Bad case of road rash

[traveller]

It had to happen I suppose, after riding to work daily for 5 years and clocking up almost 20,000 km, I had my first serious stack on Tuesday.
The front wheel hit a rut/pothole, I lost control and A went over T.
I fell on my right hand side, shattered the helmet (with a big chunk came off), grazed right elbow and shoulder and bruised my thigh (when the handlebar twisted).
Lucky for me there was not a car behind me, or it could have been much worse :whistle:. Luckier still two women riders stopped and assisted to get me (and my wrecked bike) off the road. Ironically, the third person who stopped to help was from the local council (Yarra Council) and he works as a bike transport project manager :lol:. He took down the details and promised to raise the issue with Vic Roads to fix up the road.
I was patched up quickly at the GP (no broken bones, but bad ringing in my left ear for most of the day - selective hearing loss :lol:) and took a few days off work.
All on the mend now and should be back on the saddle next week (on my other bike).
Lessons learnt: never be complacent, wear a helmet, and assist other in trouble because one day you will need theirs.
I attached some photos to keep you amused. Keep safe!
Bo

[supernova1965]

Glad it wasn't more serious It made me think of riders I see with the helmet strapped onto the handlebars and how much good it will do them.

[DavidTrap]

Glad to see the bike to the brunt of the damage.

I've only recently started riding for fitness and am reluctant to venture off the bike path (fortunately I live within 500m of a 20+km bikeway).

Hope your recovery is swift.

DT

[brian nordstrom]

:) Glad you are Ok , and yes the helmet looks to have saved quite a bad head injury . I like the sticker :lol: .
Brian.

[Ric]

Ouch, I can feel that from here.

Get well soon Bo.

[scagman]

Hi Bo, Glad no serious damage, but your arm looks sore. Were you watching the ladies and not the road?:D

[tlgerdes]

I hope you havent been mimicking Lance :lol:

[barx1963]

Sorry to hear that Bo.
Glad to know there was no serious damage.

Malcolm

[taminga16]

HI Bo, sorry to hear about the fall and please do not feel that I am hijacking your thread but I ask everyone to have a look at this.

ROAD SAFETY STARTS WITH SAFE ROADS.

http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1207154/close-call-sparks-push-to-repair-central-victorian-roads/?cs=341

Check out link above and if you know of a section of road that you believe is hazardous and in need of repair, photograph it and send the images noting the location to the Ministers responsible.

Mr Mulder is the Minister for Roads and Mr Rich-Phillips is the Minister responsible for the TAC


terence.mulder@parliament.vic.gov.a u;

gordon.rich-phillips@parliament.vic.gov.au

Please be sure to use ‘ROAD SAFETY STARTS WITH SAFE ROADS’ in the subject header.

Feel free to send this e-mail on.

Thanks. Greg. J

[Baddad]

YOUCH!!!!:eyepop:

Just looking at the photos hurts. While others may say you were lucky and it may have been worse. I say you were unlucky. It may have been better too.:shrug:

Well, its done and now its wait and heal. Hope recovery is quick. I used to clock up the klms on bicycles in my younger years. I know what its like to come off. I never had it as bad as what you have had. Those injuries are nasty. Bruising still hurts too.

Cheers:)

[pmrid]

Dave, don't be too sure about those bike paths. I stopped serious cycling after I was forced off a cycle path by a group of ladies who steadfastly refused to make room despite my bell ringing, hand waving and patient following; so I ventured off the concrete, got my front wheel caught in a ditch concealed by grass and went head-over heels into a creek bed - hip and shoulder both busted. As I lay sprawled across rocks in the creek bed, the ladies in question looked at me down there, spoke to one another and continued on their merry way.

I almost gave up ladies as well, but that moment passed quickly. Another young woman saw me and came to my aid and called an ambulance.

Peter

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug: Peter , aint some people just terrible ? . Karma will catch up to those ' ladies? ' .
Brian.

[ZeroID]

Ouch !! I ride for fitness but have recently been riding to work as well. But I bought a 29" mtb instead of using my road\race bike. Mainly because I can get off the road onto safer paths when it gets a bit dodgy with cars and lights etc. The road\race bike needs smooth surfaces and no puncture inducing debris. The mtb just climbs gutters and rough stuff with ease. It also has a few more (lower) gears but is very lightweight for it's size and type.
Glad you're on the mend and still looking to ride again. It can be a bit scary sometimes but I still enjoy it.

[jjjnettie]

Huge ouches Bo.

[Barrykgerdes]

I haven't riden a push bike for since 1955. In those days helmets were not used. I lost count of the times I came off although I never fell on my head.

Some of the more spectacular ones were carrying a bottle of drink and having it fly out, hit the road, smash and run over the pieces and puncture a tyre causing loss of control.

Racing down a street in West Ryde at night and being blinded by a car headlight just as I was coming to an intersection. I moved left but suddenly ran out of road, Buckled the front wheel and came down on the pedal which then jammed the back wheel. I took the gravel on my jumper and arm. Did more harm to the jumper than the arm. The real problem was I had to carry the bike home, two miles up hill, because I had no tools and niether wheel was in rolling state.

Barry

[traveller]

Thanks all. I am making a speedy recovery. Had the other bike back from the bike shop on Friday (had to change the chain and rear cassette, all worn out after 8,500km).
Hopped on the saddle today and went for a quick spin around the block (much to the annoyance of the wife :)). Back on the road tomorrow.
Haven't had a quote to get the old steelie framed racer fixed yet, but it's only a front wheel and a set of shifters, so probably $200 dollars or so. I have a spare front wheel, but may need to get a new hub.
I still have the old bike's downtube shifters and drop bars, so I can always convert it back to its original form. Another time...
Cheers, Bo

[TrevorW]

Ouch, feel for you Bo, glad nothing serious

[niko]

Glad to hear you're making a good, steady recovery Bo.

I'm back in the saddle after the Chrissie holidays and now on a new bike, a gift from Mrs Santa.

I'm being extra vigilant because it's a shift from 1.75" tyres down to 1" and I once got done in my tram tracks on a 1" racer.

I've had the one unavoidable accident on a bike we all seem to have to have a year or so ago (mine was with a taxi) so I'm hoping I can now be accident free for a long stretch

See you and your scras in March hopefully.

Oh, and do you still want the aluminium sheet?

niko

[traveller]

Thanks Nico,
I am hoping to make it to SV in March, still juggling caldendars.
I actually fitted wider tyres to the racer when I converted to a flat bar in order to absorb some of the bumps on the road, but some bumps are just a tad too big...
Bo