Bekologist

Hi, all, just wanted to share my latest mishap and ask if no aversion to getting back on the bike is something others have experienced.


Friday the 19th- had the day off and headed off on a 70 miler exploratory ride looking for a good connection between Seattle and North Bend. Had a great morning ride, 4 1/2 hours to North Bend via some new trails and some great roads. Lunch and back towards town. Downhill on a big hill (I'd never ridden this route before) by Snoqualamie Falls , took the lane to turn left, car behind wasn't letting off. Problem was the corner wasn't 90 degrees, but a real oblique turn way past square making the corner totally blind.

Ran myself right into the front quarter panel of a Jeep Cherokee, me deaccelerating from 35 ish into the jeep deaccel at 20-15 or so. I crushed his windshield and busted me up pretty good. Busted the fermoral neck right at the ball in the hip socket, pushed it up an inch or so. 4 days in the hospital, surgery to fix the leg, got 3 screws in it and a 6 week off my feet order from the docs. Lots of staples and glue jobs on the rest of me including where my face hit something pretty darn good. Wearing a helmet, amazingly wasn't hurt worse, no neck trauma, no concussion or worse.

So, now I sit until the end of September without walking or riding.

And now, back at home I sit, looking at my bikes, and just want to ride. Wondering for the others who have had a few accidents( for me 5 years ago, same emotion), if people are generally adverse to riding after an accident, or were you anxious to get riding again?

slvoid

HOLY CRAP.... did you go into the jeep sideways going your direction or the opposite direction??

phillydcbiker

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Bekologist

Opposing directions. Suprisingly, I've felt worse.

rnorris

Oh, man! That hill on SR202 is a fun downhill ride, but a bit of a white knuckler with sharp curves and a couple of funky intersections at the bottom- I assume one of these was the site of your accident. Hope you're back on your bike soon, with no aftereffects. I love the ride on SR202 between Fall City and North Bend, but its gotten too busy with high speed traffic (including gravel trucks with trailers hell-bent at 60mph) to be enjoyable other than on weekday evenings and weekend mornings.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Bekologist

That's the one, Rnorris, I was turning onto Fish Hatchery Road and didn't know it was a real dogleg. I think I will try to find a better route from Preston to North Bend.

oboeguy

Holy cow! Glad you survived...

My most serious crash, amazingly, was recent and well-documented here on BF. I was doored and ended-up with a sprained elbow. I took one day to get the swelling, then hiked on the Appalachian Trail for two days. Rock-scrambling with one arm is not easy, let me tell you. Anyhow, I couldn't wait to ride again. After one week I tried a ride and turned around after three miles. Too painful. After two weeks, tolerable, so I started commuting every day. So yeah, wanted to get right back on.

Karldar

On a high-speed descent on a trail in Germany, I endo'd. Broke a few teeth and got some serious trail rash. Mild concussion, too. I was back on the bike as soon as I stopped seeing stars and realized my teeth didn't hurt. Rode back home and had a beer to celebrate.

I broke my ankle 5-6 years ago in 3 places and dislocated it. Had a steel plate and 4 screws installed(permanently). Tried to pop a wheelie on my FS and went back too far. My right foot stood up, the rest of me fell backwards. After it healed(2-3 months), I was very wary of getting back on the bike and I only ride off-road. Luckily, I realized that I was willing to accept the risk of MTB'ing again shortly thereafter. I think the main reason for my fear was that, had the orthapedic surgery not gone well, I might not be able to walk, much less bike.

Two-three weeks ago, I stuffed a jump on a local trail. Front tire caught an embedded rock and went left while I went right(over the bars). Saw stars again, got really scraped up and almost crushed my shoulder(it's still sore a little). Decided to call it a day, but had to walk the bike out since I'd taco'd the wheel so badly it wouldn't pass through the fork without getting stuck. I had a little trepidation about getting back in the saddle, but that was mostly because I wasn't sure how bad my shoulder was and didn't want to make it worse. As in all other aspects of life, if we live in constant fear of something, we're not really living. Going for a ride tomorrow, actually.

timmhaan

man, that sound rough. sorry to hear. i had an accident last weekend, and although not as bad as yours, i'm still walking on crutches and seeking insurance money to get my bike replaced. it's weird not being able to ride, i really can't wait to hit the road again. i'm going to be really careful around cars though! good luck with the recovery.

BasicJim

I was riding in Puerto Rico and was struck from behind by a 4-door Dodge pickup. (It said Dodge, I didn't!). I slid for about 40 ft. Helmet saved my life. That was about 7 years ago. I switched from cycling to running, did marathons, etc... and now the Doc tells me I can't run anymore. Ironically, being hit by a truck has damaged my back, and now it can't take the pounding.

I am just starting back into cycling and thought I was okay with everything. I have been riding on bike trails and yesterday, I got on the road. I freaked a little. I was waiting to be hit the entire time I was on the road.

Sheesh... I guess I just need to cowboy up and ride, eh. I am glad your eager to get back on the road. I will use that as inspiration!

Jim