I am kinda in shock as I write this:

My good friend Jenny was in a serious bike accident yesterday. Serious enough that she would be dead right now had she not been wearing her helmet. Serious enough that even with the helmet on she lost consciousness, and is having bleeding and swelling in the brain. Serious enough that the doctors are worried about brain damage. Words are not enough to express my grief and sorrow. For you see, I am the one who introduced Jenny to cycling, and I cannot help but feel like I am partly to blame, for getting her mixed up in this stuff in the first place. Jenny and I were supposed to be doing a triathlon together this month - my training was interrupted also by a bad crash which wrecked my collarbone and put me out of swimming for a while. Now everything is up in the air... and I have no idea if Jenny will be the same person when I see her next time.

Man I feel like crap!! I just want to die....

Please offer your prayers up for Jenny.

Thanks,
John

John, sorry to hear about this terrible accident. I hope your friend will recover soon!

Don't. Your friend needs you.

Will keep my fingers crossed for you guys...

Hang in there for you and for Jenny. If you feel like talking tell us what happened if not ok whatever makes you feel better.

Joe

My prayers are with you and Jenny both!

I feel for you both, but don't blame yourself for her accident just because you introduced her to cycling. If she really enjoys cycling she'll be back on her bike as soon as she's able to. Blaming yourself for introducing her to cycling is like blaming yourself when someone has a car accident because you taught them how to drive. It's not your fault. Just be strong for Jenny and help her get through this. When she does, you'll both be stronger. The fact that she's fit will probably help speed her recovery as her body will be stronger & healthier. Please let us know how her recovery progresses. We're thinking of you both. Take care.

John my prayers are with you I know exactly what your going through just last week my little brother was involved in a bad accident and I had introduced him into the cycling world things will get better but I know about the guilt. Give it time and just be there for Jenny she isn't mad at you, and atleast you taught her right and she was wearing her helemet. Good luck and you and Jenny will be in my prayers.
Chris

HANG IN THERE!!!! MAN OH MAN!

I have you both in my thoughts.

here are pictures of me and jenny at a duathlon this spring:
https://www.pbase.com/pinebarrensdu

Jenny was actually riding with me the day I had my accident. Back then she was the one (among many others) who was saying that I should be careful.

This is all I know right now:
Thanks for all your support everyone... it is greatly appreciated.

I'm really sorry to hear about this. Please keep us updated on her recovery.

She will ride again and no, it's not your fault.

I guess the guilt I feel is not that I introduced her to cycling... but maybe I didn't teach her enough about how to be safe on the bike... maybe I shouldn't have let her start riding clipless so soon. I feel like.... maybe I could have prevented this if I'd been riding with her....
The sense of frustration I feel is downright maddening.....

Wow John, I'm so sorry to hear about Jenny's accident. It's true that you need to stay strong for her sake now. I can certainly relate to your story. My best friend was killed in a motorcycle accident on April 8th, 2001. I introduced him to motorcycling many years prior, and the bike he was on when he crashed was a bike I'd sold him the year before.

It's taken some time, but I now understand that this was in no way my fault. I, instead, take comfort in knowing that Jim loved to ride, and we had some great times together on our bikes.

Think positive thoughts about Jenny. Be strong for her and her family. She very well may fully recover, and you and she will once again ride together. Think about that!

I will keep you and she in my thoughts.

I know this isn't much comfort, but don't be too concerned about her not remembering events just before and after the accident. I suffered a pretty hard knock which resulted in unconsciousness, and couldn't remember what happened just before and after the accident. You need to be there for her when she goes through the next 8 or 10 months. Her doctor probably won't want her to do anything which has even a remote possibilty of another head injury. I couldn't run, cycle, lift, etc. for 8 months after my accident. Side effects for me included irritability and depression as well as some cognitive and memory problems. About a year later and I'm pretty much good. I'm sure you will, but here's a reminder; have patience with her and support her through the time when it seems like there's nothing wrong anymore. It is really hard when you are dealing with the mood and memory stuff, but on the outside it looks to everyone like you are just fine.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Jenny in this terribly saddening time. Best wishes.

John,

I know its difficult to hear now, but no matter what
you would have done, no matter how much you tried
you couldn't protect Jenny from crashing.
Please remember all you did was offer her the oppertunity
to cycle, not force her into it.

Don't beat yourself up for it, be thankful that Jenny
is and will be ok.

Know that both you and Jenny are in my thoughts.

Marty

Both of you are in my thoughts today, John. MCP is a great hospital so rest assured she's in good hands. Be there and be strong for your friend. We're here if you need us.

All my best to the both of you. Please keep us updated with her progress.

Best wishes

My prayers are with both of you, Please keep us up to date on the progress.

Sorry to hear about this. I hope all turns up well for both of you.

Be there for your friend.

I wish you both well and hope that only the best comes from this.

I hope everything works out o.k.
My prayers are with you and Jenny!

Update:

I was able to see Jenny in the hospital today, and it was a pleasant surprise. Jenny is doing really well, other than a fractured skull and a really bad brain bruise (subdural edema or something like that). She is fully conscious and feels good enough that she was joking and talking about how great her ride had been and how she's so looking forward to getting back on the bike. Of course we're not gonna let her, but that gives you an idea of how she's feeling. She has no cognitive deficits that I can perceive, and the weirdest thing that she's experiencing is pain at her fingertips, probably from some damage to the sensory cortex.

She actually got back some of her memory leading up to the accident, and she said that she remembered she was doing something like 19mph on a bike path (Philly people will know it as Kelly drive) where 3 stupid jerk MTBers were riding 3 abreast and filling up the whole width of the path. The last thing she remembers seeing was the bewildered look of the middle rider, as both were waiting for the other to make a move....

anyways I feel much better now, but I know all too well how she's feeling right now. I think she's in a state of denial regarding her injury... the reality hasn't set in that she's going to have to give up her running and her biking and her racing and her MS150 for the next couple months.... but when it does I know it's gonna hit her like a ton of bricks.... cuz it did for me when I broke my wrist last year, and not as bad this year, but when I broke my collarbone also.

Good to hear she is making progress.

It is such a releif to hear she is doing well. God is smiling on her.