Fifty Plus (50+) - My wipeout...and slow recovery

As I rode home one night three weeks ago, I was thinking, "What would I do if I couldn't ride my bike to work?" Just a block from my house, I thought I could squeeze between an oncoming car and a parked car. Well, I didn't see the rear-view mirror on the parked car, and I ran into it. It must have thrown me over the handlebars, because my rear wheel got crushed by the oncoming car and I ended up only with a bruised leg. But the bruise was quite bad, and I'm not healing very fast.

I climbed back on my other bike yesterday, but I can see I won't be ready for at least two weeks. It's frustrating doing things right (I had my lights on) but making one mistake in judgment and having a crash.

Still, I feel very lucky that it was the bike (a hybrid now totaled) that fell under the car and not me. And I tried swimming yesterday and I actually enjoyed it. It gives you the same mental high as the bike, my leg feels better, and it's safer (but the scenery isn't so great, and I'm not a very good swimmer.)

I'm sure if I was 25 years old I would have been back on the bike the next day. But I'll be back.

Mike Doan (age 65)

Mike, glad to hear you weren't more seriously injured. The potential for life ending injuries in what you described were quite high. Maybe your accident was a not so gentle reminder that cars and bikes generally don't mix too well at close range. Hope your swimming keeps you in some semblance of shape and that you're able to get back on the bike soon. I know that as I've aged, recovery takes longer.

^^^
ditto

Those things can come at you fast. Beginning of January I had a fall near Belvoir and broke my left collar bone. Eleven weeks later I'm able to start riding again. Bones take a while, but at least it was a clean break.

Parked car and oncoming car? Must be a narrow street.

Goodness-really sorry to hear about the accident but I love your attitude about getting back out there.

(but the scenery isn't so great, and I'm not a very good swimmer.)


You must not have the right lane partner! I prefer a lane partner that is about 25 or 30 years old and just a little faster than me so I can draft behind her.

Glad to hear you weren't seriously injured, Mike. Unfortunately it does take a little longer to recover as we mature:(

I think that you did a good deed of describing that accident so we become alert to that situation. I always worry about a door opening.
I also wish you a full and swift recovery.

Glad to hear you are on the mend. As others have pointed out, it certainly could have been much worse. Best wishes, Mike.

Paul

Glad to hear you survived a close call that could have ended badly. I had a similar encounter with the mirror of a parked car a few years ago when a minivan driver failed to see me & turned to close. I only whacked the back of my right hand & wrist. Managed to stay up but the contusion & scabs took about 4 weeks to heal completely. Just give it some time & you will feel better. Don

Good idea: Ride with a young lane partner in front of you! My 14-year-old ran headlong into a parked car a few months ago on the same street, was sprawled on the top of it and got up and walked away!