What's Your Worst Bike Related Injury?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
What's Your Worst Bike Related Injury?
I've had a pretty good run on my bike...until now. Recently I was riding along and moved to get out of the way of a parked car when my front tyre got caught in tram tracks (here in Melbourne, Australia) and I got slung off the bike, with my right shoulder taking pretty much all of the fall. I went to the hospital the next day and got the "all-clear" - no broken bones, just probable soft tissue damage that should sort itself out within a week. I was really surprised with the diagnosis as upon entering the hospital, it kind of felt as though I had broke my collar bone and about 3 ribs. "Must just be getting soft in my old age" I mused to myself as I left in a temporary makeshift sling. But when the pain become unbearable at work, and found myself unable to lift anything over my head, I decided to see a Doctor who ordered an ultrasound. The ultrasound, or more specifically, another x-ray of me bearing weight, revealed a sublaxed shoulder, or Grade II AC joint separation. Now, can I not only not lift anything above my head or move my arm with ease across my body, but am looking at 6 weeks off work. I'm now 17 days into my recovery and am wondering of its going to get any better. Apparently a Grade II tear doesn't warrant surgery, so I've just been RICE-ing up, but progress has been slow...it still hurts.
So what about you? What's the worst injury you've sustained while cycling?
So what about you? What's the worst injury you've sustained while cycling?
#2
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,674
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11033 Post(s)
Liked 7,579 Times
in
4,227 Posts
Last summer I was the flat of a rural highway and as a car passed(gave me a ton of room), it honked for some insane and unknown reason. That caused me to look back at what the honk was for and right as I turned forward my front wheel hit a frost-heave in the road at a slight angle(from me turning around, I assume). The wheel turned from hitting the bump, my front end went out, and I went down hard on my left side.
I broke 3 ribs, dislocated my clavicle, couldnt breathe normally for a few weeks, and had an xray because I thought I broke my hip since I could barely walk for so long. Ruined a jersey and some bibs, obviously. Oh, and a subsequent car ran over my glasses which was super annoying at the time.
Crazy odd incident. I have ridden over that frost-heave dozens of times without incident. The car game me a ton of room as it passed...why did it feel the need to honk?
I broke 3 ribs, dislocated my clavicle, couldnt breathe normally for a few weeks, and had an xray because I thought I broke my hip since I could barely walk for so long. Ruined a jersey and some bibs, obviously. Oh, and a subsequent car ran over my glasses which was super annoying at the time.
Crazy odd incident. I have ridden over that frost-heave dozens of times without incident. The car game me a ton of room as it passed...why did it feel the need to honk?
#4
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,830
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3609 Post(s)
Liked 3,433 Times
in
1,952 Posts
I've had grade III AC separations in both my shoulders, and a pneumothorax (aka "collapsed lung") as a result of separate bike accidents. Stuff happens.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2333 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
TWA airlines scratched the downtube on my 1972 Masi.
#6
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,240
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1353 Post(s)
Liked 1,249 Times
in
626 Posts
16 mph head crash on the grass when I hit a pipe that had fell off a truck.
Emergency Brain Surgery to stop a brain bleed.
Emergency Brain Surgery to stop a brain bleed.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
Likes For 10 Wheels:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2333 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
Last September, massive road debris post storm coming over a rise into a downhill corner got me a fractured trochanter, 5 ribs, collarbone, shoulder blade, humerus broke 3 ways, distal end of humerus at elbow broke shattered in 5 pieces. Surgeon had to cut my ulnar bone in two pieces to access the elbow. Put me back together. 3 plates, one 5-6 inch long lag bolt, wires, and about 25 nails and screws. They also put some cadaver bone in.
I rode again on day 29. (Just to be a hard arsh)
I rode again on day 29. (Just to be a hard arsh)
#8
Sr Member on Sr bikes
While rolling along about 16mph on the broad shoulder of a road with steady traffic that was fortunately traveling just bit faster than me on the bike, a car made a RIGHT turn directly in front of me, and he didn’t have his turn signal on (this is in the U.S. where cars drive on the RIGHT side of the road). My left arm caught the side view mirror as I collided with the car’s right front fender. My front wheel “taco’d” (that was the only damage to the bike) and I flew off the bike, across the hood, and landed on pavement on the far side. My helmet had the marks to show that I hit my head on the pavement when I landed. I never felt that. Fortunately my only injuries were a minor contusion on my left arm where it hit the side view mirror, and a slight bit of road rash. As luck would have it, there was a cop just a couple cars back that witnessed the incident. The driver was cited for failing to signal his turn, and his insurance paid for my front wheel replacement.
Dan
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 03-30-22 at 04:01 PM.
Likes For _ForceD_:
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cental Illinois
Posts: 109
Bikes: 1990 Schwinn Curcit is my main bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 50 Times
in
37 Posts
I have lots of spills over the years but the one that had the most affect on my life...
Riding over a wooden decked bridge on a frosty fall day. I hit the bridge deck concrete abutment joint that had a steel plate covering. The steel was slick as ice and down I went. I tore some ligaments and tendons in my right wrist.
