Pamestique 

So yesterday morning I met a friend to do a nice, slow, easy mountain bike ride - basically on a beginner trail. It was a perfect morning, overcast, cool, quiet. We had the trails to ourselves. So we had ridden out about 3 miles and in turning around and looping back, my friend and I were chatting. We approached a short downhill. Although the hill is rocky, I have ridden it 100's of times without issue. All I can remember is picking up speed, hitting something, hearing the rock bounce and vaguely knowing I was flying towards the ground. I hit left shoulder, left breast (built-in airbag), knee and then =CRACK= the left side of my helmet against some rocks . May my helmet now rest in peace!

My friend came running back. She did not see the fall but knew the bike was out of control. She commented "at least you had the sense to unclip your pedals!" UH??? I did??? Frankly I think I got tossed over the handlebars so hard, the pedals just naturally began unengaged.

When I landed, the wind got knocked out of me and I had trouble getting my breathing back. I was gasping hard and I think this scared my friend. I love this... as I was laying, head down the trail, off into the rocks, all covered with dirt and blood, now a group of riders came past (not one stopped either!!!!).

Finally I could sit up. My head was pounding (great yet another concussion!), my left knee bleeding, my chest, shoulder, back and neck aching... but nothing broken THANK GOODNESS! My bike another matter. Not certain how it happened but I yanked the rear cable wiring out of the harness. I was able to remount the bike and ride back to my car. Great another good story to tell!

Today I am really, really sore. Didn't sleep well, my head is pounding and my entire left side is sore, achy; ribs bruised. I probably should admit I am too old and too fat for this activity but I do love it so, even for all the aches and pains.

Oh well, now I have down two mountain bikes. My fully was having the wheels rebuilt and now the hardtail is missing brakes. Hopefully by the time both are fixed I can ride again! (yes I have no short term memory!!!)

Artkansas 

Glad you survived. Here's to a rapid recovery.

himespau 

scary

jyossarian

Time for RICE! (Rum, Ice, Coke, Enjoy) Use the recovery time to go helmet shopping, and if you really have a concussion, get your head examined. Feel better!

bobotech

Wow, scarey! Hope you feel better soon! When I fell a few weeks ago, I was scared i did something bad but the only thing I really did was hurt my knee but it is nearly healed up now. Just scrapes.

Myosmith

Pounding headache after a blow to the head might warrant a trip to the ER. +1 on the speedy recovery wishes.

Seve

x 2

Best wishes on a full and speedy recovery.

1nterceptor

Hope you get back on the bike(s) soon

dcrowell

Thank goodness for built-in air bags. I may be male, but I'm well on my way to growing some.

You're never too "old and fat" until you admit you are. Don't admit it, ever! Heal well, and yes, get your head examined. (I love saying that)

Tom Stormcrowe

+3

A concussion is nothing to mess with, Pam. meanwhile, if you ain't crashing,. you ain't trying.

Pamestique 

I watch and buy helmets on sale... I had 3 new ones in the garage. Old one is retired and am ready with a new one.

I've had plenty of experience with concussions. I figured I have a mild one...no reason to go to the doctor... been there done that. I should get my head examined thinking I can mountain bike!

10 Wheels

Sorry for your crash.

Watched my friend crash Twice.

Not fun to watch.

squirtdad

Sorry about that....hope all is well.

but you need to work on the story....it needs to be "and I was doing 50+ and was on my second big air when a wind gust caught me"

ps: last time I hurt myself skiing it was on almost flat ground and I simply was not paying attenting....boom broken wrist... but "it was a snow snake"

bassjones

Don't you live alone? You should at least have a friend stay with you tonight. Symptoms can be delayed and severe when they do come on.

cmcgarvey

Yeah, a mild concussion can lead to death, quiet easily in fact. I use to ignore blunt force head trauma until my last concussion which led to a mildly embarrassing problem called coital headaches. After ignoring it for a week and the problem persisting I went to the doctor. Thanks to me being stubborn and waiting a week I had to have an CT scan and a lovely lumbar test done. The CT was clean so the doc wanted to test spinal fluid to make sure there was no blood from a mild hemorrhage. She said the problem with this and why she wanted to be safe is that more often then not a person can get a mild hemorrhage and it will heal up and they will never know. BUT, if it happens again it is very commonly fatal. So three weeks of no vigorous activity and my coital headaches were gone, thank God!

Pamestique 

I do live alone and your advice is sound. I had a friend check in with me every hour or so until about 10 pm when I went to bed. At that point i knew i was OK. But the friend started texting me again early (around 5 am when I am up) to make sure... I still have a headache but I think its being caused by sore and strained neck muscles then anything else.

El Gigante

Holy crap!! Sounds like quite a fall you took - hope you heal quickly and are back in the saddle again soon.

jethro56 

Did the rock say "None shall pass."



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXY9TuuwyL8

nkfrench 

Hoping for a speedy recovery but remember a concussion is brain damage.
You need to heal up before you ride again.
My club's rule is that any time the helmet hits the ground, the ride is over and the rider gets SAG.
Concussions mean a trip to ER.

tergal

Glad to hear you are OK , but do go get your head looked at you old people just don't rebound as fast as us young ones.

Neil_B

Ditto what the Aussie wrote. I hope you recover swiftly.

Daspydyr 

Dang Pam, sorry to hear about the fall and pain you are suffering. Best of prayers and hopes your way. Glad to know you are getting ready to return to riding. Take your time. Weird, its seems those old familiar trails trip us up. Maybe they don't want to be taken for granted?

Shame on those riders that just passed by. Violates the whole family atmosphere of riding, especially trail riding. Sorry to hear it.

How does the cat feel about the fall. Is the cat trying to get you to quit?

Peter_C

Gee, that sounds like me and my thorns a few years ago. Course, all I needed was a flat place to stop and then fall off the side of my bike into a ditch full of brambles. Umm - no photos huh? Feel better soonest!

The_DK

Glad to hear that you're OK and the helmet did it's job.

avmech

Glad you are in one piece!!!!!

I like that train of thought..................