Originally Posted by
CliffordK
A concussion would be the most probable cause for a short-term memory lapse.
The question remains on how your wheel apparently flipped sideways and you flew over the bars.
With 1 or 2 hands on the bars, that doesn't just happen. Road debris? Pavement Cracks? Storm grate? If there was no other obvious cause, then one has to wonder if something happened with the rider before the crash.
The witness might help, but it probably all happened so fast that they might not be very reliable.
I will say that when my front wheel flipped sideways (zero hands) years ago, it trashed my rim, and I had to walk that mile back home. But, wheels are stronger now.
Have you done a careful inspection of the bike looking for a front wheel out of true, or signs of debris impacting the spokes or back of the fork?
Both hands on bars (always unless I'm mopping my brow or something). According to my GPS, the accident started 100 yards (274') beyond a cross street. I need to inspect, but I know there's a patch rough pavement in that area (I ride this route a lot). I don't have much faith in the eyewitness, but it's obvious I went over the bars. I have not checked the wheel for true yet, but it's NOT grossly out of true (I had the policeman remove the wheel to put it in the car). I did inspect the tire and rim visually - no blemishes, no scrapes, still fully pumped. [
FWIW, I find this almost incomprehensible. (Unless I find a hole big enough to sink a tire, something I've actually observed once.)]
I have no idea if there were cars around, but I always stand to soak up bumps when there are cars around. If not, I swing wide around the rough area.
Keep in mind, I have 20K miles of experience riding this bike in the area. My ONLY accident was when I got distracted talking on a group ride (70 riders on a Wednesday - I was undoubtedly too excited for my own good). Almost no close calls.
And, let me be clear: I am trying as hard as possible to find some explanation so I don't fear this happening again.