[3blackbikes]

Hey there!
Been while since I've gotten lucky/unlucky enough to show off my latest gory photo.

So last week, I undertook a solo ITT bikepack of the Colorado Trail from Durango to Denver. I had had my share of hardships with rain, hail, cold, hot, smoke, the usual but I was making good progress.

I was on my last day and was so ready to be done to get a shower and a proper meal, about 25 miles outside of Waterton Canyon on the beginning of Segment 2. The final stretch!! When out of nowhere I slid out in that Front Range decomposed granite and fell on my left side. I got up thinking I just had some scrapes, and then I saw the damage to my arm. (see pic)

Luckily, I was about 1 mile from a fire station. I rolled down there in complete shock thinking I'd stop the bleeding, wrap it up with some gauze, and continue on to finish the trail. The fire chief was very calm and politely convinced me that that was a very bad idea. My arm was open to the bone with lots of gravel/dirt in there. So I got a ride to a Denver ER, where they took 6 hours cleaning and re-cleaning out my arm before putting in 11 stitches. At one point, the PA had her finger up to the 2nd joint up inside my elbow digging out little rocks and grit. She loved it! And I didn't care too much, I had about 30 cc of lidocaine in my arm.

Super bummed I had made it solo across the entire Colorado Trail only to be taken out by some stupid gravel wash out, but man do I have one heck of a souvenir from the trail

 

[Finch Platte]

That's not too bad, but those glasses make me wanna hurl.

 

[3blackbikes]

So kind of you Finch. Sorry I have a tiny head and glasses look stupid on me. Let's see you ride the Colorado Trail in 7 days.

 

[chazpat]

Waited until I finished eating to take a look. The reading about the ER was worse than the photo.

Heal up well, good vibes sent your way!

 

[She&I]

Badass effort! Props for riding it solo in good time. And for dispatching Finch P. so effortlessly. 😁

 

[waltaz]

Impressive effort! Glad your arm will be OK…that’s a nasty one!


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[WHALENARD]

Gnar

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[749800]

Did it hurt?

I always keep some super glue and orange seal in my repair kit in case of such a puncture.

 

[D. Inoobinati]

Here's one for the collection....

...got this when riding past and grazing a pyracantha. And a heart attack on seeing three exposed finger tendons staring back at me.

 

[natas1321]

It's just a flesh wound.




Glad you are alright, stay safe and have fun.

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[Shark]

There's an enjoyable pic to pop up on the Tapatalk yikes. Heal up

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[cyclelicious]

Healing vibes sent. I'm relieved that your rational side advised you to seek medical help. Follow medical advice; keep the wound covered (you don't want to get more dirt in there... you want to avoid bacterial infection)

 

[3blackbikes]

Did it hurt?

I always keep some super glue and orange seal in my repair kit in case of such a puncture.

LOL. No, it didn't hurt. It was a low speed washout, should have only been a scratch. That type of gravel is like glass though. I have 16 stitches in the other arm from a similar crash many many years ago. Matching arms!

I did have super glue, and brought it for that reason, but it probably doesn't stick in blood too well! The blood was out of control.

 

[3blackbikes]

Healing vibes sent. I'm relieved that your rational side advised you to seek medical help. Follow medical advice; keep the wound covered (you don't want to get more dirt in there... you want to avoid bacterial infection)

Honestly, my Nurse brain (you're a nurse too, right?) was like, oh it's fine, lets just get the bleeding under control and I can ride out the last bit and go to the ER later. LOL. Shock is a wonderful thing.

I made the right call. They did a series of 3 pressure washouts and were still fishing out junk. I nearly was admitted and taken to the OR. I'm currently taking Keflex TID and keeping a very very close eye on my elbow, which is still suspiciously too red.

 

[3blackbikes]

Here's one for the collection....

View attachment 1939828

...got this when riding past and grazing a pyracantha. And a heart attack on seeing three exposed finger tendons staring back at me.

That's a beautiful little cut! Looks like a mouth. If you opened and closed your fists, did it talk and puke up blood at you?

 

[SoDakSooner]

ugghh.. Heal up. Glad you made the wise choice. Had a similar, albeit, way less gory situation many years ago. Riding through a spot I had ridden many times, scraped my shin on a rock at slow speed. Really didn't think much of it till I looked down a few yards up the trail. Bleeding like a stuck pig. Cut to the bone on my shin, which is thin anyway. Just a quick ride so no first aid kit. Ripped the sleeve off my shirt and tied it up. Made it out the last few miles and ended up getting washed and cleaned and only 4 stitches, but it was definitely wild seeing my own bones.

Keep an eye on that elbow. I've dealt with a few infections there in the last few years. They were both very hard to clear up. Get in quick for a shot if it gets any worse.

 

[mudflap]

Nice one. Lucky no structural damage. Keep it clean and change bandages in timely fashion and you should be good to go in a week to ten days after getting stitches removed.
Slide-outs can be wicked. Fortunately you weren't hauling a$$.

 

[Bikeworks]

Hey there!
Been while since I've gotten lucky/unlucky enough to show off my latest gory photo.

So last week, I undertook a solo ITT bikepack of the Colorado Trail from Durango to Denver. I had had my share of hardships with rain, hail, cold, hot, smoke, the usual but I was making good progress.

I was on my last day and was so ready to be done to get a shower and a proper meal, about 25 miles outside of Waterton Canyon on the beginning of Segment 2. The final stretch!! When out of nowhere I slid out in that Front Range decomposed granite and fell on my left side. I got up thinking I just had some scrapes, and then I saw the damage to my arm. (see pic)

Luckily, I was about 1 mile from a fire station. I rolled down there in complete shock thinking I'd stop the bleeding, wrap it up with some gauze, and continue on to finish the trail. The fire chief was very calm and politely convinced me that that was a very bad idea. My arm was open to the bone with lots of gravel/dirt in there. So I got a ride to a Denver ER, where they took 6 hours cleaning and re-cleaning out my arm before putting in 11 stitches. At one point, the PA had her finger up to the 2nd joint up inside my elbow digging out little rocks and grit. She loved it! And I didn't care too much, I had about 30 cc of lidocaine in my arm.

Super bummed I had made it solo across the entire Colorado Trail only to be taken out by some stupid gravel wash out, but man do I have one heck of a souvenir from the trail
View attachment 1939801

Lol, that's awful looking!!!! Glad you got treatment quickly, hope it clears up quickly!

 

[3blackbikes]

Thanks all! Elbow is healing nicely. I'm off the ABX with no infection, the swelling is down, and I've got a PA friend to take the stitches out later this week.

One week removed from the CT and I'm recovering a lot quicker than I thought. I've been weaning myself out of the sling and my shoulder is mostly ok until I move it juusst the right/wrong way and I get a big reminder that it is still torn.

I did try to go for an easy jog this morning and felt pretty good, so of course I've begun plotting my revenge for next time.

 

[JimmyAsheville]

Thanks all! Elbow is healing nicely. I'm off the ABX with no infection, the swelling is down, and I've got a PA friend to take the stitches out later this week.

One week removed from the CT and I'm recovering a lot quicker than I thought. I've been weaning myself out of the sling and my shoulder is mostly ok until I move it juusst the right/wrong way and I get a big reminder that it is still torn.

I did try to go for an easy jog this morning and felt pretty good, so of course I've begun plotting my revenge for next time.

your arm reminds me of the two most important things I carry in my pack, other than water. A tourniquet and a pack of that Army medic style blood clotting agent. Everything else can wait.