I am right handed and make my living with my hands. I was out of work for 10 days.
Riding over a wooden decked bridge on a frosty fall day. I hit the bridge deck concrete abutment joint that had a steel plate covering. The steel was slick as ice and down I went. I tore some ligaments and tendons in my right wrist.
I am right handed and make my living with my hands. I was out of work for 10 days.
Last edited by Lambkin55; 03-30-22 at 08:58 AM.
#10
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,126
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 855 Post(s)
Liked 1,447 Times
in
824 Posts
I have been fortunate and have never had a serious crash or injury while cycling. I have had bumps, bruises, road rash, etc., but the worst was a bad contusion, probably the worst and ugliest ever for me, at my outer right hip from a slow speed fall. I just started going up a short, steep incline and did not see the wet surface in the shade. My rear wheel slid out and It happened so fast I was down before any chance of reacting. I landed directly on my right hip. I took a bit of time to assess the damage, and then continued. It was painful and really sore for a couple of weeks after, but surely not that bad.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 6,915
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS, Trek CheckPoint SL7 AXS, Trek Emonda ALR AXS, Trek FX 5 Sport
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 778 Post(s)
Liked 1,790 Times
in
1,033 Posts
Broken shoulder after a rider in front of me in a paceline suddenly slammed on the brakes versus changing gears and I ended up vaporizing my shoulder. 5 operations and almost 2 total years of PT to completely fix it.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,589
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5234 Post(s)
Liked 3,602 Times
in
2,356 Posts
I've had a pretty good run on my bike...until now. Recently I was riding along and moved to get out of the way of a parked car when my front tyre got caught in tram tracks (here in Melbourne, Australia) and I got slung off the bike, with my right shoulder taking pretty much all of the fall. I went to the hospital the next day and got the "all-clear" - no broken bones, just probable soft tissue damage that should sort itself out within a week. I was really surprised with the diagnosis as upon entering the hospital, it kind of felt as though I had broke my collar bone and about 3 ribs. "Must just be getting soft in my old age" I mused to myself as I left in a temporary makeshift sling. But when the pain become unbearable at work, and found myself unable to lift anything over my head, I decided to see a Doctor who ordered an ultrasound. The ultrasound, or more specifically, another x-ray of me bearing weight, revealed a sublaxed shoulder, or Grade II AC joint separation. Now, can I not only not lift anything above my head or move my arm with ease across my body, but am looking at 6 weeks off work. I'm now 17 days into my recovery and am wondering of its going to get any better. Apparently a Grade II tear doesn't warrant surgery, so I've just been RICE-ing up, but progress has been slow...it still hurts. So what about you? What's the worst injury you've sustained while cycling?
#13
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Jawja
Posts: 4,299
Bikes: Spec Roubaix SL4, GT Traffic 1.0
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2208 Post(s)
Liked 960 Times
in
686 Posts
Worst injury was on a BMX. I was at a practice the day before a race. I was told some tips about timing the start gate and light, jumped it just too soon and caused it to lock. I went over the handlebars and landed directly on my right elbow and chin. The lucky aspect was that I had JUST borrowed a friends chin strap/guard, so I didn't lose any teeth or break my jaw. The unlucky was that it broke my elbow into three pieces right at the joint and left a small fragment in the joint. I had to drive a stick home and my right arm had no solidity to it at all. I was in such shock that I barely noticed. I had a couple of surgeries and was in a cast and sling for about two years. I wasn't supposed to be able to use my right elbow more than a few degrees. I just yanked on it back and forth until it freed up enough ROM for me to be satisfied with it. Hurts like hell every day.
Of honorable mention:
I was riding down a road on my way to work and had a guy throw a boiled egg at me. I went off into a ditch and was nearly impaled on the leftovers of trees and shrubs that had recently been bush hogged. I got run off the road/almost hit by a redneck that I had a disagreement with. I probably should not have hung a bird inside his window right in front of his sister wifes face...
The most recent I was riding along Peachtree St in Atlanta and as we were riding over a short section with trolley tracks, got my tire caught and went down hard on my hip. I have had back issues since. Haven't done any significant riding in town since either.
Of honorable mention:
I was riding down a road on my way to work and had a guy throw a boiled egg at me. I went off into a ditch and was nearly impaled on the leftovers of trees and shrubs that had recently been bush hogged. I got run off the road/almost hit by a redneck that I had a disagreement with. I probably should not have hung a bird inside his window right in front of his sister wifes face...
The most recent I was riding along Peachtree St in Atlanta and as we were riding over a short section with trolley tracks, got my tire caught and went down hard on my hip. I have had back issues since. Haven't done any significant riding in town since either.
#14
Shawn of the Dead
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 578
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 277 Post(s)
Liked 448 Times
in
216 Posts
Not biking related but I am fused from C-O to C-3. As for biking I was messing around on my old MTB with a buddy and zipped up a curb. Caught the front tire in a gap between the sidewalk and a front yard. Got thrown down wicked hard and fully separated my A/C joint , grade 3. My shoulder now looks weird with a hump where my clavicle sticks up and that joint is particularly weak in a few directions...like my elbow on the ground and propping myself up. Other than that it sounds like a bag of gravel but no functionality issues. My orthopedic surgeon who fixed my leg wanted a crack at it but I said no thanks !!
