!!!

I've had two hards falls in my time. Won't catch me talking tough like this...

Well today I took everyones advice and went to the Doctor's office. She agreed I needed a Tetanus shot and advised that the elbow needed stitching and a course of antibiotics. Turns out, she's a cyclist too, who knew!
As for the helmet, I partially landed on my head, with the helmet on, I could hear ringing in my ears, the same ringing that occurs when you take a shot to the head. I thought the helmet came off, but I was wrong, it was on my head, doing it's job as I slid along the ground. The Doctor said I did not have a concussion but she agreed, it was a good thing I was wearing a helmet.
The meds are doing their work and the shoulder is begining to feel a little better. This is one experience I hope I never repeat. I would rather crash ten times on the MTB than once on the road, something about bushes and dirt yielding where asphalt does not. But all in all, I'm lucky. I should be over this within two or three weeks. Thanks to everyone who posted.

Sounds like reasonably good news no broken bones. After riding now for 10 years and having about 5 crashes I am kind of resigned to the fact that if I want to ride everyday I will end up crashing. I like riding too much to give it up so I just don't let the crashes worry me. My wife on the other hand does worry and I get a be careful before every ride. What she doesn't understand is that I am always careful but that does not mean I ride at 12mph nor that I can control what cars do or what may lie on the rode ahead. Watching the recent races; Paris-Nice and Flanders you wonder why people want to do this sport especially for the low pay they get.

Glad to hear your doing OK. After 2 weeks I feel pretty good ( except my ribs) but,I think, you'll be riding pretty soon, good luck.

This is the sadist showing- Those cuts and rash are going to hurt. Get some surgical spirit on the open sores. It will sting like mad but will give you a couple of hours of relief- once you stop swearing at me for suggesting it. And it will keep the cuts clean.

And another good way of causing as much pain is slamming your hand in a door. repeatedly.

You were smart to sit there recovering before moving on. The one time I had this happen, I got back on the bike too quickly, probably trying to convince myself that it hadn't really happened -- I was basically rattled. Now here's the scary part: I remember the fall, inspecting the bike, putting the chain back on, and then starting off riding again. The next thing I knew, I was standing on my bike by the side of the road, feeling as if I were just waking up and coming out of a dream. I was totally disoriented and it took me a minute or so to figure out where I was and how I got there. Finally I got oriented again and went on home, then to the hospital for some x-rays on my shoulder.

Much afterwards, reconstructing what happened, my "waking up" experience took place 5 miles from where I remember falling and setting out again, but to this day I have no memory whatsoever of riding from the one point to the other! And it wasn't until later that day that I discovered that my helmet was cracked and that I must have hit my head when I went down. I had no headaches or other symptoms -- just that "blackout" period in my memory!

Are you going to have any scars when you heal??...............You know chicks dig scars.

From someone who knows how you feal, I hope you have a speedy recovery and regain your confidence quickly.

Did you Shave hair and/or now glad you did or didn't.
BTW - OUCH> Good Luck.