Scary Crash!

[onekgguy]

I posted this over at Velocipede under the weekly ride reports but thought it should be seen here as well.

This is a little embarrassing for me but here goes. I fell asleep on my ride yesterday afternoon and crashed! I know...it makes no sense to me but I can think of no other explanation for what happened. I only had 4 hours of sleep the previous night but I still felt fine to go for a ride when I got home from work. 47 miles into what I'd planned to be a 70 workout I dozed off. The odd part though is that I wasn't feeling tired, I was feeling fine but for sure I was operating on a sleep deficit. I'll take my lumps...I was listening to Pink Floyd's Echoes when the event happened. Whether or not that had something to do with it I can't say for sure but I could see where it could've lulled me into a trance-like state of being.

I captured it on my GoPro and uploaded a video of my crash. I've included one minute of riding just prior to the crash so you can see that I was doing just fine right up until a few seconds before I apparently dozed off. Just so strange and scary. I remember noticing that my line was way off and that I was about to crash and for a fraction of a second I tried to make a correction but it was too late.

I'm pretty beat-up but a CT scan in the ER showed no broken bones or lasting injuries. I can only shuffle around the house today as the pain in my lower back is extremely acute. I'm counting my blessings because this could've had a much uglier outcome.

Video of the crash (https://vimeo.com/106965686) with 60 seconds of pre-crash riding.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15148797549_069684778a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p5DxJD)
Good Samaritans and Officer (https://flic.kr/p/p5DxJD) by onekgguy (https://www.flickr.com/people/26753494@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/15149037517_41442de533_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p5EM52)
Ambulance crew (https://flic.kr/p/p5EM52) by onekgguy (https://www.flickr.com/people/26753494@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15332399111_cb164f9370_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pmSy5P)
Heading for home (https://flic.kr/p/pmSy5P) by onekgguy (https://www.flickr.com/people/26753494@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/15148960319_6c69d69211_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p5Eo82)
Data from my Garmin Edge 705 (https://flic.kr/p/p5Eo82) by onekgguy (https://www.flickr.com/people/26753494@N00/), on Flickr

The last photo shows a screenshot of my output values just before I quit pedaling. I was apparently with it one moment and then gone the next.

If anyone else has had a similar experience I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Thanks!

Kevin g

[Keith A]

That's crazy! I'm really glad you are okay.

[MattTuck]

Did you feint or fall asleep?

I know the heart rate monitors have smoothing algorithms, so although it looks like heart rate remained constant, you may want to consider a cardiac issue as well.

Best of luck with recovery. You are right that it could have been much worse... someone was watching out for you.

[Louis]

Wow. All in all, I guess you were lucky.

Heal well.

[onekgguy]

That's crazy! I'm really glad you are okay.

Thanks, Keith!

Did you feint or fall asleep?

I know the heart rate monitors have smoothing algorithms, so although it looks like heart rate remained constant, you may want to consider a cardiac issue as well.

Best of luck with recovery. You are right that it could have been much worse... someone was watching out for you.

No, I actually felt just fine out there. In the two miles before the crash I had finished my last water bottle intending on refilling it in the next town 5 miles ahead and I had consumed a gel. I had no idea or sensation that I was about to lose it like that.

Wow. All in all, I guess you were lucky.

Heal well.

Yeah, very!

Thanks, Louis!

[gasman]

Man I'm glad you're OK. It's good that your heart rate was being monitored otherwise I'd say you need to get a cardiac work up .
When I ride after a short night's sleep I never ride with a group but I've never fallen asleep while riding. Pretty wild story.

[djg21]

It may just be that you have no memory of the crash. I got hit by a car and went head-first through the car's windshield in 2006. I remember saying goodbye to my wife that morning and getting on my bike to commute to work. The next thing I recall is waking in an ICU some time later. I'm actually glad I have no memory of my accident. If I did remember, i think I would have had much more difficulty getting back on a bike.

Hope you recover quickly.

[onekgguy]

Man I'm glad you're OK. It's good that your heart rate was being monitored otherwise I'd say you need to get a cardiac work up .
When I ride after a short night's sleep I never ride with a group but I've never fallen asleep while riding. Pretty wild story.

I had an EKG two months ago as part of a physical for my work. I failed it but only because my heartbeat (38 bpm) was too low for their parameters. I've ridden more tired than what I felt yesterday. I really do think it was a combination of the music and just finding an incredibly comfortable groove and maybe taking that to the next level. I'm at a loss to explain it any other way.

