Crash
So, my fabulous weekend came to an abrupt halt this morning, quite literally. As I was flying though the air, I thought, yep, weekend’s over. Lemme back up a bit.
I was riding to work, about to join the Foothills bike path when this dude making a right onto the Boulder Creek Path decides he’s just going to use the entire bike path to make his turn. Problem was, I was thinking I might just use the right half of the path myself.
We collided, I went flying up and over him and ended up on my back, thinking “what the hell just happened?” By the time I got to the office I was a little light headed and was starting to sense that I’d done some things that are definitely gonna hurt in the morning, and the collection of scrapes and bruises all over my body are testament to that. Worse than that is my right index finger, which apparently acted as cushioning for my brake lever when it slammed into the other bike. It’s swollen, purple and stings like hell, four hours after the incident. Gonna go get it looked at, I think.
I hope the other guy is alright. He seemed fine, but so did I at the time. My trusty On One commuter bike is fine; the front wheel is a little out of true and the saddle lost some leather, but otherwise it’s ready for more action.
I also think Boulder is rubbing off on me; instead of ripping him a new one for ruining my morning, I showed genuine concern for the guy, even after he fully admitted the crash was all his fault. If this was Jersey, I’d have been spewing expletives before I’d even landed.
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4 comments
Rob, hope you are OK. There have been a rash of crashes among people I know. Odd how these things go in streaks. Be careful out there and take care of yourself
Are you kidding? You would’ve stabbed him in the eye with one of your spokes if you were here in NJ.
Glad to hear you’ve mellowed.
But c’mon Rob, we’re not that bad here in Joisey.
Now where is the bastard who hit you? I’ll take care of it. Remember dude, I know people.
Get that finger checked out.
Back when I used to be a regular rider, I had a nasty collision with a car who’s driver decided to turn right into a driveway when I was about 2 bike lengths behind him. with no way to stop in that distance, I hit the car broadside and went merrily sailing over the car’s roof, landing headfirst on the other side. I quickly got up and kicked the guy’s sideview mirror off with my fancy LOOK cleated cycling shoe. I told him he had to wait for the police to file a report, but he just pulled his car into the garage and went inside his house.
I called the cops before I was taken by a friend of mine to the hospital, because I was having bad neck pain, and my arms were tingling all the way down to my fingertips. Plus, I had a full frontal case of road rash. The cops met me in the hospital ER to take my report.
The gentleman was cited with leaving the scene of an accident, and ordered to pay for repairs to my bike and my medical costs. He kept going on about his mirror, but I said that it must have happened as I flew over his car. The guy paid my ER bill, but flew off the handle when presented with the repair bill for my bake. He just couldn’t understand why a bike wheel could cost $200.00, and wondered what I needed an Avocet Cycling computer for anyway (that little gadge had flow off its snap-in mount and was crushed by a passing car.).
At least you’ve got your dignity. Hell, I got knocked over by a frickin’ crosswind! (and at 45 mph no less)
http://www.savocaweb.com/bike/RoadRash
“Last thing I recall
I was in the air
I woke up on the street
Crawling with my strawberry burns
Ten long years in a straight line
They fall like water
Yes, I guess I fucked up again”—Everclear, “Strawberry”
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