Anatomy of a fall
Tiggerrick
Posts: 1,078 Member
It was early in the week, and I had been craving going on a long bike ride. 60 miles to be exact. I wanted, no, needed to make the time for it. I needed 4 hours for the ride. That would give me more than enough time. I thought of taking an entire day off work for this, but my special friend gave me an idea… take a half day. I thought that sounded great. Take a half day on Friday, be able to do my ride, and still have enough time for anything else Sat/Sun. I requested the half day off from work, and it was granted.
I prepared my riding gear and bike Thursday night. That Friday, all I had to do was ‘run a clinic’ at 10am. Only one patient was scheduled, so I figured I would be done and gone quickly. At work, I got the patient ready to be seen by the doctor at 09:55am. The doctor did not show up until 10:15. My time off was being delayed by his lateness. No matter, I had time. The evaluation happened in 4 minutes and we were done. Paperwork completed, and I left work before 11am.
On a spur of the moment decision, I contacted an MFP friend and we were to meet on the trail. The timing would be perfect, and this would be a great ride. I hurried to my car, got my outfit, walked back to a bathroom, and put it on. Headed back to my truck, and off to the bike trail. At the trail, I quickly prepared my drinks for the long ride, did a quick bike check, and was on my bike within minutes. I was on my way.
The day was cool, cloudless, and beautiful. The sun shone down with a mild force that made everything feel right with the world. I was barely starting to cycle, and needed to warm my muscles up. Moderate speed, and slower cadence than the ride ahead. The wind felt nice against my skin. Perfect riding day.
The Santa Ana River Trail is nicely paved. Aside from regular bumps on roads, it’s a smooth ride. Very few real hills, and only mild turns. When I went over a bump and one of my water bottles fell off, it did not surprise me. I put on the breaks, and slowed down to pick it up. This took only a few seconds. The bottle actually slid next to the bike. I didn’t even have to turn around to pick it up. Very convenient.
I continued to cycle immediately after. My average speed for the entire ride is about 16mph, but the start tends to be a little faster. I was above 20mph on the straight parts. Close to 3 miles after the start, the trail meanders through a park. A few turns here and there. I slowed down and took a left turn with no problem. The path then turns right, so with an ever so agile movement, I moved up and then immediately leaned right for the turn.
Then, it happened…. The bike was GONE. The tires were no longer providing any traction. The bike was sliding away from me, and I was sliding across the concrete. At that exact second, another cyclist was on the other side of the trail. The timing was perfect. My bike was in front of his in less than a ½ second. No way to turn, slow down, jump, not even react. As I saw this from my peripheral vision, my brain was thinking “oh ****!â€
I stood up almost immediately, looked to my left and there he was. Mike (as I soon found out was his name) was on the floor, bikes entangled between his legs. I asked “are you OK?†to which he responded “I think I broke my shoulder, I can’t move my armâ€.
I went into Nurse mode. Did an assessment, and didn’t find anything else that would need more immediate attention. I helped him remove his gear. I could already tell, something was definitively wrong with his shoulder. Pulses were good, no bleeding, but he was going to need to go to the hospital. I moved his wedding ring to the right hand. Helped him get as comfortable as possible on the ground, and told him “I am calling 911 for you.â€
When you dial 911 from a cell phone, the call goes to Sacramento. They then patch you through to the appropriate dispatch center. Giving directions from the road is a challenge. Other riders stopped and helped with the directions issue.
My right arm got the brunt of my injury; Road rash to the forearm and upper arm - Enough to cause bleeding and weeping body fluids. My right hip had some pain, as well as my right knee. A total of about 3% of body surface area had a road rash. My gloves were torn, my pants and shirt as well. Nothing to do for it at the time, so I checked on the bikes. His front wheel seemed bent. My front fork was broken. Carbon fiber forks do not hold up well to other bikes going over them.
The ambulance got there, put Mike in an arm sling and took him to the closest hospital available. I declined any services, but the park ranger did give me a ride back to my truck. By the time I got home, the adrenaline was wearing off, but I still knew what I had to do…. Shower and cleanse the wounds. Believe it or not, soap and water does just as good a job as anything we use in the hospitals, so into the shower I went.
I soaped up and scrubbed away - upper arm first, then forearm, then leg. The pain was intense, but it wasn’t just in my arm, or leg ... the feeling of pain radiated deep inside me – down to my core. The best way to explain it is to say that I almost touched my soul.
After I was done scrubbing I was thinking… why? If the doctor would have been on time, even if I would have fallen, Mike would not have been there. If my water bottle would have not fallen, Mike would not have been there. I took a left turn at a faster rate and didn’t lose it, why there? Why at the very split second that Mike was there? Why, why, why. I don’t mind getting hurt (though I avoid it if I can), but I do mind that someone else was hurt as well.