It may just be that you have no memory of the crash. I got by a car and went head-first through the car's windshield in 2006. I remember saying goodbye to my wife that morning and getting on my bike to commute to work. The next thing I recall is waking in an ICU some time later. I'm actually glad I have no memory of my accident. If I did remember, i think I would have had much more difficulty getting back on a bike.

Hope you recover quickly.

I do recall the crash part of the video, just not the moments leading up to it. I was very much in the moment just as the bike lost its line and got out of control. I think a shift in my center of gravity brought me out of it.

Kevin g

[fmbp]

Do you have any history of seizure activity? This could explain the event and lack of memory for the few seconds preceding the crash.

[onekgguy]

Do you have any history of seizure activity? This could explain the event and lack of memory for the few seconds preceding the crash.

No, none at all.

[fmbp]

No, none at all.

An EEG (electroencephalogram), which measures the brain's electrical activity and potential seizure activity, might be worth considering - just as a rule-out.

[vqdriver]

First of all, you're faster than me.
Secondly I think its a good thing you went down so fast. With the veering to the left you could have easily gone into traffic, or opposing traffic if you kept fighting it. Glad to hear you're doing okay. Bruises and such will heal. Odd indeed.

[Louis]

Google found this:

http://martysmisadventures.blogspot.com/2009/06/can-you-fall-asleep-while-riding.html

and this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8USS7nWuCM4

[lhuerta]

I'll take my lumps...I was listening to Pink Floyd's Echoes when the event happened.

...sounds a bit scary, glad you are OK!

PS - riding with headphones is really poor form.

Lou

[onekgguy]

An EEG (electroencephalogram), which measures the brain's electrical activity and potential seizure activity, might be worth considering - just as a rule-out.

I think that's going to be on my list of suggestions when I see the doc on Friday. Thanks!

First of all, you're faster than me.
Secondly I think its a good thing you went down so fast. With the veering to the left you could have easily gone into traffic, or opposing traffic if you kept fighting it. Glad to hear you're doing okay. Bruises and such will heal. Odd indeed.

I'm guessing my body must've slumped a little to one side otherwise the gyroscopic effect of the wheels should've kept me upright. The driver who stopped said it appeared I'd passed out before I went down. I don't know if there's a distinction to be made between passing out and falling asleep.

Google found this:

http://martysmisadventures.blogspot.com/2009/06/can-you-fall-asleep-while-riding.html

and this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8USS7nWuCM4

Louis, that video is really something to see. Disturbing.

I wish I could say I was feeling Marty's sleepy feelings leading up to my crash but I wasn't at all. Being tired wasn't even a consideration.

Kevin g

[Dead Man]

I think you can fall asleep doing quite literally anything, if conditions are right. Soldiers in Ranger school often talk about sleeping on marches, and I've experienced what I would call enough of a lapse in mental focus and sufficient lack of memory of preceding moments to plausibly claim to have fallen asleep during long night marches after a few days of 1-2 hours of sleep per rotation of the earth.

I'm not the least bit surprised you can do it on a bike.

Glad you're OK... but how's the bike???

[onekgguy]

...sounds a bit scary, glad you are OK!

PS - riding with headphones is really poor form.

Lou

Thanks!

I think you can fall asleep doing quite literally anything, if conditions are right. Soldiers in Ranger school often talk about sleeping on marches, and I've experienced what I would call enough of a lapse in mental focus and sufficient lack of memory of preceding moments to plausibly claim to have fallen asleep during long night marches after a few days of 1-2 hours of sleep per rotation of the earth.

I'm not the least bit surprised you can do it on a bike.

Glad you're OK... but how's the bike???

Thanks! The bike appears fine. Curt Goodrich is a friend and has offered to look it over.

Kevin g

[SleepyCyclist]

So sorry to hear about this. Glad you're ok.

Possibilities have all been mentioned - excessive sleepiness, syncope/fainting and seizure. Sleep seems most likely given history (automatic behaviors are often easily continued while dozing off). Unlikely to be a seizure as you seem fine (conscious/alert) immediately afterwards. If there is any uncertainty, best to have a medical checkup to be on the safe side.

PM me if you need anything. I happen to be a neurologist/sleep specialist.

M

[onekgguy]

So sorry to hear about this. Glad you're ok.

Possibilities have all been mentioned - excessive sleepiness, syncope/fainting and seizure. Sleep seems most likely given history (automatic behaviors are often easily continued while dozing off). Unlikely to be a seizure as you seem fine (conscious/alert) immediately afterwards. If there is any uncertainty, best to have a medical checkup to be on the safe side.

PM me if you need anything. I happen to be a neurologist/sleep specialist.

