magohn

What a day yesterday. I set off hoping to do a "metric century" (62 miles) heading north towardsds Bellingham. I finished up doing approx 43 miles "on one leg".

7 miles into the ride its cold, wet and the roads are slick. I slowly (8mph) approach a set of railway lines embedded into the road. One second Im riding the next Im on the floor - it was like lightening. I had zero opportunity to save myself and I went down HARD. Then Im on the floor, in the middle of the road, trying to unclip while lay on my side. What a mess. Two drivers stopped and asked if i was OK - one lady asked, drove away, u-turned and came back to ask again (very nice of her). I was hurt and couldnt walk without a heavy limp but like a fool, didnt want anyone involved. Then I felt it, drips off my fingers. I look at the back of my arm and its COVERED in blood and its flowing. I limped to the side of the road and used handfuls of cold, wet grass pressed against the cut to stop the bleeding. After 10 mins it stopped. So then Im thinking, well I was looking forwards to the ride so lets just see if I can peddle. At first it was painful but as my leg warmed up it was manageable. As long as I kept moving I was OK but with mounting pain on hills.


I limped along to 43 miles and called it a day as it was getting very hilly. Im all cleaned up now but I have a huge road-rash scrape down my left thigh and a bruise the size of a football. My elbow has a nice gash as wel as my knee. Im just thankful I had good gloves and shorts on as they really saved me. My leg is fully locked right now but I doubt anythings broken as I wouldnt be able to stand on it.


Ive had a few mini-crashes from not unclipping yet but for me this was a big one. Im 48 and 280lbs and thats a lot of weight to have crashing down.

CraigB

Did you take the tracks at a 90-degree angle?

magohn

I did. Ive ridden across so many tracks that I thought I had it down to a science. I have no clue whether my wheel entered the track or if the front tire just slipped away when it hit the track. One second I was up and the next Im on the floor not knowing how I got there

CraigB

Sometimes it happens regardless of your angle, especially if it's wet and slippery. Tough break. Hope your aches and pains dissipate quickly.

Neil_B

I'm going to break my own rule about giving advice.... a knee that locks is not good. That's not how they work. Have it checked out. Today if you can.

bbeasley

Other than a right angle, what should you do when crossing tracks in the rain?

magohn

The knee seems to "set" if I sit down and dont move for 30mins+. If I can "get passed" the pain and get the leg moving the pain goes from sharp to dull and I can limp around. I limped into work this AM and Im making myself walk around the landing every 30 mins.

Unfortunatly, my health coverage wont fully cover anything beyond an "emergency" situation therefore, if I can move I stay away. Not ideal but a reality I was actually more concerned about my bike. I can heal "for free"

magohn

From now on - Im dismounting and walking them

Neil_B

It sounds like swelling, stiffness, and soreness then as opposed to bone-on-bone preventing the knee from bending, which is what locking of the knee is generally considered to be. If you were having the leg lock, that is worth an ER visit as you might have something broken or torn. (BTW, for me the road to knee replacement began with my right knee locking in March 2010. By the week before surgery, I was having the knee lock at least every other day.)

Pug

If your helmet made contact with the ground you may need a new one.

mprelaw

^^^^What he said. Tracks are like ice when they're wet.

Neil_B

+1. I broke a rib on wet tracks on a bike tour in 2008.

paisan

Magohn, Sorry to hear that happend and I hope that you heal well man.

magohn

Thanks Neil - makes sense. Im giving it till tomorrow to decide on medical treatment as it doesnt feel bone-on-bone. There is swelling but the swelling surrounds a 2" cut to the knee that came as part of the package of falling. Im hoping its nothing more than body fluids rushing to the injured areas. As the injured areas are my knee and almost all of my upper thigh, the whole leg feels like its been in the wars. Also, my elbow is extremely sensitive where the cut is - could be the cut of perhaps more serious damage caused by the impact. Again, I will wait and see.

