Reflecting on a crash

[earlfoss]

Yesterday I was riding with a friend in the sticks west of my place in Spring Green. On a transition from a downhill to a right-hand turn I hit a patch of sand that was indistinguishable from the road and hit the deck before I knew it was happening. I was unconscious for approximately 2 minutes. When I came to, my friend had already called 911 and the cavalry arrived crazy fast. They said it was a slow day! I got a ride to the ER in Dodgeville and underwent x-ray and CT scans to make sure nothing was broken, that a concussion wasn't present and that there was no internal bleeding.

Aside from some nasty, nasty road rash I was okay. Looking back, there are so many outcomes that could've been worse. Even incrementally worse, like a little more rash on my other arm, another cut somewhere, all the way to a broken collarbone or worse.

In the grand scheme I'm glad to come away with all my faculties and the moderate to severe road rash given what could've been.

I've surprised myself by not being negative or depressed over the ordeal. I don't crash often but when I do, it's a duesy!

Be safe out there!

[AngryScientist]

glad you are OK.

definitely could have been a lot worse. crashes are so unpredictable.

Heal up quick, and keep up the positive attitude!

[EB]

Ouch.

For the road rash - 3M tegaderm with a gauze layer on top.

[cgolvin]

Sorry to hear you went down but, overall, seems a not-too-bad outcome and your attitude sounds just right. Heal up quickly.

Originally Posted by earlfoss

… hit the deck before I knew it was happening …

Very apt description in my experience. I recall at least once where it seemed that the time between upright and prone was practically zero.

[bigbill]

I clipped a pedal in a criterium and slid into a dumpster. I was able get back up and get free lapped back in. Just a few patches of road rash. Years later, on a bike commute home, I hit a patch of wet leaves and went down. For three weeks, I had daily visits to a dermatologist to monitor my wounds and to evaluate if I needed a skin graft over my partially exposed ankle bone. The three weeks of antibiotics sucked as well.

[Louis]

Glad you weren't too badly hurt, but what's really important is the bike - how did it handle the incident?

[robt57]

glad ur ok. I've been reflecting on my last Sat 1st lay down in 25 years all week. Argh for us.

[Cat3roadracer]

God bless. But no doubt your skill had a factor in the outcome.

[Flinch]

Glad to hear you're OK-ish. Be very aware that a hit to the head can have symptoms, sometimes subtle, that can pop up a bit later and persist - so take it easy for a few. I owe my helmet three lives, and after one of my mishaps, wherein I was swatted with the entire planet, I swore I was OK, only to feel the effects the next few days.

Yep, those first responders are pretty amazing - instant 'new friends' - mine were there super quick as well. Heal fast!

[Hank Scorpio]

Depending on how deep and large the scrapes are I might forgo the tegaderm over gauze and spring for a box of mepilex in the appropriate size.

[charliedid]

Heal quick, I feel ya.

[mcteague]

If you were knocked out, especially for 2 minutes, you certainly had a concussion. Rest up for a while.

Tim

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by mcteague

If you were knocked out, especially for 2 minutes, you certainly had a concussion. Rest up for a while.

Tim

Glad somebody said it..hitting your head that results in your being unconscious, means you have had a concussion. Not an MD but I HAVE been knocked out..Surprised the ER Doc did't say so.

Yes, rest and look for the symptoms.....of a concussion..

[thwart]

Good to hear you’re OK.

Tough to take a decent smart phone pic with a pulse ox monitor on your finger…

[eippo1]

Glad it wasn't too bad, but definitely did something to your head if your were out. Protect your squash and rest your brain. I had a bad mtn bike crash where I should have been wearing a full face helmet. Had to get my face sewn back together and go to therapy in order to get my brain working correctly again 6 months later. Still affects my short term memory some.

Have no memory of the crash or the next hour even though I was awake and walking under my own power. Had friends with me to escort me out and to the hospital. My memory starts when we got to my friend's car. Nada before that.