spkerer

I posted not too long ago about taking a spill when a nut on my Haluzak's steering linkage came off and the front wheel turned sideways on me. That primarily injured my pride - little else was hurt.

But this past Monday on my way into work I took a much nastier spill. While riding in front of a pretty much deserted strip mall (pretty much deserted that time in the morning), got my front tire caught in a rut between the concrete from the curbing and the asphalt of the road. I was doing between 10 and 15 mph and it dumped me off my bike to the right side.

That wouldn't have been so bad except that my legs (which of course were the forward-most part of my body) straddled a metal signpost for a "no parking" sign. I must have been dead center on that signpost because it didn't even scrape my legs in the least. I took the full impact in my groin.

I scooted myself off the bike and sat there for a minute to clear my head. I was hurting, but being within a mile of my destination I was wondering if I could make it there and then deal with it. I didn't. While sitting there thinking, I noticed a puddle of blood forming where I was sitting so I called an ambulance.

I'll spare you any more cringe-inducing details. I'm off the bike for 4 to 6 weeks and the doc says I probably won't feel fully like myself till Thanksgiving or so.

I know ruts are bad, but I hadn't even noticed it. I still haven't decided whether I think this accident was worse because I was on a recumbent compared to an upright bike.

But if you ever have the opportunity to take a metal signpost edge-on to the crotch, I'd suggest passing on that opportunity.

gcottay

I've taken your advice to heart.

Best wishes for a smooth and complete recovery followed by many uneventful rides.

Wilbur Bud

Wow, glad you'll fully recover. I've ridden up and down the edge between the concrete cutter/curb and the asphalt roadway a few times by not paying attention, but I've never seen a rut there, that would be far riskier. Your description of signpost to the crotch is why I took the center seat horn off my Vanguard when I was riding it (switched to a Slipstream and sold the Vanguard), despite the added retention for the front edge of the mesh seat, I just couldn't see riding with a metal post just inches away in case of a hard bump or crash.

Floyd

Glad to hear you WILL be back to normal even though it wil not be soon. even cautious riding is not foolproof... keep healing so you can be back on the wheels. As bad as it seems I always think in most cases recumbent is less harmful because of postiion and less likely to do an endo...............

spkerer

I agree - in most cases I think the recumbent is less harmful. Unfortunately I think was just able to experience one of the very few times that's not the case. My luck... ;-)

scrapser

I was zinging along on my road bike earlier this spring. I was riding on a length of sidewalk about an eighth of a mile long with no homes or driveways to worry about. The road I was on has a lot of traffic to deal with. Suddenly a woman stepped out from some bushes with her back to me. I have no idea where she came from or why she was in the bushes in the first place.

There wasn't time to stop so I tried going "off road" and rolling around her. Unfortunately getting back onto the sidewalk afterwards proved a bit challenging. My front wheel would not hop back up on to the sidewalk and instead tracked along straight and up ahead was a metal "No Parking" sign.

I just made it back onto the sidewalk and barely missed the sign. I think you were lucky on a recumbent. If I had hit that sign I may not be writing this post.

Have a speedy recovery.

BlazingPedals

I got my wheels caught in a crack between the roadway and the paved shoulder once. I found myself sitting on the road, wondering how I got there. At about 15 mph, I got a minor road burn on my butt. On a lowracer, there's not much distance from your butt to the ground; but the downside is that when you fall, it takes no time at all.

steveindenmark

Sorry to hear of your spill.

Just think if you were on a DF bike a less sensitive part of your body could have hit that post hard....your brain.

I hope you are UP and about soon.

Steve