M

Thanks, M

Kevin g

[Steve in SLO]

Gotta echo what others have said: You might have had an exercise induced arrhythmia, which you can't diagnose with a simple EKG, but need a stress test or a Holter monitor, and even that can miss it.
An absence seizure or vagal response can also cause an episode like this.
Something like this can be caused by medications or too much coffee or alcohol or dehydration. I had to give up drinking more than two Long Hammer IPAs per night when it gave me horrible PACs.
Or you might have just fallen asleep.
In any event, it sounds like you escaped unscathed, so congrats on that.

[rustychisel]

that's some crazy sh** right there! Glad you're okay.

In the TDU a few years ago neo pro rider Ben Day passed out on the bike descending Willunga Hill at about 70kmh. It literally was like watching a train wreck on slow-mo.

[pdmtong]

there are few times when I am in a zone, even during my local loop, which I have done 100s of times, where I realized I have zoned out. I am concentrating, but somehow I am at one landmark without really noticing how I got there.

could be blissful. could be dangerous. I find this happens only on the road, never on single track, CX, or DH.

it only takes a second on a bike for things to turn from time of your life to disaster.

I hope this is an extreme JRA and nothing more. Heal up

[soulspinner]

Have a friend this happened to, it was the first instance in an eventual diagnosis of MS. Do get checked out an ride alert. PS 192 watts average with a heart rate that never exceeded 136 is pretty impressive.

[christian]

I'm not going to scaremonger on the internet, but you need to get a full medical work up. Hope everything is ok.

[onekgguy]

Thanks for all of your responses. I do intend to see about having some additional testing done to make certain there isn't some underlying reason for what happened to me.

I'd like to simply consider it a one-off occurrence and move on but I don't want to come to regret that approach. I'll convey some of what you've told me here to my doctor on Friday and see what he thinks.

This is only the 2nd morning since my crash and I'm still pretty debilitated but things are moving in the right direction.

Kevin g

[fmbp]

Thanks for all of your responses. I do intend to see about having some additional testing done to make certain there isn't some underlying reason for what happened to me.

I'd like to simply consider it a one-off occurrence and move on but I don't want to come to regret that approach. I'll convey some of what you've told me here to my doctor on Friday and see what he thinks.

This is only the 2nd morning since my crash and I'm still pretty debilitated but things are moving in the right direction.

Kevin g

I think this is a good approach. The bottom line is that your injuries could have been considerably worse. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't want it to happen again in different circumstances. A thorough check-up seems warranted to me.

[Hawker]

First, glad you're OK. Second, I'd still run it past my Dr. I had a heart attack 18 months ago at 132 lbs, no symptoms and ended up with a quintuple bypass.

Third, please tell us what saddle you are using. I need one that comfortable.

;)

[onekgguy]

First, glad you're OK. Second, I'd still run it past my Dr. I had a heart attack 18 months ago at 132 lbs, no symptoms and ended up with a quintuple bypass.

Third, please tell us what saddle you are using. I need one that comfortable.

;)

I've been using a Turnix Pro saddle (http://kevinandtammy.net/images/ride_photos/turnix_saddle.jpg) for the past 4 years and I love it! I had been having saddle issues for quite a while before having this one recommended to me.

Kevin g

[jpw]

i was diagnosed with epilepsy last year after suffering for the year before that with various interrelated 'head' and 'body' symptoms, but interestingly (to me at least) when i ride i never have the symptoms or seizures. riding seems to block the chemical/ electrical brain conditions that lead to a seizure.

i find it hard to imagine simply falling asleep at the handlebars. a loss of oxygen supply to the brain perhaps?

[dekindy]

I am sure your doctor will recommend this, but you should only exercise in controlled situations for a couple of months at least. If you don't have a trainer, borrow or buy one. You might want to consider not driving if that is at all possible. Hope you find the cause and glad you are okay.

My buddy was diagnosed with syncope due to a vagal response. But he has nerve damage in his arm from a freak incident many years ago. We had completed the 160-mile ride across Indiana an hour before and he had a Coke at the finish line. He accidentally caught the tip of his finger in the car door and suffered excruciating pain(sensitivity due to the nerve damage) that must have triggered it. I was sitting in the back seat and saw his face go blank. He lost consciousness for a few seconds, there seemed to a circulation component, and then looked like he might have a seizure(my Son is epileptic and that is what it looked like to me). Came to consciousness for less than a minute and then had another episode. Both episodes lasted a matter of less than 10 seconds. After that he had no more episodes and was fine within a couple of hours. Has had no problems since and the diagnosis satisfied him, he and his wife are registered nurses, and there was no heart involvement so no further workup.

