I drove up to Harrisonburg, Va and did the Shenandoah Valley Bike Festival ride yesterday. Well organized, roads well marked, terrific rest stops, good roads etc. A very good training ride---especially for someone that is trying to find their climbing legs and doesn't want any climbs terribly long or steep. The even had breakfast and a nice meal afterwards.
Here is a link to the ride:
http://www.ourcommunityplace.org/eve...est/index.html
It rained pretty steadily the first few hours so the roads were wet. Somewhere before the 65 mile point I went down really hard. We were on some very rural roads that were not well marked by normal highway standards.......very narrow, no center line, no warning signs etc. I was coming down a slight downhill and all of a sudden the road drops to much steeper grade AND makes a sharp hairpin turn to the right. You really didn't know the road was turning due to vegetation and trees along the sides of the road. Just as I was entering the drop off and turn I noticed a car coming towards me and just getting in the curve from the opposite direction. My momentum was carrying me into the car. I applied the brakes, the rear wheel came around and down I went on my left side heading for the front of the car. This crash happened much faster than any others I've had.
There were two ladies in the car. The driver was probably in her mid fifties and her daughter was in her late twenties and riding in the passenger seat. The car came to a quick stop and I slid a ways and just under the front of the car.......(so the radiator looks okay as I'm looking up???)
I'm thinking what saved me from getting run over was the lady appeared to be an experienced and cautious driver. I'm guessing she was driving defensively and saw what was about to happen and instinctively came to a stop as quickly as she could. Had it been a more aggressive driver there is a good chance I would not be typing this.........
I scared them half to death.......as I went down right in front of them and probably out of their sight. They jumped out of the car and begged me to call 911. I checked out all the parts and everything seemed okay. Well, there was already a lot of blood flowing from my left leg, left arm, etc so it probably looked really bad. My head hit so hard that while my glasses stayed on my one of the lens popped out......My helmet was scratched and has a hairline crack on the left side. They had wet wipes so I commenced to cleaning up as best I could. They were pretty shook up.
While we were there, several other bikes came through the curve.......all had issues. However since there was not a vehicle in the turn (she had moved off the road) they were able to get to safety in the grass and one even went up a driveway halfway in the curve..............
I understand from talking to other riders that in some of the past rides they used to have a warning sign just before that curve. I can see why!!!
After briefly cleaning up and looking at the bike I took off on completing the ride. I was able to complete the century in a about 5 hr 53 mins. As in the past things don't start hurting until afterwards............I started feeling stuff on the 5 hour drive back to the house!
So the damage report:
Severe road rash on my left hip-----nice hematoma. Very, very lucky to not break my hip.
Road Rash on left forearm and elbow.
Road Rash on my left leg.
Small scratch my forehead---I guess from my glasses. (the daughter found my lens, I put it back in and was good to go?!?!?)
Broken buckle on my left shoe.
I have a slightly separated left shoulder......very sore. Similar injury to a crash several years ago and I know how it feels. Very lucky to not break a collarbone!!
I got back late last night and haven't really looked at the bike but I was able to ride it another 35+ miles so I'm guessing everything is okay????
Holes in bike shorts and shirt. Will see if I can put a patch on those.
Funny, but I had a crick in my neck for a couple days prior to the ride and now it is cured!!
And the best part is I'm still here typing!!!
Edit:
Cleaned up the bike and fortunately didn't find anything mechanically wrong---just scrapes:
Left Carbon Shifter handle Scratched at the tip (SRAM Red)
The left Look pedal had a two chunks of carbon gouged out---at the end where the spring fits in a slot and in the middle under the medal base.
The left rear skewer had a small hunk of Titanium gouged out on the end.
The left rear stay had a large scratch across the top where my shoe must have scraped it
The rear brake needed recentering
I also found a huge bruise on the very back of my left buttock (bounced off the ground maybe??)
Today I have more pains and the aches are a little worse than I had expected!!