Originally Posted by sarals

I started what was to be a long ride yesterday morning with eight other people. We planned to ride 120 miles, with some major climbing and a long fast descent in the middle of the route. We got through the climb and descent, stopped for a nice lunch, and then were heading for local bike shop in Aptos (near Santa Cruz) where one of the riders was going to have a broken spoke replaced. On that short five mile leg, I hit a cable stretched out just inside of the white line on the shoulder (at 20 mph) and was on the ground before I knew it. I landed hard on my left side - my head hit first, then my left arm and hip. I never lost consciousness, but I knew I was hurt. I was transported by ambulance to the ER at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz where I was assessed, given eight stitches in my left eyebrow, had lots of gravel picked out of my left arm, and had the many other contusions I'd acquired tended to. I have to "rest" for a few days, can't swim for six days (when the stitches come out), so basically my training has come to a - ummm - crashing halt. Today, I'm pretty stiff and sore, especially my left arm, shoulder and hip, and I have a major shiner around my left eye, which I can't see out of very well right now. I look like holy hell! But, I'm not daunted, s**t happens, and I'll be back in the saddle as soon as I can.

They talk about "road furniture" a lot in the TdF commentary. Well I now know just what that is!