Road Bike Racing - Another broken collar bone -- MINE!

I'm typing w/ one hand so this will be short.

Had accident during training ride this morning in the OBX, NC. Hit a passing car as I went around some slower bike traffic. I looked back before passing but did not see anything oncoming. I was wrong. From wht they tell me, I hit the ground hard, went lights out for a couple minutes. Concussion, broken collar bone. Woke up in ambulance w/ no recollection of where I was.

Will take a couple days off, then will attempt the trainer and will let the pain be my guide.

The timing of this is as good as can be since my A races are over until Sept and I was going to regroup for another peak in the fall anyway.

That is all.

--Steve

Steve this sucks! Im glad you ok all things considered. I take it the break wasnt that bad if you are already thinking about the trainer. Did a DR give you a recovery time or anything?

Are you in pain?

Sorry to hear that, glad you are relatively OK...as in still with us. Mend up soon, you'll be back stronger than ever in September.

Hurts like hell when I move it. Not so bad when I don't--but I'm on Percaset (sp) and Ibuprofin.

They were pretty vague about recovery. I'll go see a local doc when I get back home.

--Steve

Eesh. At least you are optimistic about it. I hope you don't need surgery!

Suck!

Sorry to hear that Steve, but hey - at least it's not your legs :)

Sorry to hear that. Good luck in your recovery. Don't push it and get back on the bike too quickly - remember your next A races aren't until Sept.

I hope you dont need surgery too! Percosets make everything feel good. I had to take em 2 at a time after my surgery because it hurt so bad.

Dude....holy crap.
Please know I'm wishing you a speedy recovery.

I'm going to look real carefully next time.

Now....
In the meantime, let me start to fill in the blanks of your memory.

You aspire to ride like Hipcycler some day, because he's so awesome.






OK...I hope it didn't hurt to make you laugh at that.

Heal fast buddy.

huge buzzkill. get well

Your wife is going to be pissed after she realizes you are ok.

Think of the women and children. :)

I had the waking up clueless in an ambulance experience once... never want to do that again.

I hope you dont need surgery too! Percosets make everything feel good. I had to take em 2 at a time after my surgery because it hurt so bad.

BS you took them two at a time because it's more fun that way.

dont push it on the whole riding the bike thing, I rebroke my collarbone once a few weeks into it and it took forever to heal after that. I think I said it in another thread, but you can ride the sit-down bikes at the gym, so you dont need to use your arms for any support.

I've broken a collarbone before - when the fracture heals, it'll be stronger at that spot than before, so, maybe you can get some extra leverage out of it to really rock the bike when you sprint?

OK maybe far fetched.. . but get well soon

BS you took them two at a time because it's more fun that way.

no way man. i stay away from pain meds of any kind if i can. I tried to get away with one every 4 hours but that didnt last long. the 36 hours following surgery was a nightmare for me.

Sucks!

Why do we do this sport again?

Sorry to hear that Steve. Take time to heal. The bike and trainer will be there next week. No need to jump right back on the horse. Make a good assessment plan your recovery and then come back for September.

Sucks!

Why do we do this sport again?

Read your sig again. If that fails, re-read the book. If that still doesn't work, sell your bike.

;)

Aw man....that really sucks....but at least you're in good spirits about it and have a game plan.

What, no power file to compare moments of inertia with Mr.Riskus and his car crash??:D

Just kidding, I've really enjoyed reading your reports on the fantastic season you've put together. Heal well.

sidenote - curious, where on OBX? I've been to Avon/Hatteras and think it's the worst place I've ever ridden a bike.

What, no power file to compare moments of inertia with Mr.Riskus and his car crash??:D

Just kidding, I've really enjoyed reading your reports on the fantastic season you've put together. Heal well.

sidenote - curious, where on OBX? I've been to Avon/Hatteras and think it's the worst place I've ever ridden a bike.

Hey man how else would i know i went over my bars going 23mph?

Steve, sorry to hear it. Holy hell--the curse of the BF racers lives on. Guess I really SHOULD be glad I ended my day upright yesterday...

Heal fast, man. At least now you get to heal as a 3. :beer:

Sux!

Heal fast and heal right. All the best wishes.

You don't want them to have to break again later on purpose!:eek:

Ouch Zimbo. Take 200 Advil and call Dr. Pete in August. You'll be back on the bike before you know it. I know a local racer who broke BOTH collarbones over 10 weeks and was back within 4 weeks or so of each incident. But he may be somewhat more loco than you are. You sound normal.

Hope it's not too painful. Sometimes a little time off the bike is exactly what you need. I should know, that's what I need.

But I'll have to break my collarbone to get it. I'm incorrigible. And velo-addicted in the extreme. The only rehab for me would be debilitating injury.

