General Cycling Discussion - Helmet saved my life today

I had my first cycling crash today, and my helmet saved my life. I was descending from a big climb, and all of the sudden I went off the road, and woke up later laying face down and completely disoriented over the hillside. I couldn't remember where I was or how I got there. Somehow I managed to call my mother with my cell phone, but I don't remember getting it out and dialing the number. I took my helmet off, and my cycling cap underneath had blood smeared all on the inside and seeping through. Somehow my head got cut through the helmet, and head wounds always bleed a lot. I don't remember if I got ran off the road, or what happened. My vision is blurred a bit as I type this, and my head is aching, I feel like I'm sick or something. My helmet has some dings in it, and I think that if I hadn't been wearing it, I'd be dead.

It was just a couple of months ago that I started employing my helmet full time. I used to just throw on my cap for some of my rides that had less traffic. This was one of my rides that I didn't wear a helmet on sometimes. But today my brain just got rattled around, and my body scraped up instead of it getting popped open and me dying.

Glad you are OK. There are those who still don't feel helmets save lives or reduce morbidity, but that is another well argued thread. Glad you felt your brain was worth the protection and are OK!

Did a doc check you out?

You sustained a concussion if you had some retrograde amnesia(did not remember how you dialed the phone and contacted your mother) and temporary loss of consciousness.

Originally posted by crucifixion12
...My vision is blurred a bit as I type this, and my head is aching, I feel like I'm sick or something...

Glad you are alive, not sure you are okay. Get to the vet and let him have a looksee.

Originally posted by threadend
Glad you are alive, not sure you are okay. Get to the vet and let him have a looksee. Yes. Right now. Sounds like concussion. :eek:

Wow, glad you are still with us. I'm new around here but reading your story made me glad that I started wearing a helmet this season after years of thinking it would never happen to me.

Originally posted by mechBgon
Yes. Right now. Sounds like concussion. :eek:
DO IT !!!!!

That's frightening. What a crash. Thank God you weren't hurt worse. Don't screw around with a head injury - get yourself checked out ASAP. By the way, is the bike OK?

I did a flying dive over my handle bars about 4 months ago on my commute to work, the helmet saved my life I am glad you where wearing yours now I won't even leave home without mine. Now I hope you have already followed everybody's advice here and see the doc, I didn't think I needed to but my boss decided otherwise and wouldn't let me return to work with out doc permission, thats when I found out I had a hairline fracture in my wrist as well as a mild concussion, and a broken nose (but I knew that just by looking at it). And keep us posted, us old f@rts tend to worry you know

Oh yeah as you already know it is time to buy a new helmet if you own a bell go to their website they have an excellent guarantee!

Holy cow - I got scared just reading that account. I'm glad that you were wearing your lid. Please update us on your condition!!!!!

helmet saved my bacon twice. good to see you're still ambulatory, but no kidding around, you have to get a doc on the case!

Glad you are ok.

When I had my big wreck, I was not wearing a helmet, and I was going SLOW (between 5 and 10 mph). I still had a concussion.

Point? It doesn't take much to sustain massive head injuries. Good thing you were wearing your helmet.

I once woke up on the road after being knocked out. The Doc told me my helmet saved my life, no question about it.

Hope nothing else is broke.


Buy a new helmet (you can upgrade now) and keep on riding!!!

I too would either be dead or a head trauma case if not for protection.

Other members are right...go get checked out. A friend of mine had what he thought was a minor head injury. Several months later he needed emergency brain surgery due to brain swelling.
He is now lucky to still be with us!

Good luck!

Well that sounds like a severe concussion to me (the loss of consciousness and amnesia and disorientation is a giveaway). I have some first hand experience on this one having had one back in April. I got run off a road by another rider (he hit me, leaned into me and ran me off the road and it wasn't intentional, he is clueless and dangerous). I remember going off the road and thinking that I was going to crash whilst going 25 mph. Next thing I remember, I was chatting with the nice fella in the emergency vehicle.

I found the concussion was very demoralizing. I really did not want to get out on the bike for about a week and I was a bit tentative once I did. I rode 50 miles 8 days later and then got back into it. A concussion affects your thinking and well who you are and for me it was clear that a lil harder (and I don't know how harder) and I would have been pushing up daisies.

If you have a concussion or even think you might have one or someone has one on a ride. Here is something to be careful about. The effects can be delayed. I did not start feeling better until 5 days later (my physician warned me about this fortunately). And people can take a fast and nasty turn for the worse so it is not good to let a person go unsupervised right after a fall on their head. If they fall and hit their head and go unconscious, you should send someone back with them if they decide to cut the ride short (and have a cell phone handy). We had a guy fall and he felt ok and started to ride back and later became so disoriented that he could not ride. Fortunately, he had an escort who called for medical assistance which turned out not necessary (thank god).

Well, I do have a concussion, but no broken bones. I have some mild road rash on my right arm and leg. Other than that I'm doing fine. I'm definately a pro helmet guy now! Thanks for all of your concern and advice!

Good to hear you are ok! Take Pat's advice to heart. There may still be some residual side effects later (ex. loss of coordination, post concussion headache syndrome that can last months later etc.)

That was quite a riveting experience. It’s nice to know you made it with “minor injuries”, nevertheless, you should not disregard the fact that you had a head injury, its better to be wary than never. Have a thorough medical exam. :D


Just like what captsven said, time to upgrade!;)

I am new here. I just started commuting to work about a month ago. I will now be buying a helmet over the next two days.

I feel really stupid for not having already made the purchase.

I hope you are allright buddy and I thank all of you for your tales.