substances from that.? Didn't see any. Have seen people on horseback, riding on shoulder of road. Shoulders are pretty wide.
This better clear up soon. Doctor says no complications, should be much better 3-4 days, is his expectation. Minor tears he said get better quickly.. If not, think I can put my bike on the trainer in 4-5 days and not be totally without exercise. On trainer, there is little need for use of arms...
After it happened, no where near phone had to bike about 2 miles to get to phone for someone to come and help me to the doctors office. Kept my arm attached to handlebar and needed no lifting, so that was ok. If had been broken, maybe I could not have done that.
Heals quickly, hope I can be on bike within week? Hope that is not too careless..

Originally posted by cyclezealot
Chris. I am here typing with my right arm in a sling.. It only rains here December through April. Last light rain about 7-10 days ago. Pretty dry now.. Area I was riding through - It is horse country? Any substances from that.? Didn't see any. Have seen people on horseback, riding on shoulder of road. Shoulders are pretty wide.

As I found out last year, oil crops up in the most surprising places if it's dry enough. You only need to lean over slightly too far to get those sort of problems if you hit it at the right time. It's possible it may have been something else, however, although most other things would have been quite visible, no?

After it happened, no where near phone had to bike about 2 miles to get to phone for someone to come and help me to the doctors office. Kept my arm attached to handlebar and needed no lifting, so that was ok. If had been broken, maybe I could not have done that.

I am curious. I always travel with a cell phone. Could you have used a cell phone in this situation, or was no service available?

Even a disconnected cell phone (one with no service that you pay for) will allow you to dial 911 or make a credit card call.

I even keep my old, now disconnected, cell phones in various places like my car glove compartment. As long as the battery is charged or there is a 12v adapter available, I can use them in an emergency.

I can't help you figure out why you crashed, you'll never really know, it just happens sometimes. I do want to caution you about shoulder injuries. Don't be too patient with it. If it is still painful after a week, especially raising your arm above shoulder level or reaching behind your back, you should be re-checked and possibly start PT. Immobility of the shoulder because of pain is one of the possible causes of "Frozen Shoulder". It often occurs after rotator cuff injuries or surgery, or sometimes spontaneously from chronic overuse injury. Sorry about the crash, it's tough having it happen this time of year. I hope you have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

cyclezealot: Sorry to hear about the crash. I hope you recover soon. Do you recall when you crashed which end of the bike lost traction first? Did the front wheel slide out or did the rear try to come around like a fish tail?

Zack

I feel for you brother. I had my first good spill about an hour ago. I hit a curb that was about 3 inches high, flew over the handlebars and landed on my stomach, in the road. I was trying to come out of a parking lot. I was turning a circle, to let my son get ahead of me, and I missed the exit. I am pretty beefy at 225 lbs and 5-6 tall. (42 waist) Luckily, many years of martial arts training when I was younger helped me break the fall very quickly. Head up high, arms semi outstretched, and slap towards the ground very hard as you hit. I still felt like a horse had kicked me in the right rib cage. I laid there about two minutes before I could get up. My son who is 8, pulled my bike out of the road and knelt beside me to ask if I was OK. An old man in a truck stopped to see if I needed help. It is good to know that people are helpful around here.

If I would have been more familiar with my bike, I doubt that I would have crashed. I just learned today that the new type brake levers on road bikes let you rest your hands on top of the lever. I had been reaching under and hitting the brakes prior to this. If I had had my hands on top of the brake, I could have easily stopped. No damage to the bike, and my first time out on it. Best - Ted

I hope they got out all the asphalt, my grandmother who died aged 89 a few years ago still had stones in her leg from a cycle crash in 1912.

As a kid a I remember pushing them across her leg - weird!

Sometimes crashes like that just happen, it's hard to explain. I once fell on a patch of gravel- it's now paved, but i remeber it was like I was on ice all of a sudden and then... crunch! Funny thing is that i was on my mountain bike! No major injuries, but a big chunk of skin torn out of my knee, scraped elbow and torn gloves! The big annoyance was that I had no first aid with me and bled all the way home. However, it's just weird that I lost traction that way. Fortunately, no gravel was embedded in my skin.

Anyways, cycle, that sucks but let's face it , could have been a lot worse. Give it a week or so, don't rush back and you still have a whole season ahead of you. At least it isn't the peak of the season and you aren't missing all that nice summer weather. Just take it easy for a few days and get on the trainer.

thanks all. The moment I sensed I was loosing traction I looked down at the front, nothing was in the road. I strongly sensed the front was not turning into the turn. The hit caused most of the pressure to backside of my upper arm. Doctor said he could not determine very much at that time due to the pain and to examine the shoulder this Monday. Might be able to raise my arm an inch or two higher this AM. Think the pain is a little less, but could be the pain killer.
We just have not gotten a cell phone. Guess, I saw the use for one. My wife did not get home until my doctor's visit was almost over.
Wow. Terminator. Sounds like your crash was harder impact than mine. Just maybe I hit in a more sensitive spot. Hope you are ok today.

cyclezealot,

I did suffer a flat tire, I just did not notice it until I got home. New tire and new tube, $17.00. No labor for putting it on. I hope that you feel better sooner. - Ted

It is such a nice day here today. I can't stand looking out the window.. Once I swore, On Camino de Ray, where I crashed; from across the road; I saw a woman riding in a cast. It must have been an illusion or white arm warmers. Saw that years ago.

