Was riding my ususal Sunday route on my Guru. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I was really enjoying the workout. I was riding on the shoulder w/ light traffic and pedalling hard. I look up at the road when all of the sudden, I saw a car speeding down the wrong side of the road heading straight at me. My natural instinct is to swerve and hit the breaks hard. Too close to do anything really. Just remember thinking to myself, "Shit!’
I open my eyes and see a medic talking to me. He tells me that I’ve been unconscious for a while. I hear the police talking to some witnesses in the background. Hit & Run - driver drove away without stopping. He was trying to pass the car in front of him in a no passing zone and crossed way over to my side. I am a bloody mess.
Three days later, I am released from the hospital and I am very thankful to be alive. Don’t know what is in store for me. Lots of reconstructive surgery and rehab I guess. Not so sure about training for Tris anymore. I didn’t realize so much was at stake and not sure if it is worth the risk.
Took me several years to get my nerve back… minor injuries in 1992 but still some un-nerving memories. Everytime I pass through the intersection I am looking for that burgendy Lincoln Continental.
I came pretty close to getting my ticket punched last year in a snowmobile accident. I’ll never be 100% again, and have to be VERY careful about not having an unscheduled dismount when I’m training now. You can build your bike fitness up indoors once you’re able to train again, and be more selective in where you feel safe when riding outdoors.
Don’t let the accident take away more from you than it already has.
I hope that I will be able to get back to training eventually. What I heard from ER was very disturbing though. The ER nurse was amazed that I was not injured more. She said that she sees them more frequently in recent years and that most of the accidents are pretty severe. Mine was not minor by any means - over two hundred stitches to the face and 2nd degree burn on over 5 percent of my body.
“Not so sure about training for Tris anymore. I didn’t realize so much was at stake and not sure if it is worth the risk.”
I felt EXACTLY the same way right after my accident (dog/broken neck). However, the further away I get from the accident and the closer I get to recovery, the less I feel that way. How you feel right now is a normal reaction to the trauma you have been through. Your psyche will heal along with your injuries. Best wishes and I am praying for you.
I hope the best for you - I’m also somewhat amazed that you’re typing this but I guess you’re pretty bored in the hospital? This story does not help my nerves; just yesterday I got into an incident with some co-worker in our parking lot, then late afternoon while biking back with my local club some guy kept shouting and honking at us for no particular reason. Take care of yourself and I wouldn’t worry about your tri days - just take your days one at a time…
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. A cyclist riding on a road I’ve ridden hundreds of times was killed by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel.
Maybe off-road triathlons are more the way to go? I’ve been doing more mtb training this year and while I seem to have more bumps and bruises, they’re all entirely my fault. I push the evelope a little to get better faster, and that’s what happens.
What does everyone think - is MTBing a better bet?
Take your time… hopefully you have a good support group that will help you ease back into it. I was ready to sell my bike and would have if it hadn’t been for my partners. Still, even then, it took about three years.
I got creamed head-on by a teenage driver talking on a cell phone. Broken hip and ankle, fractured spine and pelvis, hundreds of stitches and parts now held together with titanium screws, etc. Doc told me that a normal person not in the kind of shape I’m in would have been DOA.
I felt just like you for about the first 5 days. Then the rehab process made me feel like a caged bird. Freedom could only be had by hitting the road on my bike again … which I did … at the very first opportunity.
All the best in your recovery. Thank God you’re alive. I’m betting you’ll be itchin’ to ride again in no time … but you’ll have a new, highly-tuned set of antennae and new standards about where to ride and when. You may also find it harder to ride with others and take the risks they do.
Very scary! In the big picture, I’m glad to hear you’re ok!! over 200 stitches? I can’t even imagine!!
Just don’t ask for the pictures. I am not sure everyone can handle it. I have hard time handling it myself.
It was a good thing I had my helmet and the Oakley half-jackets on. It probably saved my vision and alot more. The whole left lens and frame are torn up pretty good. Yet another reminder to wear your helmet, glasses, and gloves. I didn’t wear my gloves and both top of my hands are torn up pretty badly.
Wow, man…unbelievable. Take care of yourself…as others have said, it’s likely the further away you get from June 5, 2005, the less you will feel as you do now—of course physically, but more importantly psychologically.
Good luck with the recovery. At least you can look forward to a new ride, no?