Why you must ALWAYS wear helmet when bicycling

[tornado33]

.... even on a dedicated off road cycleway. Yesterday (Sunday) I was doing my regular Green Point/Fernleigh Track ride (2 great off road dedicated cycleways near Newcastle), I had zoomed on descent through the Fernleigh Tunnel, about 200 metres further on, one of a group of stopped bikes moved across my path, while I was doing over 40 kph. Results below

Damage to me
Also minor scrape to elbow, slight lump on forehead. Shoulder sore but functioning, though wont be using my 10 inch scope for a while, too sore for lifting. Oddly enough I am on first week of 4 week annual leave so wont lose time off work.

Witnesses say biggest crash they have seen, I somersaulted several times.

The helmet.

Damage to bike pannier rack, was straight before. Also minor scrapes to back of seat, and slight buckle to back wheel, Ive trued most of it out now. Cover from one brake lever came off. All led lights undamaged, even though made of lightweight plastic.

As you can see, Id be lucky to be here if not for the helmet. Ive bought a new one of same make "rosebank" $19.90 at Big W, now thats cheap insurance. I rode back to crash site today to look for some tools that were ejected from frame bag.
Scott

PS the 20 year old Giant Sedona is one tough bike

[iceman (Mike)]

Wow, that's some serious scrapes, Scott!

Glad to hear you're mostly ok.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Personnally I'd be giving the bike a very thorough check out. You don't want to find that cracked weld when doing 40km/h.

Those of you who have braved viewing my mug shot in another thread will have noticed I am dentally challenged. That happened back in '83, before helmets were common, when I face planted at about 40km/h. I'm lucky I only hit the ground and not a pole or similar. The bike was totaled. I've been a good boy ever since but the tooth still ain't coming back.

[casstony]

Good on you for wearing a helmet Scott. Even if you ride slow or are lucky enough not to have an accident, wearing a helmet sets a good example for kids.

[Kal (Andrew)]

looks like the best $19.90 investment you have ever made

[tornado33]

Thanks all.
Yep Ive gone over the bike for faults. My mates used to jibe me about how heavy the bike is, butn i am glad its heavy and strong, Id hate to think what would have happened had it been a light Carbon frame. Mine is made of double butted Crome Moly, not the lightest but the strongest bike frame material there is so they say. I think there was good fortune in how the bike landed too, given the lack of damage to easily broken parts like the led lights and cycle computer, all of which had not so much as a scratch.

Will be MUCH more careful when people are anywhere near now and will ride the Fernleigh Track on weekdays, when it is all but deserted.
Scott

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

OH Scott, I feel for you with that shoulder. Reckon it's going to feel a lot worse before it feels better.
A helmet has saved my life more than once. I never ride a horse without one.

[astroron (Ron)]

Scott I am glad you are not badly injured,I know what a helmet can do to save your life,I bounced along the Bald Hills flats road north of Brisbane many years ago after coming of my bike, Your injuries are similar to mine my helmet was dented but not broken
But you are alive to ride another day
Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Hey Scott, that's a nasty looking collection of Grazes!

Going to be sore when they scab up and dry out
(I remember the feeling from motorcycle accidents)

Send Rosebank Helmets a pic of your helmet and a letter of thanks.

[Barrykgerdes]

I never wore a helmet in my cycling days. Nobody did although I don't know of anyone who suffered head injuries I would expect there were quite a few. I came off many times over the handle bars but never landed on my head. I suffered worse injuries than that, the wrath of mum when I got home for ruining my clothes.

My worst crash was in Hermitage Rd West Ryde. I was "tearing" (about 40KPH) down towards Victoria Rd at night when blinded by the glare of an on coming car at Wattle St (no roundabout in those days). I ran out of bittumen, hit the rough stuff blew the front tyre and came down. The pedal hit the road hard and I went for a skid on my arm. When I got up the force of the pedal hitting the road dragged the back wheel against the frame. The front wheel was badly buckled and I could not roll on the back wheel so I had to carry the bike all the way home. 3 miles away up hill!

We occasionally slowed down to 40K, going up hill (just kidding). But down hill the speed was closer to 70 Kph. Wound the speedo of the end (50MPH) going down Mt Ousely.

I still don't wear a helmet but then I don't ride a bike any more.

Barry

[shelltree (Shelley)]

Eek!! Mate, that looks painful Really glad you came out of it not too bad off and thank goodness for your trusty helmet!

[h0ughy (David)]

Firstly i am very happy you are alive and not in hospital. But mate, riding flat out on the fernliegh track on a weekend. Scott you Dill. It is the most popular walk/cycleway in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie with a few thousand families using it over the weekends all of which have very little consideration for others. That said, you have confirmed to me that you are as tough and sturdy as they come - see what manual guiding for years has made you - tough as nails!! OK minus some bits

[Sausageman (Mike Boggan)]

I have been saved by a helmet too Scott.
A semi knocked me off my motorbike, he was in the right lane and turned left. I hit the cab door and went down, he didn't stop either, when I took my helmet of it had rubber marks on it from the trailer wheels.
Mike.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Ow ow ow ow. that's going to sting in the shower. By the looks of it you are a very lucky man Scott. You might need more than 4 weeks holidays to get over that. Got any sick leave up your sleeve?

[tornado33]

Hi all
Went to local pharmacy today, to get dressings for shoulder wound. Been keeping it clean, using disinfectant, but clothing irritates it, needs covering. Asked to see the pharmacist, he came to counter, when I told him I had come off my bike he immediately said "I saw you on the Fernleigh Track on Sunday, turns out he had come past a few mins after the crash. He got out some suitable dressings. Now more comfortable. Shoulder feels better today, can move arm more with less pain.

Rode over to the crash site yesterday, could see divots in the grass made by me and the bike, very fortunate I came down on the grassy verge next to the bitumen.

I will be much more careful in future.
Scott

[Ric]

Good to hear that you starting to mend Scott

Get well soon

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Lucky escape. The RTA has stats that show the introduction of bike helmets was indeed a silver bullet in improving road safety.

[Paul Haese]

Being a rider I know what this feels like. Come off a few times now, been hit twice by cars. Once when I was doing nearly 60kph but lost mostly skin as I tumbled and it was in thick chunks too. Still have scar tissue on the palms of my hands that is a little different in colour to the rest of the palm skin.

I ride a carbon bike and I know that these just break under this sort of pressure. The frame has a life time warrantee except if you are in an accident. So that says it all.

The helmet saved your life. I have ridden with and without them and I can now say I prefer to have mine on rather than off. I paid a lot more for my helmet but I figure my life is worth way more than that. Although studies do show that neck injury is on the rise due to helmets.

Glad to hear you are ok. So many idiots don't think on bike and walking paths. It is like they think they are the only ones there. I can imagine what you were thinking and saying just as it started to happen.

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Mate I've got to agree with Houghy.
What the hell were you doing riding at speed on that track on the weekend???
Especially coming up on a slow / stopped group.
Man that's asking for it....

Glad you're OK tho

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

Er, when was your last tetanus booster??? (Wouldn't want you getting lockjaw!)