Chris L

Yes, I've done it again, the 9th totally preventable crash in the last two years, this one the most severe of all. I have some very nasty road rash, and my left shoulder is barely functional at all (I'm off the bike until at least wednesday). Oh yeah, I also totalled my helmet after it valiantly sacrificed itself to protect whatever dense commodity I use for a brain. (In view of the circumstances, I could understand if my helmet had decided my head wasn't worth saving).

So how did it happen you ask? Well, I'm riding through Tallebudgera Valley, and it's cold. I'm not just talking about Queensland cold either, there was actually frost on the grass! Anyway, my hands froze to the point that my thumbs couldn't shift up through the gears (I could shift down OK, and braking wasn't a problem).

I reached a crest and decided to shift up for the mini-descent to follow. When my thumb failed to function, I decided to bump the gears with the back of my hand, big mistake. At that point I lost balance at high speed and for what seemed like 5 minutes (but was probably only about 2-3 seconds) battled vailiantly and in vain to produce a save of some kind. I failed.

The thing that bugs me is that this was totally my own fault (as were the other eight). Had I been even moderately sensible and just pedalled with a higher cadence on that section and it would not have been a problem. Some better gloves would have prevented my thumbs from going numb. Come to think of it, a semi-functional brain would have probably solved both of those issues.

I am an idiot.

Guest

Would you like me to send over my winter gloves? I have a pair of neoprenes I can send over that I use when it's late fall...

Ouch! Welcome to our (winter)world! The good thing is, once you learn from this experience, you're less likely to repeat it!

Get better soon!

Koffee

The Terminator

I hope you recover quickly Chris.

Hawkster

Hey, don't feel too bad, I noticed that the end-cap on my barhandle was coming out so I decided to give it a nice whack with the palm of my hand. Though I didn't fall it sure scared the crud out of me for a few seconds. Hope your feeling better soon. Paul J.

Dirtgrinder

Bummer Chris. Hope you recover quickly. Sounds like it was cold out. Maybe your brain just froze too, eh?

Prosody

Glad you're ok. First crash on the new bike, huh?

fubar5

One time I decided to try to steer with my feet. It didn't work. I biffed right in front of a daycare, and all the little twirps started screaming, "wipe out, wipe out!." When one is in pain, little kids screaming transforms said kids into little poops, and one has less regard for poop than kids, so one feels no restraint in venting one's frustration at the little poops, though the poops really had nothing to do with the crash.

Hehe, the adults watching the kids didn't think to much of me. But hey, I got the kids to shutup.

The Rob

Damn! Heal well and quickly, and uh...maybe just leave earlier next time.

fubar5

Shoulder injuries really bit the big one..Hope you're ok, and tell your doc (if he didn't already) to give you some "medications."

Chris L

I would have been leaving in the dark had I done that. It was just a little too early.

Haven't been to see the doc yet (Sunday in Queensland, can't expect too much around here. ). The one positive is that it was my left shoulder, and I'm right handed, so resting it won't present any problems.

Damn this road rash sucks!

bg4533

Road rash really sucks. I was hit by a van a few years back that ran a red light. I was on foot and the van was going about 45mph. Somehow I managed to walk away from it with only a very sever case of roadrash. I was wearing mesh shorts and my right thigh had little dots where the road burned up my leg through the shorts. Hopefully you arent a person that scars too easily. I dont think that was a very bad mistake Chris, the fact that you wore a helmet is what is important. Good luck.

Chris L

I've already got a few scars, and I think one or two of those have been re-opened. Hopefully I won't get too many more out of this. I know they're going to be a problem when I get older. Maybe "burning out" (hence the other thread) wouldn't be such a bad thing.

I hope I'm not misinterpreting your post. I didn't mean to suggest that I though wearing a helmet was my mistake (although I did wonder if the helmet would have felt justified in protecting my head, maybe a "why am I bothering here"?), it most certainly was not. However, trying to use the back of my hands to change gears when it wasn't absolutely necessary was just dumb. I know I've done it before, but it's still wasn't smart on my part. I think that's worse than the road rash or the shoulder problem - the feeling that all this could have been avoided.

Oh yeah, Prosody, the first crash on the new bike was actually the first day I rode it. Check out this thread:

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/27969-lahey-s-tabletop-how-8-year-quest-brought-end.html

Ritz

Get better soon Chris, Here's praying for a speedy and relitively painless recovery!

khuon

Heal up soon, Chris L. I once crashed doing something utterly stupid... attempting to reclose my front QR while moving (it didn't look fully closed). Luckily I wasn't going very fast and luckily the wheel didn't fall off. I just lost control and went down hard.

joeprim

Get better Chris. Is the bike ok?

Joe

Prosody

I read your report when you posted it; just didn't remember the crash part. I feel fortunate to have some nice areas for cycling around here, but your ride reports always spark a little envy in me.

Chris L

Oh, the bike is fine - not a scratch. I do have my priorities in order.

Allister

Yep.

Rowan

Second that

cyclezealot

Chris. Hope a speedy recovery for you. I had no such luck. My right shouler was injured and I am right handed. Unlike you, I would be more content if I knewwhat caused my crash. Then, I would have an idea how to avoid it. So whatis worse? As have said, suspect I missed an object in the road?
But that brings up a change of values. Riding long miles is a greater goal than speed. I slow down to see what is in the road. Climbing hills is plenty enough excercise. Who needs speed. I am not a big speed fan whgen driving a car, yet alone a bike.
This brings up lesson of cycling friend I just heard about.
He was racing down Palomar Mountain switchbacks..
Racing over 40 miles an hour. Well, he hit a 'cow grate.' Luckily it only messed up his new Cosmic rim. Could be far worse.
Not something I will ever do again.

Jean Beetham Smith 

Chris, with shoulder injuries that aren't as serious as cyclezealot's (he couldn't lift his arm from day 1) it is fairly important to maintain shoulder mobility, otherwise you can get adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder"). Generally it is more common in older folks but young bucks like you are not immune. The other thing I got out of my last 2 injuries is that I tend not to use NSAIDS long enough after injuries and set myself up for chronic inflammatory responses. Take care of yourself, you'll be back riding soon. And don't kick yourself too much for making a mistake in judgement, you did and you probably won't again. That's how most of us learn at the school of hard knocks.

iamlucky13

I'd say you only get Idiot for a Day for that one You've gotta do more to earn permanent status.

My most recent Idiot for a Day stunt (i.e. take it as wisdom): Come to a complete stop before picking leaves out of your brakes.

fubar5

What??? I grab leaves out all the time.

Chris L

Thanks for that Jean. I've been moving my shoulder a little more each day as the mobility starts to come back, and I can do small things with it now, so it's definitely improving. I'm racing the clock a little as I'm supposed to be leading a ride with bicycle Gold Coast this weekend which involves a lot of climbing. I'm hoping I'll be OK to do it (even if I have to back off my pace a little) without doing myself further damage to the shoulder. However, I've told them I won't be riding if I'm likely to make it worse.

k2bikerider

Hope you feel better soon, Chris L, hope you can lead your ride this weekend, if you feel well enough.. Just take one day at a time.