hey that sucks man! i feel for you. i've had 5 crashes in the last week, but none are very severe --- i have scrapes everywhere (upper right thigh, left forearm, left bicep, cut eyebrow) and my left pinky hurts and my right wrist i have in a brace...

but i can still ride :)

i've had 2 or 3 shoulder injuries over the years. one was from overuse (volleyball) so it was different, but the other 2 were from snowboard accidents. one sounds similar to yours and during my snowboard vacation the last 2 days i couldn't raise my arm enough to put on my myself, so my friends had to put it on for me.

i was young (24) and so i never went to the doctor b/c i could "tough it out"... but it was hurt for like 6 months in all i think. as Jean said in some of the other threads i think you have to first let it heal a little and get the swelling down THEN do activity - and maybe even check into some phsycial therapy. i have found with finger and shoulder injuries post-injury phycial training is VERY important to regaining range of motion and strength.

good luck and i hope you can resume riding again! i was sick for almost 7 weeks in March and i was SO annoyed to be off the bike! i feel for ya!

Could have been diesel. Only a small amount of that will be enough to bring you down.

Watch the arm. I crashed about 6 months ago - still have some pain - bursitis or rotator cuff.

I agree with oil. I had a similar crash but the front wheel started wobbling as I was coming out of the turn. I don't really know why but I think it was because I wasn't focused on what I was doing and was moving my hands to the bar ends before I was full straightened out. Sometimes I do this both hands at the same time instead of the safer one at a time. Stupid to do while in a turn but my mind was wandering at the moment and I can't really explain any other reason for losing control. Didn't get scraped up as bad as you but I got road rash on my forearm, knee, ankle, and shoulder. Tough riding home like that but I had to get back on the horse.

You are learning to become ONE WITH THE PAVEMENT, GRASSHOPPER!!

Today I finally got the results of my MRI. This injury has been with me for one month minus four days; until I got it fully diagnosed and assigned to an orthopedic surgeon. Will meet with him next Monday.
The diagnosis. Two completely torn ligaments at the right shoulder rotor cuff. This down time off the bike has been awflul to this cycle addict.
Two questions face me.. Today I rode by the crash site again with another cycling friend.. Could not understand why there.? Either of us.. I could see nothing abnormal then or now.
But what is facing me.. How does two rotor cuff surgeries feel? Anyone have one? How long were you gimping about. How long before I can get back on the bike? I have a tour planned in September.
What thoughts went through your mind as to how to prevent another crash that puts you out of the cycling routine for awhile.
My wife does not approve and have not told my doctor, but this past week I have been sneaking in rides. On my hybrid bike with more upright handlebars, I have had comfortable rides. The condition is not all that irritating as of now, unless you use the arm in a way It won't respond. Then it hurts.. As long as I don't crash, things are fine. What the heck the damage is done....

hmmm lol. Could there of been crap like mud on your sidewalls? I've been through mud where a herd of cows has crossed the road, then gone power sliding through the next turn - much to the astonishment and awe of my buddies.

Brendon
:beer:

I had a similar fall earlier this year. I was coming out of a parking lot and took a corner at about 9 mph. The road was wet from a recent rain. Any rate the rear wheel slipped out from under me. I used to commute in the winter in Michigan and it felt just like some falls I had on ice. One minute you are on your bike the next minute it shoots out from under you. I fell right on my hip joint - nothing broken but I had a bad bruise and was on crutches for 4 weeks. I did examine the pavement and even felt it. It was pretty smooth and slippery. It might have had just a bit of oil on it that floated out of the asphalt from the rain.

I had a similar thing happen to me..the path was covered in a very even coating of slime :D Couldn't see that there was anything on it. My right hip took most of the impact and I had sprained ligaments/muscles. It actually hurt for months afterward. There was a certain way I couldn't move it for about 2 months, and felt bruised for maybe another two or three months. Not as bad as it sounds, I guess, because the way I couldn't move it was something pretty extreme like splits or something. At the start I couldn't lift my leg to the side at all, but it wasn't too long afterwards when I could do almost everything very carefully. Freaked me out pretty bad though. I'm a bit sleepy this morning, so I'm not sure if I'm making a point :D Maybe you'll get something out of it anyway! lol You'll be alright I bet, just keep it moving as much as you can and take care of it :D

Thanks Nat. They say it is competely severed so I don't think there is any growing back.. Heard it is pretty painful, hope they give me some good drugs.

Oh well that's where reading all the posts comes in handy :D Which I didn't... Fingers crossed for ya!

there's people who will do that for you? (scrape asphault)

I remain as addicted to cycling as ever. Since my crash have yet to get back on my oldest road bike. Feel slightly freaked about that bike, I have to admit. If only I could understand why the crash occured, I would feel less intimidated- if that is the right word... I have been on my touring and hybrid bike with wider tires. And can't wait to get out tomorrow, but do I think my older Scott bike is jinxed? Will get on that eventually.
I really do not dwell upon a bad shoulder, except when I shift my standard transmission. Anyone ask themselves how does a crash effect their cycling addiction. Still an addict, but a slightly somewhat reluctant addict. I put the road bike I crashed on on the trainer, but yet to take it outside.
Heah, I probably had about 60.000 plus cycling miles before this crash. What do they say, about 50% of us will have a serious car crash during our life. Does not effect our need to drive.