3 weeks ago last night I made a mental mistake on an easy solo ride. I ride about 5000 miles a year outside and I have been doing it for 30 years. I've had my moments over the years but this one was special.
I was coming down a slight incline that ends with a stoplight at a fairly heavily traveled 2 lane road. That intersection is at the very top of a hill, short by 400 meters, and everyone on a bike turns right and hammers down the 3 mile continuous down grade that has a 10 ft wide apron that is in great shape with very few driveways - the ultimate shift, get in to the drops and spin out.
I was wearing Specialized bib shorts, half finger gloves, and a standard bike jersey. My helmet was a S-Works Evade with MIPS and InRide activated. My phone was in my back shirt pocket.
As I got to the intersection my front wheel washed out on sand and I hit the road hard on my right side. That caused me to skid into traffic and hit the side of a Honda Civic that was passing by at about 40 mph, bounce off the car and hit again on my right side with my head pushed into a cement curb. I heard a woman screaming for help and my fogged in brain thought that she needed help and I tried to get up. That didn't work so well. I was still clipped in on one side and my right leg and arm refused to work. It only took a moment to realize she was trying to keep traffic coming down the hill from running over me. My legs and bike was out in the road.
A guy in a F250 work truck came by and parked at an angle to protect me and the next thing I remember is being loaded into the ambulance, backboard, C-Collar, large bore IVs, EKG, and a machine constantly taking my blood pressure and and pulse. I was a NYS paramedic for 10 year so I understood that someone was hurt bad but I couldn't figure out who. I heard them talking to the trauma center and could not believe they were discussing me.
To cut to the end, I have a broken bone in my left hand from the impact with the car that did not need splinted and a subluxation of the right AC joint. The bike had bent/cracked handlebars, my left brifter is damaged but usable for now, and the front wheel and fork collapsed. Specialized had the fork and front wheel I needed but I now have Ritchie handlebars. The bike was UT'd to make sure the frame survived (Roubaix Pro) and it did. Truthfully the bike looks pretty good.
InRide recorded a 28g impact, at 22g impact, and a 20g impact - road, car, curb. That helmet was sent to Specialized at their request. Apparently that is more force than the helmet should be able to withstand and it did it 3 time, stayed on my head, and I have no neck or head injuries other than a big bruise that covered the right side of my head to my jaw line.
I was released the next day at noon and told I was very lucky to be alive. I came off concussion protocols yesterday but was told to still be careful. My bike came back Monday night and me and my bike buddy went for an easy 35 mile ride together last night. I had to get back on the horse that threw me :) The left hand works fine, I just can't bump it. The right shoulder is the problem. I'm going to have to go see a specialist next week.
Be careful out there. Sometimes the vehicle drivers are not your biggest concern. Sometimes it is that lump of fat between your ears that will get you.
"...the street finds its own uses for things"
I was coming down a slight incline that ends with a stoplight at a fairly heavily traveled 2 lane road. That intersection is at the very top of a hill, short by 400 meters, and everyone on a bike turns right and hammers down the 3 mile continuous down grade that has a 10 ft wide apron that is in great shape with very few driveways - the ultimate shift, get in to the drops and spin out.
I was wearing Specialized bib shorts, half finger gloves, and a standard bike jersey. My helmet was a S-Works Evade with MIPS and InRide activated. My phone was in my back shirt pocket.
As I got to the intersection my front wheel washed out on sand and I hit the road hard on my right side. That caused me to skid into traffic and hit the side of a Honda Civic that was passing by at about 40 mph, bounce off the car and hit again on my right side with my head pushed into a cement curb. I heard a woman screaming for help and my fogged in brain thought that she needed help and I tried to get up. That didn't work so well. I was still clipped in on one side and my right leg and arm refused to work. It only took a moment to realize she was trying to keep traffic coming down the hill from running over me. My legs and bike was out in the road.
A guy in a F250 work truck came by and parked at an angle to protect me and the next thing I remember is being loaded into the ambulance, backboard, C-Collar, large bore IVs, EKG, and a machine constantly taking my blood pressure and and pulse. I was a NYS paramedic for 10 year so I understood that someone was hurt bad but I couldn't figure out who. I heard them talking to the trauma center and could not believe they were discussing me.
To cut to the end, I have a broken bone in my left hand from the impact with the car that did not need splinted and a subluxation of the right AC joint. The bike had bent/cracked handlebars, my left brifter is damaged but usable for now, and the front wheel and fork collapsed. Specialized had the fork and front wheel I needed but I now have Ritchie handlebars. The bike was UT'd to make sure the frame survived (Roubaix Pro) and it did. Truthfully the bike looks pretty good.
InRide recorded a 28g impact, at 22g impact, and a 20g impact - road, car, curb. That helmet was sent to Specialized at their request. Apparently that is more force than the helmet should be able to withstand and it did it 3 time, stayed on my head, and I have no neck or head injuries other than a big bruise that covered the right side of my head to my jaw line.
I was released the next day at noon and told I was very lucky to be alive. I came off concussion protocols yesterday but was told to still be careful. My bike came back Monday night and me and my bike buddy went for an easy 35 mile ride together last night. I had to get back on the horse that threw me :) The left hand works fine, I just can't bump it. The right shoulder is the problem. I'm going to have to go see a specialist next week.
Be careful out there. Sometimes the vehicle drivers are not your biggest concern. Sometimes it is that lump of fat between your ears that will get you.
"...the street finds its own uses for things"