Also broke 2 ribs in the same wreck. I've broke so many ribs over the years its not even funny....and my sternum in a MC accident. I hope this crap is behind me because I am getting too old for it.
Also broke 2 ribs in the same wreck. I've broke so many ribs over the years its not even funny....and my sternum in a MC accident. I hope this crap is behind me because I am getting too old for it.
#15
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Dirt jumping on an outlaw BMX track in 1986. Broken ankle in three places with a pulverized bone. Still have the plate and screws installed!
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 644 Times
in
365 Posts
I've had my share of broken bones and concussions. I'm going to rate as my worst injury both elbows broken resulting from a collusion with my 10 year old grandson. That was 10 or 12 years ago.
The physical injuries themselves weren't so serious, but I had psychological trauma that lasted for years.
The physical injuries themselves weren't so serious, but I had psychological trauma that lasted for years.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,413
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18485 Post(s)
Liked 15,780 Times
in
7,409 Posts
Split the end of my collar bone when someone in front of me kicked up a stick and it locked up my front wheel. Totally freak accident. The little stick lodged between the outside of the rim and the inside of the brake caliper, parallel to the ground. Wish I had saved the photo someone took after I was loaded into the ambulance.
The rest of the group hid my bike in the woods behind a house the was vacant and in foreclosure. The GF came back to get it after finishing the ride.
The rest of the group hid my bike in the woods behind a house the was vacant and in foreclosure. The GF came back to get it after finishing the ride.
#18
Senior Member
Back on 1982 or 1983. After a shift at my weekend job at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown, Vancouver. I got back on my bike and rode around at the back behind the parking lots along the railroad track to get to the parking lot at the end of Granville Street. Well, I slipped on the gravel and had a deep cut on my left elbow. Needed seven stitches.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,866
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 906 Post(s)
Liked 2,084 Times
in
1,092 Posts
I'm waiting for a software built to get done, so here's my assessment thus far in the competition:
Feel free to debate my unilateral and uninformed results.
- Brain bleed - 10 Wheels
- Broken neck; C1 C2 fuse - bruce19
- Broken neck; C3 fracture - downtube42
- Lots 'O shattered stuff - Ghostrider62
- Broken elbow x 2 - Retro Grouch
- Broken elbow - Juan Foote
- Split collar bone - indyfabz
- Pulverized ankle bone - Rolla
- Broken Shoulder - jaxgtr
- Torn ligaments and tendons - Lambkin55
- AC separateions and collased lung - JohnDThompson
- AC Joint Separation - Rdmonster69
- AC Joint Separation - Cornchips
- AC Joint Sprain - rumrunn6
- Broken ribs & dislocated clavicle - mstateglfr
- Cut elbow - Daniel4
- Road rash - delbiker1
Feel free to debate my unilateral and uninformed results.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,866
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 906 Post(s)
Liked 2,084 Times
in
1,092 Posts
On further thought, mstateglfr might be rated a bit low; broken ribs.
Likes For downtube42:
#22
Senior Member
I got t-boned by a car doing 45 and I flew 50 feet.(Wow dad, you must have flown 50 feet, that's nothing to be proud of Rusty...50 FEET!...Vacation Reference) Broke my tibia, fibula, left shoulder, and my helmet came off and got 14 stitches in my head with an awesome concussion.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,475
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 2,311 Times
in
1,292 Posts
I went over the handlebars in 2018 , fortunately I had a helmet on so no concussion . I broke my left hand metacarpal, my orbital bone in the left side of my face, and cheek bones in four different places. Basically had loose bones floating around in the left side of my face. I buried the bar end shifter into my right thigh and LOTS of road rash and had to spend the day in the hospital. No surgery , just had to wait 3 months for the bones to grow back together before I could ride. Not near as bad as some of you but enough to shake me up a bit.
#24
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,447 Times
in
1,558 Posts
Been lucky on bikes, mostly. Worst I can recall is having a foot slip off a wet rubber pedal while delivering papers many decades ago and landing full force (and then some, it felt like) on the top tube. I'm sure I've felt worse in my life but that one stays with me.
#25
Full Member
Having ridden all my life I got the usual amount of bruises and road rash, but nothing remotely serious until at 81 I broke two ribs after a little old lady crowded me into a bridge rail. (long story . . . ) Really loved the sympathetic medical care: "It will hurt for two weeks, suck it up. Here's a scrip for some Vicodin."
But I do vividly remember a time as a teen when I took a short cut into our back yard off the alley. Unfortunately the route went under the clothesline and one line was sagging. I hit me under the chin, stopped me and swung me up - and somehow I wasn't smart enough to let go of the bike. Then the line snapped and dropped me astride the top rail. No lasting injury but my memory agrees with thumpism.