First crash in five years
Some of you saw some of this on FB, but I thought I'd share with you the details.
I was down in Kerrville/Fredericksburg TX this weekend for Easter Hill Country Tour, 3 days of Texas "Hill Country" riding. Friday was supposed to be 65 miles, Saturday 110 and another 40ish on Sunday. The whole weekend it was 80%+ humidity, 20mph+ sustained winds, and all those roads down there in that area have MAJOR chip seal, so real annoying.
I went down there with teammates from a local Tri Club, Fit2Train (F2T).
So, Friday, I was riding with two other F2Ters; me on my road bike and them on their Tri bikes. About 32 miles in, we got our first tail wind. I jumped on the wheel of one of the others, and picked up the pace real quick, less than one mile after a rest stop. 90 degree corner ahead, to the right.
I was already sweeping to the left to cut the apex of the corner, and he took it too narrow. So he braked too hard, and his front wheel washed out right underneath him - and he slid right into me.
I t-boned him as he slid in front of me, and I flipped completely over the top of him - at 28mph. Landed on my right arm, where my elbow and right gloved hand took a hit, Then tucked my head, rolled onto my shoulders and then onto my back, sliding off the road. Never even hit my head/helmet (my jiu jitsu instructor would be proud of me).
So, I got rashed on the palm of my right hand, my right elbow (pic below), both shoulders and some of my back. The rash on the right shoulder is deep too, so deep it "erased" ink of one of my tattoos.
The other guy has some minor road rash (not too bad considering what happened), but suffered more financial damage as he needed all new aero bars, his helmet cracked clean open but luckily held on to do it's job, his jersey got shredded a little (not as bad as mine, pic below), and his PT rear wheel was so untrued/distorted that the shop said it was irreparable (Rich, I'll be sending you an email to see how much $$ Wheelbuilder would charge to rebuild it).
Equipment wise, I needed a new bike saddle (pic below) because that's where the bike landed as it went over the top of me.
I was most pissed about the damage I did to my own brand new EN jersey...
Our 3rd rider, was about 20m behind us as she slowed to eat a gel. Good thing too, cuz she would have been even worse as she was only wearing a sleeveless jersey and tri shorts.
Needless to say, we SAG'd it back to the start from there. For the rest of the weekend, my right arm hurts to push/pull on the bars, and even each time I pointed out obstacles, etc, on the road, my shoulder would make a popping sound.
Earlier that day, within the first 7 miles, we also saw a crash on a small descent. We rode by just as the woman had her head stabilized by other riders and blood was flowing down the road. Scary image. Heard she would be okay, but heard it 3rd+ person, so don't know for sure.
Instead of the 65/110/40 miles I was supposed to get, I ended up with 32/81/40. The rest of the weekend I was just achy and sore, and everything hurt - even sleeping. Back at home in Dallas now. Calling my PCP for a tetanus shot and also my ortho to get xrays to make sure nothing is messed up too bad.
Yes, it could have been a lot worse for both of us, especially at the speeds we were going and on the chip sealed roads.
Comments
Now thats a battled hardened shirt!
Glad your okay
Man, that sux! My crash in January was my first gravity test in 4yrs and my FIRST ride in my kit. Joanne took my jersey to a drycleaner/tailor and they were able to repair it, sorta. It's now my early morning, solo, don't care what I look like jersey :-)
Glad you're Ok. I'm now descending much slower now, not out of fear but because I'm very much aware of the opportunity cost of another crash this summer. Gravity works, no need to test it...
Eventually, I think, we all get white scared elbows. I'm so glad your are functional and not badly damaged. Better to worry about the shirt than the brain!
Thanks, Scott. I think you took a hit for me. I rode a circuit race in the rain on Saturday on a new bike and so therefore I was absolutely supposed to crash but didn't.
Hope you heal up fast.
Glad you're okay, Scott. Now go read Dr. K's wiki article on road rash!
Glad you're mostly ok.
Glad you're OK. The "road rash gods" were watching over you! Hope everything turns out OK at the ortho. Take care of yourself brother!