Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Matt Sarad
climber
|
|
Glad you are still in one piece. My old Stumpjumper took me over an unseen bump. The landing was terrible. Changed my life and reality forever.
|
|
Jim Clipper
climber
|
|
I think there are some saw bones who post here. Signs and symptoms of head trauma? Treatment for neck injuries? Pain management, not that there is anything wrong with a bottle of whiskey. New skool rulez.
I think I remember your story Matt. Hope you continue to persevere.
|
|
cragnshag
Social climber
san joser
|
|
You're in good company, it seems, from some of the accounts upthread. I've had 2 silly bike crashes on the road caused by my inattention.
First time when I was about 12. I was ridding an old steel road bike home from school and and noticed a ladybug clinging to one of the front spokes. I sped up a bit to see if I could make it lose its grip. I was in a wide bike lane with no traffic. Well, I got really into watching that ladybug and didn't notice the car parked illeaglly in the bike lane while the driver ran over to drop some something off at his condo. Then whamo! About 15 mph right into the back of the car. I flew over the trunk and into the back window. I was bleeding from several small wounds and I see the driver come toward me. I thought I would be in big trouble for denting his car... Instead, he offered to help- I think he felt bad for parking in the bike lane. Anyway, was was too embarrassed to stick around, and the bike still rolled, so I apologized and rode home. Both the top tube and the diagonal tube were bent such that the fork was pretty much vertical, but the fork and wheel were ok- the tire cleared the frame by an eighth of an inch. When I got home my parents thought I got beat up until they saw the bike. My dad removed the fork, stuck a 6' steel rod through the head tube and bent the frame more or less back to where it was supposed to be.
2nd time was in college riding at night back home after class. I had a wimpy light and missed seeing a low triangle shaped 6" tall median in the middle of the road at an intersection. I was probably going about 20 mph on an old steel lugged Miyata. I never saw it and in a split second I was airborne. This time I had pretty nasty road rash and I also chipped a piece of bone off in my shoulder that had to be surgically removed several years later. But the bike was totally fine! Not even a wobble in the rim. I guess all my momentum went over the bike or something.
|
|
RURP_Belay
Big Wall climber
Bitter end of a bad anchor
|
|
When the lot around the Mountain Rambler Brewery in Bishop got reconfigured, they added a cemented-in guard rail to separate the parking. A local - who had ridden the same path on a bicycle many times - hit it full-force (late at night in the dark) at handle-bar level.
Messed him up really bad.
|
|
perswig
climber
|
|
Karma for making fun of the idea that dinosaurs were pets.
That's what I'm thinking.
Dale
(Damn. Heal well.)
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
Whoa Ghost- glad you weren't injured worse. WTF with the weird divider?...unpainted to boot.
|
|
Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
|
|
Whoa, Rurp, that's gnar.
BAd
|
|
Tom Patterson
Trad climber
Seattle
|
|
Are you short? Like 5 foot 5 inches?
Because the seat on the bicycle is so low?
David is actually 6' 9" tall. He's being modest about his height. The biggest safety issue for him is that his knees sometimes collide with his chin, which can cause him to lose attention for that brief critical moment.
I'm here all night!!
Hey, David. So glad to hear things didn't go more south for you! I know you've had at least one serious crash before, and am happy to hear this one didn't quite go there. And next time (next time?), if you can't roust Steve, give me a shout. I'll come get you!
We should get together for no particular reason, other than the central fact that we are friends. Now that you're retired, I'll bet our schedules will gel even more!
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Anybody check on Ghost this morning? Heard there were lawyers lined up outside his door.
|
|
Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 9, 2018 - 10:39am PT
|
Anybody check on Ghost this morning? Heard there were lawyers lined up outside his door.
I'm okay. Probably be a week or so before my neck muscles are happy to be supporting my head -- the mother of all whiplashes -- but other than that it looks like just a badly bruised shoulder and and some road rash. Bad luck (or stupidity) hitting that divider, but amazing good luck that I didn't die or break my neck. And when the lawyers found out just how much stupidity was involved, they couldn't get away fast enough.