Cycling is sometimes a full contact sport.
I prepared my riding gear and bike Thursday night. That Friday, all I had to do was ‘run a clinic’ at 10am. Only one patient was scheduled, so I figured I would be done and gone quickly. At work, I got the patient ready to be seen by the doctor at 09:55am. The doctor did not show up until 10:15. My time off was being delayed by his lateness. No matter, I had time. The evaluation happened in 4 minutes and we were done. Paperwork completed, and I left work before 11am.
On a spur of the moment decision, I contacted an MFP friend and we were to meet on the trail. The timing would be perfect, and this would be a great ride. I hurried to my car, got my outfit, walked back to a bathroom, and put it on. Headed back to my truck, and off to the bike trail. At the trail, I quickly prepared my drinks for the long ride, did a quick bike check, and was on my bike within minutes. I was on my way.
The day was cool, cloudless, and beautiful. The sun shone down with a mild force that made everything feel right with the world. I was barely starting to cycle, and needed to warm my muscles up. Moderate speed, and slower cadence than the ride ahead. The wind felt nice against my skin. Perfect riding day.
The Santa Ana River Trail is nicely paved. Aside from regular bumps on roads, it’s a smooth ride. Very few real hills, and only mild turns. When I went over a bump and one of my water bottles fell off, it did not surprise me. I put on the breaks, and slowed down to pick it up. This took only a few seconds. The bottle actually slid next to the bike. I didn’t even have to turn around to pick it up. Very convenient.
I continued to cycle immediately after. My average speed for the entire ride is about 16mph, but the start tends to be a little faster. I was above 20mph on the straight parts. Close to 3 miles after the start, the trail meanders through a park. A few turns here and there. I slowed down and took a left turn with no problem. The path then turns right, so with an ever so agile movement, I moved up and then immediately leaned right for the turn.
Then, it happened…. The bike was GONE. The tires were no longer providing any traction. The bike was sliding away from me, and I was sliding across the concrete. At that exact second, another cyclist was on the other side of the trail. The timing was perfect. My bike was in front of his in less than a ½ second. No way to turn, slow down, jump, not even react. As I saw this from my peripheral vision, my brain was thinking “oh ****!â€
I stood up almost immediately, looked to my left and there he was. Mike (as I soon found out was his name) was on the floor, bikes entangled between his legs. I asked “are you OK?†to which he responded “I think I broke my shoulder, I can’t move my armâ€.
I went into Nurse mode. Did an assessment, and didn’t find anything else that would need more immediate attention. I helped him remove his gear. I could already tell, something was definitively wrong with his shoulder. Pulses were good, no bleeding, but he was going to need to go to the hospital. I moved his wedding ring to the right hand. Helped him get as comfortable as possible on the ground, and told him “I am calling 911 for you.â€
When you dial 911 from a cell phone, the call goes to Sacramento. They then patch you through to the appropriate dispatch center. Giving directions from the road is a challenge. Other riders stopped and helped with the directions issue.
My right arm got the brunt of my injury; Road rash to the forearm and upper arm - Enough to cause bleeding and weeping body fluids. My right hip had some pain, as well as my right knee. A total of about 3% of body surface area had a road rash. My gloves were torn, my pants and shirt as well. Nothing to do for it at the time, so I checked on the bikes. His front wheel seemed bent. My front fork was broken. Carbon fiber forks do not hold up well to other bikes going over them.
The ambulance got there, put Mike in an arm sling and took him to the closest hospital available. I declined any services, but the park ranger did give me a ride back to my truck. By the time I got home, the adrenaline was wearing off, but I still knew what I had to do…. Shower and cleanse the wounds. Believe it or not, soap and water does just as good a job as anything we use in the hospitals, so into the shower I went.
I soaped up and scrubbed away - upper arm first, then forearm, then leg. The pain was intense, but it wasn’t just in my arm, or leg ... the feeling of pain radiated deep inside me – down to my core. The best way to explain it is to say that I almost touched my soul.
After I was done scrubbing I was thinking… why? If the doctor would have been on time, even if I would have fallen, Mike would not have been there. If my water bottle would have not fallen, Mike would not have been there. I took a left turn at a faster rate and didn’t lose it, why there? Why at the very split second that Mike was there? Why, why, why. I don’t mind getting hurt (though I avoid it if I can), but I do mind that someone else was hurt as well.
Cycling is sometimes a full contact sport.
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Replies
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Ouch, however, you are a great story teller...very detailed, I could picture the whole thing0
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Glad it wasn't worse for either one of you. Crap happens sometimes. Sad, but it does. Glad the damage was as limited as it was.0
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.....grimacing here....
Man what a day you had! I think a person could go a little crazy trying to understand the what if's and why's when stuff like this happens. Sure am glad you are okay!0