What I am trying to say, is without a known cause and an experienced medical person observing the episode, is more troubling. Good luck.

[laupsi]

Glad you're doing okay, but feel complelled to add, save those headphones for the indoor trainer. :no:

[dogdriver]

Jeez. Glad you're relatively OK. Looks like your line got a little "wobbly" at about :38 seconds and deteriorated until the crash. Dunno if I'm just looking too hard or if you began to "fade out" earlier than you suspect. At any rate, the doc may find the video to be useful. Again, very happy that you weren't hurt worse!

[onekgguy]

I went in to see my regular doctor yesterday for a followup. After reviewing my file he was leaning toward the cause being some sort of seizure or loss of consciousness. He asked me what I thought and I told him that as far as I can tell I simply fell asleep. He wasn't convinced. I went on to explain that while I have no memory of the moments just prior to me losing control on the bike I do have very vivid recall of the crash itself beginning with me coming to and realizing that I was no longer in control of my bike. I explained how I was very much conscious during the crash and at all times afterward and that I was conversant as well with those who came to my aid.

At that point he began to agree with me that it sounds like I actually did just fall asleep. He said that had I suffered a seizure it would likely have taken me hours to be as verbal as I was in the moments just after the crash. Also, had I passed out it's unlikely I would've suddenly become conscious again just prior to the crash.

I think the part that surprises me mostly about this is how I was able to keep up my effort to the degree I did just prior to nodding off. I would've thought there would be a gradual decrease in output in maybe the last 10-30 seconds but there wasn't at all. My power is hovering around 250 watts and my cadence above 90 just before I stop pedaling.

They performed an EKG on me yesterday which resulted in one abnormality: Anteroseptal ST elevation - possible early repolarization. The doctor said this is in all likelihood nothing to worry about but that he wants me to do a treadmill stress test as soon as I'm recovered enough to get my heart rate elevated.

I'm really not sure what to do at this point. I'm hesitant to minimize it at the risk of missing something out of whack with me but neither do I want to try and make something more of it than it is.

Kevin g

[oldguy00]

Hope you get better soon. I can't help but think that you didn't simply fall asleep. It just seems like the most unlikely explanation. Heck, I go on 4 hours or less sleep all the time (two young kids) and I could never see myself falling asleep on a bike! lol
I've been riding with folks who have had sudden, brief blackouts. Don't know if they ever found out why, but it happens.
Hopefully it was just an anomaly. But I'd do a few good efforts on an indoor trainer before hitting the road again. And when you do decide to ride outside again, leave the earphones at home, and ride with someone else just in case.

Cheers

[gasman]

If your PCP is willing to send you for a treadmill test I would do it. It's non-invasive, you can get your heart rate way up and really test what happens when you give a hard effort all while being monitored.

[onekgguy]

Hope you get better soon. I can't help but think that you didn't simply fall asleep. It just seems like the most unlikely explanation. Heck, I go on 4 hours or less sleep all the time (two young kids) and I could never see myself falling asleep on a bike! lol
I've been riding with folks who have had sudden, brief blackouts. Don't know if they ever found out why, but it happens.
Hopefully it was just an anomaly. But I'd do a few good efforts on an indoor trainer before hitting the road again. And when you do decide to ride outside again, leave the earphones at home, and ride with someone else just in case.

Cheers

Had it not happened to me I would probably be agreeing with you that this sort of thing can't happen to someone involved in physical activity but I can think of no other explanation for what happened out there. I wish there was more online that talked about it but I'm not really finding anything other than a few references to peoples' blogs but nothing quite like my situation.

If your PCP is willing to send you for a treadmill test I would do it. It's non-invasive, you can get your heart rate way up and really test what happens when you give a hard effort all while being monitored.

Yes, that's the plan and I hope to have this done in the next couple of weeks.

I feel like I've turned a corner today with my ability to get in and out of a seated position without a lot of acute lower back and hip pain. I'm not so good at hanging around the house and being sedentary so this has my spirits up.

Kevin g

[cnighbor1]

crashing I have a cyclist friend in his mid 70's
twice he crashed. Just passed out so he quit riding after the 2nd time
I doubt you just fell asleep. I nearly fell asleep while driving but I could sense it starting to happen I managed to force myself to stay awake and pull off road
You should have aware of being very sleepy1
More than simple concussion
You could try a stationary trainer Say at 1:00 am get on it and see what happens when you a long day and wish you were asleep a few hours ago