Man, the trend is shocking around here. I might have to take a hiatus before it spreads across the Pacific.

Heal up fast, Steve - but most importantly, heal.

Hi,

Oh noooooooo!!!

Say it ain't so!. :(

Get well soon.

Thanks for the well-wishes, guys. It means a lot.

The pain's not bad if I keep my left arm still.

--Steve

I can sympathise. Got a broken finger at the moment that required surgery, screws and a cast on my hand. Off the bike three weeks and counting.

Thanks for the well-wishes, guys. It means a lot.

The pain's not bad if I keep my left arm still.

--Steve

Keep healing, bud...

In the mean time, this looks like a pretty freakin' cool magazine to pass the time with...

http://www.rapha.cc/index.php?page=94

Steve-

Sorry to hear that happened. Hope it heals up fast so you can come back strong.

Also on the bright side, if you're anything like me - it's not that hard to cut the kilos while you're off the bike/not racing, and a huge b*tch to do so when you are...

So - this is the perfect opportunity to get a little lighter :)

yup, you definitely got a concussion....you're typing everything backwards....

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e365/novataco/flip.jpg

yowza. enough of these threads boys. you're spooking me.

now heal up well zimbo.

Just give it time. I'm coming up on week six post fracture and am in pretty good shape, almost full range of movement without pain. However, I'm staying off the bike until July 8 or so when we're back from vacation. The risk is re-injury, not riding per se after the initial pain subsides. Let it re calcify and as they say, it should be really strong.

I did quite a bit of reading - seems opinions vary as to the relative efficacy of slings and figure 8 bandages - I did both for about 4 weeks, figure 8 only now most of the day. The sling is a good "don't hug me or grab me or bump me" warning to others, too, as well as probably therapeutic in itself. Follow your orthopedist's advice. If in doubt, get a second opinion from a sports medicine specialist if you have access to one.

For my age and type of injury (59 next month and a clean overlapping break that has good alignment) the orthopedic surgeon said 8 weeks should be a conservative period to allow sufficient recalcification to prevent casual reinjury. I'll have a exit x-ray around the 8th of July (injury was 12MAY07).

I took it very easy for a week and after that had no more "omigosh" type incidents of real discomfort from inadvertently putting the arm in a bad position. I started walking (doing that more than the stationary) after two weeks. At my orthopedist's recommendation, I started taking calcium supplement pills. Apparently that's not a bad idea for males of my age as a general practice; we have osteoporotic problems with age, too.

The rule of thumb while mending seems to be two fold: If it hurts, don't do it; if there is substantial risk of a blow to the injury, don't do it.

Good luck. Some fellow in another forum indicated about half his riding buddies had done this at one time or another, more from hitting trees and boulders mountain biking but quite a few in road falls.

I think the fellow whose wheel I clipped in the line had broken his a few years ago on bad pavement. One of my colleagues here at the university fell off his porch and tore his up (and a lot more). It's apparently easy to do.

Don't forget to replace your helmet if it needs it (almost certain it would from the description of your fall). I am deliberately waiting two more weeks to do this so that I have some reinforcement not to try "just a little ride around the block" before 8 weeks.

I've got good thoughts coming your way,

Sincerely,

Bill

Man, I'm sorry to hear this! I think somebody needs to start a "BF racers who are still healthy" thread to reassure us all. :)


Thanks for the well-wishes, guys. It means a lot.

The pain's not bad if I keep my left arm still.

--Steve

You right or left handed? Hope you're not single! :D

Sorry to hear about your crash. That sucks. Heal well.

Sorry to hear about your crash, Steve. I broke my left clavicle, a week ago, so I'm right there with you buddy! I wish we had something more pleasant, in common. I'm gingerly typing with a figure eight strap in place, and I'm on Vicodin for pain, along with Advil. I Googled Broken Clavicle, and came up with various results, ranging from 4-8 weeks recovery for an adult, to one site that said it could take up to four months :eek: :eek: Talk about buzz-kill!! Hopefully that's only in extreme cases. I'm putting some time in on a stationary bike, but, I think a trainer would be much closer to the real deal. I miss my bike and my bed!! (I've been sleepin' in my recliner, for a week - Cramp city!!)

Feel better, soon
Mike

Hey, I just realized that you're at the OBX, NC! Cool! I'm about four hours away, just outside of Asheboro. I love the OBX! I'm a nature guy, and the OBX of NC has some of the few remaining stretches of beach that are unspoiled! My wife and I used to visit every year, and stay on Roanoke Island. RV's seafood, over at Nagshead rocks!
Mike

It took me 6 weeks to get back on the bike after mine. And when I did, I was sloooowww.

Steve,

Sorry to hear; take it easy; heal fast, man.