How I long for the old-days where Id regualrly fly from my Raleigh Chopper and just get up and walk away laughing

magohn

Thanks all

Neil_B

Please keep in mind I'm not a doctor (note for any medical or diatetic board members lurking here that want to sue me.) The old rule of thumb is that pain or discomfort in the muscles around the knee is OK, but IN the joint isn't. If its sore muscles, RICE.

The cautionary tale is BF poster Bautieri, who tore a meniscus after a fall on a charity ride. (He rode the final 20 miles on one leg and needed help dismounting at the end.) He tried to tough it out and later had to undergo surgery. Bau is a good guy, but he wins the Pigheadedness Award for not getting it treated right away.

magohn

Understood
The pain feels very "sprained ankle"ish along the whole leg -so Im assuimng its swelling and shock to the leg. If Im no better tomorrow I will go see a doc but Im also sure nothings broken as Ive had broken bones and the lightest touch would be unbearable.

And I could sort of pedal with the leg - its if I rest it the real locking sets in and I have to painfully move it around to get up the movement to walk etc.

Railway lines now freak me out

Also, "Pug", good comment on the helmet. I never thought to check it for damage. Perhaps my initial dis-orientation in the road after the fall was due to a head tap. I will check the helmet when I get home.

Thanks all - if my post raises more awareness to riding over railway lines then I will be happy.

Beachgrad05

Glad you are not hurt worse! Are you taking anti-inflammatory pain meds to manage the pain and inflammation?

lenny866

Thanks for sharing your story. I am sorry that I learned a lesson at your expense. I have crossed train track many times. There are many in our area. Outside of getting out of my seat and shifting my weight, I never gave it much thought. You have certainly raise my awarenss and I will tell your story with other that I ride with.

I hope you heal quickly and it doesn't turn out to be more than a sprain.

wfournier

Glad to hear you are ok, I joined the club this past winter. I've mentioned this in a couple other threads lately and feel like a broken record but I have to say that I think the best thing out there for road rash is DuoDerm. You can get it from Amazon, basically you put it one leave it for a week and you have new skin.

youcoming

You can put all your weight ever the rear wheel and hold bars loosely but getting off and walking is best.

Judi

A nice hot soak in the tub would probably help a lot, if possible.

I keep an itty bitty first aid kit on my bike, it's just a couple of paper towels, a couple of bandaids and a tube of fake fingernail glue. The glue is for cuts that are bigger than a bandaid, or in a place where a bandaid won't stay well. As long as you can get the cut to stop bleeding and get it fairly clean (paper towels and water is usually enough on the road), you can put the glue on and hold the edges together until it dries. Don't touch the glue until it's dry, or you could glue your hand to the cut. It works like stitches until you can get it properly taken care of. Regular superglue will not work and is dangerous to skin, it has to be nail glue. Since I do not care for stitches or staples, I have used the glue in the past for large cuts and not had them sewn or stapled later...I'm not suggesting that for anyone and I'm not a medical professional, but for me it has worked well. I do have a current tetanus shot though.

tergal

Glad to hear you are OK ,

Just make sure you keep the cuts and the road rash clean . Getting infections even a minor one can cause lots of problems. I don't know if you have it in the US but spray bandage is great stuff for covering a patch of road rash once it has been cleaned. As others have said .. i am not a doctor, YMMV and don't complain to be if your leg falls off

https://www.elastoplast.com.au/produc.../spray-plaster


oh and it hurts like hell to put on ... enjoy

magohn

Thanks for all the well wishes. My "bad" leg is actually loosening up and I believe its going to be fine - thank goodness. Unfortunately, the rest of my body seems to be coming out in aches of sympathy . Both legs,arms shoulders and neck are now aching. Not surprising I guess as the whole body fell and then stopped suddenly at the same instance. As thats the worst fall Ive had in over 25 yrs I guess I have to expect some muscle protest.

Checked out my helmet - looks good. I also put my mini-first aid kit BACK IN MY SADDLE POUCH!!!! I have had a mini-first aid kit for years but of course left it on my workbench on Sunday.

Anyways, looks like I will live to ride again and thanks for the well-wishes.

Seve

Yikes !

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery