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So, this mornings forecast wasn't great but with going away later in the week it's the Penultimate chance to top up the miles and metres. I had a route in mind, 100km out into Gaby land with a stop about halfway for a light lunch.
I'm feeling quite fit, a good session without anything too taxing so I depart at the end of the rush hour. My route has about 2km of on road tram running, i've managed to go 20 years without issue so I was quite confident of my technique.
Then Bam! I'm lying in the middle of the ring road, no warning, no idea of the exact cause, one second i'm planning my next move (a right turn with lots of tram tracks), next it's over. So as i'm a cyclist rather than a footballer I get my battered and bruised body back on the bike in typical Gaby style then continue my 80+ km ride - by the time I get home I can barely walk and sods law, its my usual leg taking the brunt again! At least the bike is okay.
By coincidence, the last tram track off I had was just metres away crossing lines hidden under snow. I need to avoid that bit of road I guess.
I'm a bit sore of course - but nothing seems to be broken, my ability to concentrate isn't great atm so no writing tonight, possibly tomorrow.
It's certainly not a pastime for wimps eh - sometimes though i'd like to be a wimp!
Mads
Comments
We don't bounce like we did when we were young
Just take it easy ok.
Samantha
not
Sure I ever really bounced!
I have never been seriously injured doing anything except cycling (oh a few sprains and back twinges but not actual breakages/off work type things). Cracked scapula in my first road race, extensive road rash after off on black ice, split elbow another black ice thing, broken knee cap falling off at low speed, severe bruising after car incident, today's road rash - they are spread over 40 years so it's not a regular thing but even so....
Then of course there are the other 'incidents' that didn't rate more than a dab of savlon.
At the moment I can't carry my bike up the stairs to the flat, i'm relying on a walking stick to get to the kitchen.
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Ouch!
I feel your pain as I had a bad fall in May. My bike's front wheel skidded on a raised white line on a very wet cycle path and my knee took the full impact. I made it to the local A&E where my leg was encased in an enormous splint which meant I couldn't move it. I had to get a taxi home - the taxi driver was very helpful, but the fare for forty miles left a huge hole in my wallet.
Speaker
I
Broke my patella 30 years ago (same leg as it happens), hit a speed bump doing 5mph and landed square on the knee. Then I rode the ten mostly uphill miles home - I didn't go to a&e until following day, immediate surgery to wire it back together.
Riding again in about a month but leg has always been weaker since. You can actually measure the difference to the good leg which does about 70% of the work. Doesn't usually bother me but the left is struggling to support me sometimes now, the DVT has really mucked up the muscles, this on top isn't an improvement!
Fingers crossed it recovers quickly
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
The bright side of an accident/injury is
as long as you hurt you know you're alive! Embrace the pain and own it! Over 48 years I've had 11 knee surgeries (the last two right and left replacements), back surgery, and a sextuple bypass I've learned to embrace pain. Just don't let yourself get stiff. Keep flexible but do so without weight bearing. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Boys will be girls... if they're lucky!
Jennifer Sue
yeah
I didn't want to get stiff so I rode another 80km (50miles) afterwards. Not sure it worked! I had planned a 100km ride today, I didn't end up much off as it turned out but it was my flattest ride for about 6 weeks, only 850m of climbing (that's about 2500ft) - on one leg most of the time!
It's a good job I can't really do the stairs atm or i'd be out again tomorrow! However 3 flights carrying a bike was painful coming up, darn right lethal to go down!
Thanks for your thoughts
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Fitness
Cyclists and other motivated, active bods have a good record of getting over such setbacks, here's hoping the owies are soon behind you. Yes, and it's a false economy to reduce tyre wear by offering skin instead.
"Reach for the sun."
probably
Need to get a bent to stay upright! Couple of days on past experience should be reasonably mobile. Until then - well i've got into bed, not sure I can get out again!
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
I'll second that
In 2010 (on the day that the General Election was announced) I had a slight altercation with a Deer on a narrow lane in Hampshire. I was on my Motorcycle. I dislocated my left shoulder (thanks to kevlar, I didn't break it) and cracked two ribs. The deer was unscathed.
The local farmer called the ambulance and took the bike to his farm.
I was taken to A&E where they reset the shoulder (ouch).
The next morning, I had an interview for a new job. On my way to the interview I was interviewed by BBC South Today (it was broadcast but I never saw it). I was still in pain from the previous day but I got the job and once I'd started it I was asked why I seemed rather stiff at the interview. My boss laughed and shook his head in disbelief when I told him.
That afternoon, I rented a van and retrieved my bike from the farm.
Motivated? you bet. I'd been out of work for more than a year. I wanted that job. I wasn't going to let a little prang on the bike stop me from going.
I look back at that time and realise that I was silly to do what I did but at the time...
Hey, Maddy
Just getting over my first ever bone break. Sept 16, I crashed into a hole in the bike lane hidden by a tree's shadow. Bike was OK, I changed the front wheel tube and rode home 14 miles. Next day, my Kim drove me to urgent care and an Xray found I'd broken a rib. I started riding again 10 days ago. Rib hurts a little, but doesn't need pain meds anymore. Week before I crashed I rode 130 miles, almost all flat, my big week of the year. I'm 68 and amazed at how strong and fit you are, and how fast you get back into shape.
Cheers, hope you heal up real fast!
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee
I've been lucky so far
I've never broken a bone in my body, except possibly a toe. But I have been scraped and bruised. Speaking of biking fun, I found out once what happens when you are going down a steep hill that ends in a T intersesction when your brake fails. I tried to take the turn at the intersection rather than hit the guard rail and fall into a river. I did quite well. My tires slipped, I acquired some road rash and that was it. I've been pretty lucky when it comes to accidents. I'm not looking forward to finding out how breakable I get as I grow older.
I'm glad to hear that you seem to have survived your day with relatively little long term injury. I hope this doesn't affect your travel plans too much.
As I am selfish myself I just
As I am selfish myself I just thank a fate for having you with us.
Ouch
Hope you feel better soon.
After a few too many close calls, falls and a rather rapid decline in my balance if I have a anxiety attack, I can no longer ride a bike, if I did it would have to be a delta/tadpole style trike. Unfortunately I can't afford the cost of a new bicycle let alone a good quality trike.
As to the tram rails, I've never had that particular problem, snow either for that matter, but oil and grease have caused me to come off a couple of times.