Fifty Plus (50+) - Odd bicycle riding injury

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BikeArkansas
06-08-09, 07:58 PM
Last Saturday I was in a fairly large group training ride. Must have been 25 bikes in front of me at a pace of 20 MPH. I was close to the back, maybe 5 bikes from the end. We were on a two lane road with very small to no shoulder. There was a gravel road to the right with enough gravel spilled into out small shoulder to cause trouble. Anyway, a few bikes in front of me there started being problems. The bike in front of me (about one foot) started having problems, swerved and hit his brakes. I had no where to go. A road to the right with loose gravel. Traffic to the left. I slowed with the bike in front of me and somehow managed to keep from hitting him.

Now to the problem. The bike behind me came to my left, barely. His front tire hit the inside of my left leg. It hurt some, but not severe. We both stayed vertical, somehow. I apoligized for hitting my brakes. He apoligized for hitting me. Somehow, we were both at fault and not. We got straightened out and back to the pace line.

A very short time later a lady just in front of me had a flat. I pulled over to see if she had what she needed. She said she did, but asked if I would help, along with a good friend of mine that was a couple bikes back in the pace line. We helped with the flat, but each minute my leg hurt more.

I finally took a good look at my leg and much to my surprise found a burn a little over a foot long on my left calf. I had not idea it was this bad. Now a few days later it is really sore. I have treated it well, but it is still painful.

Has anyone ever been burned by a tire? My first time. I had no idea the damage it could do.


Artkansas
06-08-09, 08:35 PM
Never heard of tire burn. Hope you feel better soon.

HIPCHIP
06-08-09, 08:41 PM
Never seen or heard of it, but it really isn't much different than a sport person getting an abrasion from sliding on dirt or grass. Keep it clean and you can ice it for a bit if it gets too painful. If there's no blister then it's probably just a nasty abrasion. If it starts to blister make sure you are seen by an MD. Put band-aids on it if it's tender to give it some extra protection.


doctor j
06-08-09, 08:47 PM
Between this post and the one by shmulb on his recent crash, I'm getting gun shy:eek:

To the op, I've not heard of nor experienced a tire burn. Doesn't sound like any fun. Heal soon.

cyclinfool
06-09-09, 04:57 AM
Treat it well and count yourself lucky. You both could have gone down.
I certainly hope you recover quickly.

borgagain
06-11-09, 07:34 AM
I've gotten friction burns from allowing my hand to come into contact with the front tire wile using down-tube shifters. These have left small a scar, like a heat burn.

It's probably not too late to start applying some 1% Silver Sulfadiazine Cream. This will minimize the scar and help it heal.

BengeBoy
06-11-09, 07:56 AM
I've never had a tire burn, but I frequently suffer friction burns from the air when I am really riding fast. Just like a space station re-entering the earth's atmosphere, I hit such a high rate of speed that the friction of air hitting my skin can create heat up to 1,000+ degrees, melting my lycra against my skin and creating singe marks on my handlebar tape.

I'm sure you all have had the same thing happen.

professorbob
06-11-09, 09:54 PM
Keep a close eye out for infection. If it becomes infected, get to a Dr. right away.

Cone Wrench
06-12-09, 09:19 AM
I've never had a tire burn, but I frequently suffer friction burns from the air when I am really riding fast. Just like a space station re-entering the earth's atmosphere, I hit such a high rate of speed that the friction of air hitting my skin can create heat up to 1,000+ degrees, melting my lycra against my skin and creating singe marks on my handlebar tape.

I'm sure you all have had the same thing happen.

I thought I was the only one.