I got intimate with the pavement for the first time on my road bike today. I'm fine, but only because my helmet did its job.

It was a silly, low-speed crash. I was taking a left turn at a traffic light, was signaling with my left arm, and cornered too hard. I was going about 10 MPH or so. The bike went down underneath me, I kind of flopped over on my right side, hit the pavement with my right shoulder and helmet-protected head, and then my legs flew up over me and I landed on my left side. When the world stopped spinning, I immediately got up and dragged my bike out of the intersection, as there were cars still waiting for the light to change. Waited for a couple of light cycles before I attempted to retrieve my water bottles. One driver stopped to ask if I was ok, which I appreciated but gave him the thumbs-up.

As far as my bike is concerned, I bent my left brifter and threw my front wheel way out of true. My bar tape surprisingly looks fine. I rode back the 8 miles or so with my front brake QR opened. I'm really grateful that my first crash wasn't a big traumatic experience, and that I was able to get right back on the bike and keep riding.

When I got home, I noted that I have a couple of small bits of road rash on my elbow and knee, and what look like a couple of tiny blood blisters on my forehead. My right shoulder is sore but I can move it through its full range of motion without any serious pain. My helmet (a $30 Giro Transfer) has a nice compressed area on it where I hit the ground, and clearly did its job. I will replace it ASAP.

I just hope I can true my wheel tonight so I can go for another ride tomorrow.

Scott