REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

My First (Real) Crash

1191 Views 21 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Berkeley Mike, Jun 17, 2009

pegot

Discussion Starter · Jun 15, 2009

So I hit Glory Hole this weekend with some buddies and learned a valuable lesson in physics. Normally I ride with my 6-year-old son behind me on a Trek trail-a-cycle. Turns out, I have become used to the extra weight he adds to the rear of my bike and being able to jam on my front brake on sharp descents.

Well this weekend I went riding with just the guys, no trail-a-cycle, feeling liberated without the extra 60+ lbs of drag. We were flying down the hill on some excellent singletrack, when we came upon a section with quite a bit of exposed granite sticking up out of the trail. I decide to slow a bit to navigate through the 6-inch gap between two of the pointier ones. My brakes were ready, and I give the front the usual tug. Yep, I slowed down alright, and as I started to endo, I let go of the front brake but lost my line, instead hitting the rock on the right which caused my front tire to turn suddenly to the left and the bike to stop completely.

One of the laws of physics is an object in motion tends to stay in motion. In this case, the object was me. Fortunately, I automatically unclipped from my pedals as I started to leave the bike behind. Unfortunately, I left the bike behind, leaving nothing between me and the trail except some balmy air that was not enough to cushion the fall. Ouch.

:madman:

Got up, brushed off, inspected my bloody shin and got back on the bike for another 11 miles. Good times.

I did tweak my derailleur hanger, and of course instead of just bending it actually twisted. Finished the ride without gears 1, 8 and 9. New hanger on order (thank you ebay!) along with a spare that will go in my ride pack.

Anybody else do any good rides this weekend?

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

MarkMass

· #2 · Jun 15, 2009

I think I've might have ridden behind you and your son at Annadel. Glad to hear that you made it out okay considering the terrain.

My ride at Demo this weekend (first in about a year) was great. Of course, the next day when I was washing my car I wound up smacking my arm on the tailgate and was rewarded with a nice abrasion. ...Duuuuhhhhhh...

MTBShane

· #3 · Jun 16, 2009

I had a pretty good crash myself this week-end. Rode at Wilder Park on Sunday and ate #^$ at the bottom of Enchanted Loop I think it was. Has to be the hardest I have hit the ground in many, many years! I hit head first at over 20mph and knocked myself clean out! Couldnt see out of my left eye for about a minute and was groggy for a while. Got back on the bike and finished out the ride slowly for another 5-6miles or so. Today I am hurting bad and my head is POUNDING!

The JOY of Mountain Bikding!!!:thumbsup:

JL de Jong

· #4 · Jun 16, 2009

MTBShane: you should see a doctor. Be careful with head injuries!

xls

· #5 · Jun 16, 2009

I second that. MTBShane, definitely go see a doctor. It sounds like you had a concussion. This is serious stuff, nothing to joke about or to be tough about.

MTBShane

· #6 · Jun 16, 2009

man - now you guys have me nervous! Sorry Pegot, didnt mean to jack your thread. If I dont feel any better tomorrow I will go and see a Dr about it. Thanks everyone.

casey2020

· #7 · Jun 16, 2009

Go see a DR TOMORROW, REGARDLESS of how you feel. You wanta ride another 40 years right......

spaak

· #8 · Jun 16, 2009

Shane-
I'd go see Doc tonight just to be safe.
Remember Natasha Richardson? http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/563451.aspx with brain hemorrhage from skiing impact?
Play it on the safe side

iSlowpoke

· #9 · Jun 16, 2009

My first real crash was last Tuesday on Cinderella at Joaquin Miller. I'm still in pain! Glad the kid wasn't with you.

As for Shane, don't screw around. You need to go see a doc NOW!

pegot

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 16, 2009

MTBShane said:
man - now you guys have me nervous! Sorry Pegot, didnt mean to jack your thread. If I dont feel any better tomorrow I will go and see a Dr about it. Thanks everyone.

Don't worry about jacking the thread...now GO SEE A DR!!!!

:madman: = bad

MTBShane

· #11 · Jun 16, 2009

Ok - since you all scared the crap out of me I went this morning!!! I dont have insurance due to being laid off so that sucked but I did it anyway. Aside from the brain damage that already existed due to copious amounts of alcohol in my late teens and early twenties - my head is fine. I guess I ruptured (not sure if that is the right word) a blood vessel in the "back" of my eye somewhere and that is most likely what caused the loss of vision. Nothing they can do about it though so I just have to suck it up. They said it might happen again under extreme exertion, the going blind in that eye that is.

Thanks for caring everyone! :thumbsup:
-Shane

casey2020

· #12 · Jun 16, 2009

Shane,
When you do get insurance go see an Ophthalmologist re your eye.

BTW, when you got laid-off they should have offered you health insurance through a COBRA plan. Maybe you can still do that. It will cover you for up to 18 months. Will cost you more, but will not bankrupt you......like not having insurance can.

casey2020

· #13 · Jun 16, 2009

Shane, if you have ANY reoccurring symptoms get to an ER fast and tell them you recently had a concussion ! You have probably heard in the news this year about the 2 cases similar to yours.

MTBShane

· #14 · Jun 16, 2009

casey2020 said:
Shane,
When you do get insurance go see an Ophthalmologist re your eye.

BTW, when you got laid-off they should have offered you health insurance through a COBRA plan. Maybe you can still do that. It will cover you for up to 18 months. Will cost you more, but will not bankrupt you......like not having insurance can.

yeah - I was thinking the same thing about the Opthamologist actually. I was offered COBRA but it was almost $900 for my family plan and I cant afford that. I just got rehired last week but medical coverage has not kicked in yet. I think I will be ok guys, I feel much better today other than a stiff neck and sore ribs.......I think that is just from the impact though, no breaks or anything that severe.

Felton_Flyer

· #15 · Jun 16, 2009

meh - you'll be fine, take a salt tab and forget about it =)

JL de Jong

· #16 · Jun 16, 2009

Glad you checked out OK. Any bleeding in the head or brain can be very dangerous. Take it easy for a few days.

MTBShane

· #17 · Jun 16, 2009

Felton_Flyer said:
meh - you'll be fine, take a salt tab and forget about it =)

:thumbsup:

worthy_4242

· #18 · Jun 16, 2009

i crashed on sunday too this weekend at cccx. I ate it pretty good and i am still pretty sore. NO damage to the bike but I have a good bruise on my hip and knee but i did manage to get a 4th place.

enicma

· #19 · Jun 17, 2009

Nice work. I think I saw you & your son coming down Canyon at Annadel on Sunday.

I ate sh!t myself week before coming down North Burma, in the steep rocky part (surprise, surprise). Made a bad line choice (high & to the right), thought I would be able to just drop back down post-boulder, but once I was on top of it I saw there lurked another boulder 2 feet behind it. I grabbed as much brake as I could before bailing/endoing and landing on my right sight and rolling. I crashed well but also had a massively torn up right shin & knee... kicking myself for not wearing my knee pads :madman:

All in good fun though :thumbsup:

Broccoli

· #20 · Jun 17, 2009

MTBShane said:
yeah - I was thinking the same thing about the Opthamologist actually. I was offered COBRA but it was almost $900 for my family plan and I cant afford that. I just got rehired last week but medical coverage has not kicked in yet. I think I will be ok guys, I feel much better today other than a stiff neck and sore ribs.......I think that is just from the impact though, no breaks or anything that severe.

As the injury happened while you had a gap in coverage, be careful if it is covered.

$900 is cheap. As self employed, I fork out $1350/month. :madman: Still a better deal then getting on my own payroll..

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.