Finally kissed the pavement on my way to the college the other day. I was riding my '78 schwinn caliente spinning it out after a downhill. Going about 25-30ish(no spedo so not sure maybe faster) when my chain popped off and I almost fell off my pedals, it threw the bike back and forth a couple times before dumping on the ground. I slid on my shoulder, helmet, and backpack, almost sliding under a truck. I have a broken collar bone and some road rash, cracked my helmet in two places, but am happy to be alright. It could've been a lot worse and it could've been my '04 tcr2 that got totaled instead of the caliente. I'm on break from riding for 6-8 weeks. Probably get a stationary bike or something to keep me busy. Just happy I'm not more hurt. And that I just got health insurance again about 2 weeks ago.

Ouch! Heal up well.

Good to hear it wasn't a terrible crash. Hope you get better soon.

Take 1200mg of Calcium and eat lots of Apples(contains Boron, which assimilates all the calcium). Lance did this and healed in RECORD TIME. Get all the sleep you can get too, because sleep is when healing and bone-mending takes place. I was putting in 15-hour sleep days and was riding again in just 5 weeks.

Be sure to spend an hour a day off the sling, after week five. If not, it will take six months to regain full range of motion in your left arm again...or thousands in physical therapy costs.

thanks for the nie words guys. And thanks for the advice! will do.

Whew close one. Glad you're ok.

popped your cherry.

I can relate. I wasn't going anywhere near that speed, but skin on pavement never wins.

Glad you had on that helmet!

heal up quick!

Was that chain '78 vintage?

Heal Fast!

Ha the chain was just replaced last year. And I now realize why I always wear my helmet.

Hey, welcome to the club. Road rash hurts like hell don't it?

Do you know why your chain fell off? I've never had that happen to me, yet.

Glad your OK. I crashed in front of an oncoming car once. Glad the guy saw me.

There's a reason to ride single speed!

I don't know about you, but I felt a lot better after the first road rash. Took the fear away.

First time is always special, no? Heal up fast!

Surprised it totaled your bike. Those things are tanks. I couldn't imagine what it would have done to your TCR. Good luck and quick recovery!

It appears that the chain came off when it tried to hop a cog, got twisted and threw the chain off the big ring up front. Yeah it hurts real bad but I've known that crashing is a matter of when, not if. Just going crazy sitting around not being able to ride anywhere.

did the same thing about 2 weeks ago, except i was going 40mph on my race rig. one doc is recommending surgery, and the other is telling me that it will heal on its own (albeit in a slighty anatomically incorrect position). any advice on what i should do? it was broken clean in three places.
hope you heal up quick op

I would advise against surgery if at all possible because then you'll have a plate stuck in there, and then you'll need surgery again in about a year to take it out because it bothers a lot of people with the skin over your collar bone being rather thin. Mine was broken in 3 places and after it had healed for about 9 days, a specialist re-broke it for me and put it in a more normal location. I will have the bone bump and such but it's not gonna be that bad. But that's just me. Do what feels right to you.

All I can say is Ouch, Owie, OMG! That's gotta sting!

A surgeon once told me that I have a high tolerance for pain. I beg to differ with that opinion. When I see pictures like yours, it makes me wince. I get unpleasant tingly sensations. I sometimes make the "Ghunnh" grunting noise by seeing such. You are walking roadkill. Aack!

I broke my clavicle ~ 10 years ago. Doc gave me a brace\sling to wear for several weeks. That lasted about 4 days before I threw it away. It healed slightly crooked but seems to work fine.

The pain doesn't last long. You'll be back sooner than you think.