Mountain bike crash today!

[NPloysa]

Well, I did it. Went over the handlebars on my mountain bike.



I got a call from the events people over the radio at 3:20 (I leave work at 3:30) and was leaving for BMW (my other job) at 3:30 so I could be there at 4. I ride my bike to the museum from my apartment across the street, then grab the car and head to work.



Anyway, 10 minutes to go and I get the call. I grab the bag of pins for the walls and tie the canvas waterproof bag to my handlebars. I hop on my bike and head over to the tent to help setup another wall section. I get over there fine and decide to jump the two sets of flagstone stairs. First set, second set... I land the second set and the bag gets caught in my spokes behind the Rock Shox fork and over the bars I go. I land on my left wrist and my right forehead just in my hairline. I shake it off and only a few people see it, but am conscious and ok.



I take off my hat to feel if my head is bleeding, yeah, a little. So I get it looked at by security and they give me some first aid stuff to clean it up. Pretty deep.



Anyway, 5 hours later here I am typing away. 3 stitches and a headache (wrist is ok). Oh, had a tetanus shot too, but that didn't hurt. Now the novacaine is wearing off!



Moral of the story, never tie crap to the bars that could get stuck in the spokes, and wear a helmet! I wasn't, and obviously didn't think I needed to. But, I will start, even if it is riding 1/4 mile through an apartment complex to the museum parking lot!



Nick

 

[klenger]

Glad you are OK.



I always were a helmet when cycling. I've crashed a number of times, but never hurt my head (that I know of), but really did a number on my sholder (very serious fracture) 2-1/2 years ago when I rode my Mtn bike into some sand at the bottom of a wash here in AZ. I sold the Mtn bike after that and stick to the pavement now. I always wear my seatbelt when driving too.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Nploysa,



When you went over, was it the old "quick as lightning" flip routine that leaves you laying there tangled in the bike thinking "What the $&^!!?"



My first encounter like that was a few decades ago, back then mountain bikes were unknown but I did have a 10-speed and a nearby hill that was fun for dirt biking and horseback riding. Decided to break the 10-speed in on some off-road action one day, everything went great until headed back down. Inadvertently hit the front break, and was instantly flipped and lying on my back amidst sharp sandstone rocks... . fortunately not much injured but my pride.



My mountain bike thumb-ups have always happened in less speedy fashion, in fact a couple of times they have seemed to be almost slow-motion with plenty of time for regret and anticipation of pain... . "Ooooh this is gonna hurt" type :-laf :-laf

 

[nickleinonen]

i haven't went over the bars in a while now... well, i haven't been on my bike in close to 18months now, and 2 years ago was when i had a nasty trip over the bars.



i was flying down a grassy hill which i thought was pretty smooth, until i came apon a nice deep rut, that caught my front wheel, bent it, stopped the bike almost dead right there, sent me over the bars landing on my arse... grass burns on my legs and hands... sore bum, and i had to walk home from there too, as the bike was now unrideable as the front wheel/tire was nfg... i got lucky with that one... no helmit, no guards, no serious injuries [although it hurt to sit down for the next few weeks]

 

[fkovalski]

I'm tellin' ya Nick, you ought to take up stamp collecting! :-laf

Seriously- glad to hear you'll be OK!

 

[TPCDrafting]

Did you get video Nick? :-laf



and when are you going to strap that turbine on the back?

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I've made this into a regular event. During the winter and spring when the horses/mules are on winter pasture and the Border Collies need a workout I use my skis on a logging road or mountain bike to caroom around the horse trails and through the sagebrush or snowplowed roads on the compound. Border Collies, being headers, get the drift that the front tire is an ideal target. Hardwired in and it comes naturally :-laf



Fortunately, the shock collars have worked well to redirect thier apt attention away from the bike tire or ski tips. Aint it amazing how those cute little puppy tricks can come around to bite you, so to speak. Now it's mostly down to the Opps! -- I thought you were going THAT way, or stopping on snow and ice can be a tad challenging, neh? I always wear a helmut and I have one invaluable suggestion:



TUCK & ROLL :-laf