And Tom, yes, let's get together. And sooner, rather than later, as I'll be clearing out of Seattle (and the US) within a couple of months.
Edit to add:
Pavement has always been more dangerous than dirt, IMO. That doesn't help a commuter, I know. But maybe think about replacing your ride with something less road. Blasphemy, I know. Some lower pressure/higher volume tires and different frame geo might have made a difference; enabled you to better loft the front wheel and/or have more control of the impact, even without any front suspension. Plus you'd have a tool for fun and recreation on the great trails in your area. Cross-pollinate your riding skills? MTB/BMX skills come in very handy in many street situations like the one you encountered.
For me, it's not one or the other. I was fortunate to be in on the launch of the whole North Shore thing in Vancouver over thirty years ago, and would never think of giving up my mountain bike. But I love my road bike, too. Different rides, but both wonderful.
You're right, though, that pavement is more dangerous than dirt. Or at least it has been for me. I paddled my first whitewater 56 years ago, and in all the decades of whitewater, rock and ice climbing, ski mountaineering, and mountain biking, all the serious damage to my body has come on (well, mostly flying off) my road bike.
As a long-time bike commuter, I assume every driver on the road will try to kill me, so I know how to be safe in traffic. But put me on an empty road and I'll find a way to try to kill myself. I suppose there's an upside -- I've met several very nice orthopedic surgeons -- but yeah, road riding can be dangerous.
|
|
looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Lassitude 33
|
|
Glad to hear that there are no lasting consequences (except to your bike). Heal up and start looking for a new road bike.
|
|
MikeL
Social climber
Southern Arizona
|
|
We used to be DH riders for about 8 years.
My buddies and I found my wife walking on the trail with amnesia. We later determined she believed she was going over a rollover, but it was a jump. Surprise! Another rider found her crumpled up under her bike, woke her up, and then rode up to us to ask us if we knew of a woman named, Lisa. She’s gotten a few concussions and a collar bone fracture from DH. I’ve only gotten stitches from my platform pedals and a broken rib. We left climbing because my wife thought it was getting too dangerous! DH gave us far more injuries, probably 5X as many. We made trips to various DH Meccas, but Whistler was like going to heaven. (OMG!) I’ve attended a few Gravity Camps at Whistler, and when you’re in a small cohort of other like-capable riders being led by a national champion, you do the absolutely most stupid things you can imagine—just because the national champion supposedly showed you “how to do it.”
Bikes can be really dangerous. In climbing, you can only kill yourself.
|
|
BruceHildenbrand
Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
|
|
That's a classic Brooks saddle, it probably fits you like a glove! Heal quickly and get back out there soon!
|
|
Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
|
|
Ghost! Here’s an “it could have been worse” bike crash story for you.
The owner of Teton Mountaineering & his manager told it to me.
Chuck & Rex were riding a dirt road near Jackson on mountain bikes.
Chuck was going close to light speed down a hill, when he suddenly noticed a thin bar across a gate in the road, just a few feet in front of him.
He dumped the bike & rolled under the bar, which turned out to be a flexible fiberglass wand meant to discourage cows, but not stop bikers.
When Rex got to the accident a family of hikers had reached Chuck, who was out cold, but otherwise was breathing & didn’t look seriously maimed. Since this was in the pre-cell phone era, Rex asked the hikers to keep an eye on Chuck, while Rex rode for help.
After a while Chuck woke to see a concerned man looking down at him. As Chuck made eye contact, the man said:
“Sir, you have been seriously injured in an accident & your friend has gone for help.” “Are you at peace with God?”
Chuck was speechless, but concerned that he must be terribly injured.
Then the man started praying for him.
It turned out that Chuck had a broken collarbone & a mild concussion.
|
|
Tom Patterson
Trad climber
Seattle
|
|
David - are you heading back to the Great White North? I'm bummed you're leaving, and am eager to hear more about it. Let's get something on the calendar!
|
|
rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
|
|
time for an updated model....
|
|
Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
|
|
Glad you're not really a ghost! And welcome north. Lots of nice single track. Of course, there's always the blind curve with a griz sow and a couple of cubs... Softer landing, but...
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!