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12-21-07, 08:58 AM
I hurt this morning.
Last night on my way home, I ended up taking Alaskan Way all the way from downtown Seattle to Boeing Field because Burlington Northern was playing with their trains and screwing up traffic for those of us who have to cross their tracks. Normally this isn't a route I like because it puts me on highway 99, which is a 45 MPH road with no shoulder to ride on. But, I've got lots of lights and reflectors and I'm usually OK as long as I stay pretty far right.
Last night was the ride from he**. I got down past the end of the viaduct and onto 99 proper without too much trouble, so I actually thought I was doing fine. Then I hit the train tracks that cross 99. These aren't tracks that go straight across; they go across at an angle. In dry weather this isn't a big deal. Last night wasn't dry. I tried to angle the bike to cross them at 90 degrees, but I guess I got it wrong because I ended up spilling in a lane where the traffic was going 50+ mph beside me. I didn't get hit, but I did have some pain in my left leg and elbow. No matter; as quickly as I could, I popped up from the lane and got off the road to check myself and the bike out. Nothing appeared broken, so I got back on the bike and started riding again.
About half a mile later, the same thing happened again! I spilled onto the road while trying to cross a train track. Now I'm in much more pain and really getting p*ssed off! Still, I check myself and the bike and, finding nothing obviously broken, continued the ride.
Long story short is that I have reasonably bad road rash up and down the entire left side of my body, with particular emphasis on my left elbow and knee. In addition, my shoulder was apparently deeply bruised and I can't lift my arm over my head without some reasonably serious pain. I decided that since this was the last day before the Christmas break, I'd go ahead and drive in today.
The good news is that my rain gear is apparently really tough. Two spills onto the road and all it got was a small rip in the left knee. I was impressed! My SmartWool base layer has some rips in it, and my skin certainly has some new coloration, but at least the rain gear kept the road debris from getting into the wounds!
Way to end the year, eh?
Happy Solstice all!
Last night on my way home, I ended up taking Alaskan Way all the way from downtown Seattle to Boeing Field because Burlington Northern was playing with their trains and screwing up traffic for those of us who have to cross their tracks. Normally this isn't a route I like because it puts me on highway 99, which is a 45 MPH road with no shoulder to ride on. But, I've got lots of lights and reflectors and I'm usually OK as long as I stay pretty far right.
Last night was the ride from he**. I got down past the end of the viaduct and onto 99 proper without too much trouble, so I actually thought I was doing fine. Then I hit the train tracks that cross 99. These aren't tracks that go straight across; they go across at an angle. In dry weather this isn't a big deal. Last night wasn't dry. I tried to angle the bike to cross them at 90 degrees, but I guess I got it wrong because I ended up spilling in a lane where the traffic was going 50+ mph beside me. I didn't get hit, but I did have some pain in my left leg and elbow. No matter; as quickly as I could, I popped up from the lane and got off the road to check myself and the bike out. Nothing appeared broken, so I got back on the bike and started riding again.
About half a mile later, the same thing happened again! I spilled onto the road while trying to cross a train track. Now I'm in much more pain and really getting p*ssed off! Still, I check myself and the bike and, finding nothing obviously broken, continued the ride.
Long story short is that I have reasonably bad road rash up and down the entire left side of my body, with particular emphasis on my left elbow and knee. In addition, my shoulder was apparently deeply bruised and I can't lift my arm over my head without some reasonably serious pain. I decided that since this was the last day before the Christmas break, I'd go ahead and drive in today.
The good news is that my rain gear is apparently really tough. Two spills onto the road and all it got was a small rip in the left knee. I was impressed! My SmartWool base layer has some rips in it, and my skin certainly has some new coloration, but at least the rain gear kept the road debris from getting into the wounds!
Way to end the year, eh?
Happy Solstice all!