Now that I am able to use a keyboard I wanted to share what happened to me as a warning to those who don't ware helmets and to share my accident story that everbody (except me) finds really funny.

Two weeks ago tomorrow I was completing my bike ride when I saw movement in the grass on the edge of the road. Before I go I could react this grey flash came out the weeds before my mind could even register "oh crap a squirrel" I went over the handlebars on the concrete. A truck was approaching with two young men who jumped out to assist me. I was sitting there dazed when they approached and asked me if I was OK? The asked if I had hit a pot hole and as I started to mention a squirrel we all turned to look at my bike and there it was; the squirrel had ran into my spokes then traveled up and was lodged between the fork and the brakes. The one guy just kept saying I never seen anything like this in my life. The gave me a ride back to my truck and then asked if I would like them to remove the squirrel? I called my wife on my cell phone for help and watched as they performed a squirrelectomy on my bike. My only regret in my fuzzy headiness is that I did not take a picture of the squirrel (truly worth more than a thousand words).

My wife took me to the emergency room where the xrays showed a 3rd degree seperation of my collarbone and I also had a concussion. For any of you guys who think they don't need to ware a helmet I can tell you this had I not been wearing one I would have had a serious head injury or worse.

Oh yea one more thing I think over the past two weeks I have heard every version of every squirrel joke known to man kind. The people in the emergency room waiting room even sent home a picture of a squirrel with my wife to give me.

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID OF THE SQUIRREL!

Lyndel Williams
Lexington, Texas

The tree lemmings seem determined to commit suicide in bicycle wheels, don't they... In any case, I'm glad you're going to recover. I hope you heal quickly and I'll be happy to share my squirrel stew recipe.

I (being a safety engineer by trade) am partial to personal protective equipment such as gloves and helmets while riding. I encourage other bicyclists to emulate me but never insist. Your life - your choice.

And, one way or another, my medical bill.

I noticed you bio you are from Baton Rouge. That is where I grew up went to Broadmoor High, I am also figuring my crash is from Karma for the squirrels I hunted down over in Livingston Parish.

Lyndel

Wow! Gald you weren't more seriously injured. When I was a kid I used to watch my father practice his archery by using blunt tip arrows and hunting squirrels. I used to think it was cruel. Now, however, I find myself wondering where one finds a good archery instructor, and wishing my father still practiced his skills.

When I'm on a Bike, dogs don't scare me......

Squirrels do......

Cause their Spastic!!!!!!!!

Just what the heck is it with squirrels? It's like an olympic event for them...try to get through the spokes of a bike wheel without getting killed...10.0 for artistic impression.

You're just itchin' to start up another helmet conflagration, aren't you!

Yeah, a HELMET WAR!

FWIW,
I am somewhat reluctant to say this but here it is:
1) I grew up swimming in rivers and lakes without lifeguards.
2) I grew up biking around town without a helmet for all my teenage years.
3) We were drinking hard booze at age 15. A lot of it.
4) We were driving cars without speed limit, without seat belts.
5) We were mountain climbing in tennis shoes and no rope. The highest mountains in Austria.
6) We were hiking through woods, as kids, for days and sleep in the woods unsupervised in small tents.
And now look what we do. Is this really a better world? I am not so certain of that.

If he'd been wearing his helmet he'd still be with two legs.

If' he'd been wearing a helmet he'd still be alive today.

If he'd been wearing a helmet he'd be able to see today.

If he'd been wearing a helmet he'd be with both eyes today.

If he'd been wearing a helmet he'd have both hands today.

If they'd been wearing helmets they'd be alive today.

If he'd been wearing a helmet he'd be alive today.

If they'd been wearing helmets they'd all be alive today.

Helmets would have saved them all.

OMG...you made me split a gut!

Back to the squirrels and helmets. Our good cycling friend from Texas has reinforced the need for us to wear helmets. As good as many of us are at handling a bike we can save ourselves serious injury by simply strapping on a helmet. Thanks for the excellent reminder Lyndel!!

Good one!
There was a thread on BF several months ago about a squirrel doing the same thing that happened to Txtigah. The squirrel tried to run through the spokes but got caught, came around and separated the fork. Since I saw it, I've always had that picture in my mind. Then last week, while on a singe track, a squirrel saw me, did the usual squirrel two step going back and forth then ran up a tree as I was going by. All I could think of is this little furry rat is going to jump on me as I pass by, I know he is. Well he didn't, but I swear he was laughing as I passed by.

I have an important question regarding the wearing of helmets.
If the squirrel that jumped into Txtigah's spokes had been wearing a helmet would he still be alive?

considering the # of bricks coming out of Lexington, TX, you're lucky that it was just a squirrel & not a mad brick lemming stampede escaping the brickyard!

I went down HARD this spring while riding in a park.

Like Txtigah, I broke my collarbone when I landed on my side in a too tight curve.

I was not wearing a helmet and did not get any head injuries. Still, I took that as a warning and have been wearing a helmet ever since.

I really never considered the possiblity that a squirrel or some other animal might run into my spokes. Glad you're ok.
Well, not ok, but I'm glad it wasn't even worse. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Caruso

About two and a half years ago, I did an endo at a high speed during a freak accident. I was wearing a helmet, but landed on my face. Oh, the irony.

On a different note-- we recently relocated to a place where there are no squirrrels. I had hit a few back in the day, but I ran over them... rather than one running through my wheel.

glad to hear your ok.
but this wordage is priceless, {squirrelectomy
LOL.

How about rabbits?

We don't have many squirrels, but the rabbits breed like, well, like rabbits.

I go down the trail, and they come bouncing at you from all sides. I must see over 100 rabbits on a 20 miler.

I've never collided with one. Anyone?

You'd think with a last name like Fox, they would stay out of my way.

I separated the right shoulder in 1973 and broke the left clavicle and suffered a concussion in 1976. I was wearing a helmet both times, which was irrelevant in the first case, but probably helpful in the second.

I'm afraid of anything at 15+ mph. The bike always loses.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for you. Soon you'll be runnin' the south Texas roads again.

If you had been wearing a helmet your gut would be intact

Just when I thought it was safe to ride my bike.
Thanks for sharing this Squirrel attack with us.
There are hundreds (maybe) of walnut trees in my neighborhood.
I'm ust to them throwing walnuts at me when I'm raking the yard.