Not a Good Time to Fight Physics

I always say "It's not a matter of "if," it's a matter of "when" and "how bad."

Today was the latest "when" for me, and the how bad was pretty bad, and just short of medical intervention.

Doing a repeat of last Sunday's ride in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Up Willow, Missing Link, Fenceline, Lizard, Up Laurel Spur, down BVD, up Emerald Canyon and down T and A. All was going according to plan until the last left hand berm on the new section of T and A. Front wheel over the back of the berm, slam onto left side of body - hard. At first I just said "Oh no no no no no... Please not a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder." Tried to move my arm. It cooperated. Assessing other parts that were hit - hand - hurts but not broken. Arm - same. But that shoulder - ouch! Buried my face into the turf a little too, but nothing but a small scratch. No concussion.

Seriously bruised ribs around my left shoulder I guess. The back of my shoulder hurts when I take a deep breath. I think I got lucky. This was very similar to the crash I had in 2014 that knocked me out, dislocated my shoulder and re-arranged my face.

This is looking up the trail. Innocuous, but coming into the berm off a little steep section and I just lost the front wheel looking ahead to the next turn. The little branch you can see shows where my bike went.



As we all know, this would be a HORRIBLE time to need medical intervention. I will use this as my wake up call to lay low. I don't think I will have a choice, as ribs tend to take a month to heal. I will consider myself lucky.

Oh - and the bike's fine. Didn't even have to adjust the handlebars.

 

Dang dude. I'll give a preliminary "phew". Sorry to hear you got stung, but maybe it will be a fortuitous paying of the piper at the beginning of a time with ever decreasing trail options anyway. Silver linings?

 

Surprisingly, our trail options have remained intact. That said, I think I will be off the bike for a minute or two.

Now, if I can just figure out how to get it off my roof.

 

Glad there was no ER visit involved. That sounds like a great ride otherwise!

 

Glad it wasn’t worse. Heal up.

 

Tough time to have to ride alone. Riding with someone else has bailed me out when I could not lift my bike. Hope you get it taken care of

 

Bummer sounds like a real whooping. Sorry to hear about this but at least an ER trip was averted. Heal fast and fully @herzalot then STFD for a while till this plague passes.

 

Got the bike off the roof! But damn them ribs/ shoulder really starting to hurt.

Thanks for the well wishes. As Queen says “gotta lay low, gotta lay low...”

 

The comic character version would say, "Ooooof!"

Heal fast and well.

 

Mountain bikes are dangerous. You need a gravel bike.

Glad you're okay Chris.

 

Dang, healing vibrations out to you. Blunt force trauma is a bitch for old guys, takes forever to heal. Good thing you're a youngster, you'll be back in no time! I'm a month removed from my Zion crash and still waiting for the pain in the neck to go away.

 

Next time could you let us know about the bike first... I had to read all the way to the end!

Glad you're not worse...

 

I say Ooooof all the time! Texted that to some of my friends.

I am now applying liquid amber therapy via esophagus. I hope it works.

 

Doooood.
I was pushing it some today as well. On a new bike, what was I thinking???
I’m hoping that the next day or two does not reroute you for medical attention.
That’s a good reminder to all of us to cool our jets for a while.
Heal up, heal fast.

Oh, and don’t listen to @UPSed... He's become a pushaman of the dirt skinnies! I heard those gravel geeks get hurt too!

 

But did you die?

 

Not yet... as far as I can tell.

 

See, if the tires are not underneath you you're doing it wrong.....

Glad you're still able to post about it. Great the bike did not get damaged.

Yes, take it easy so you can ride more later.

 

Dang... glad you're mostly ok.
Heading vibes to you.!
And yep, not a good time to need medical help.

 

Hideous! Here is to a quick recovery!

 

Bummer @herzalot

Heal well!!!! Sight lines on Laguna Ridge are not great these days making those berms trickier for me.

 

Well you got to get that first crash out of the way sometime. Sorry to hear it was a painful one. Glad you survived. Get well soon.

 

You don't say that....that is the sound of the air escaping your body when you get slammed down like that.

Glad to hear you'll survive.

Mint Jullip is a fast pony....ain't she.

 

True, but this berm was plain as day and easy to see from above. It's the one with a grade reversal right above it, so you can really press hard on it. Just stay in it!

 

Glad to read there are no immediate problems! Hope nothing creeps up over the next few days. Just lie low for now...

 

This is a good idea. If for any reason you can just stay home maybe you should take it.

 

Oof, bummer, hope u heal up soon. I came real close to crashing on tna later!

 

I am essentially forbidden from going to work, so yes, I will be laying low and doing countless Zoom meetings and e-mails.

See you all on the trails next week for Spring Break April 4-12!!!!!


Orrrrrr, maybe not.

 

Well shite Herzy, sorry to hear this, but am glad it’s not worse! Heal up super fast so Julep doesn’t get lonely.
Might be a good time to get some hiking in!

 

What a bummer, Chris! Heal strong and count blessings. All considered, anything short of medical attention sounds like a good outcome.

 

Just out of curiosity, do you ride flats or clipped in?