Thursday, July 8, 2010

Cape Cod Hospital Emergency Room

At the end of our 20 mile bike ride yesterday on the Cape Cod Rail Trail Bike Path, my wife and I decided to stop at a cafe to have lunch. It was a good ride for her and a recovery ride for me. We had a nice lunch and got back on our bikes to go about a mile back to our hotel room through the resort roads. I started riding easily, looked behind me to make sure she was there and she was wasn't. I turned around to head back to the cafe and my phone started ringing. I figured it was her and reached back with my left hand to get the phone out of the back pocket of my jersey. At that exact moment in time, I hit a speed bump and over the bars I went.

I landed face first. My hands landed second. The rest of my body last. I laid on the ground bleeding from lots of places. Some people stopped to help me. The phone started ringing again and I asked one of the bystanders to talk to my wife to tell her where I was.

Since we were riding on the grounds of the resort, one of the housekeeping folks opened up a room and I cleaned myself up a bit. I looked nasty but my hands were hurting the most. I got my bike to the point that it worked a little and we rode back to our room (my wife knew me to not question the lack of wisdom in riding home as she said that there would be no reasoning with me). I hopped in the shower to assess were I was physically. My right hand had a deep cut that I guessed needed stitches (later I figured out that gash was probably due to the brake lever going through my palm. My left hand/wrist was started to throb and I thought I might have broken it. I had road rash on my right hip, right knee, left elbow and cuts and scrapes everywhere.

I put on my "Life is Crap" cycling tee shirt and since there were no doc-in-a-boxes around, we went to the ER. We did OK there, they cleaned out my wounds, stitched me up and x-rays were negative. My lips and chin the doctor said would get heal without stitches. They gave me some pain meds and antibiotics and sent me on my way. I look like they gave a box of band aids to a 3 year old and said go at it. Both hands are wrapped so I have the dexterity of a lobster. No swimming until the stitches come out in 7 days. The NYC tri is still on the table as that is 10 days away but that really depends how I feel next week.

I was riding my custom Guru titanium road bike when this happened. The bike needs some repairs but is salvageable. I need a new helmet but am happy the old one did it's job. I think I need to start riding with gloves though since that would have minimized the injuries to my hands.

My wife asked later if I was ever going to ride with her again. I said, of course. This wasn't her fault. I just need to heal a bit first.

PS: The quote of the week was published before all this happened.

19 comments:

KovasP said...

Glad you're not too damaged and happy you're still open to the NYC Tri. Quick healing to you!

Shelly said...

Wow! I have been reading your blog for a few weeks. I had a crash 3 weeks ago, and the only thing that broke was my helmet. So glad you were wearing it. Heal well, but don't push it. There will be more tris if you're not ready for this one!

Patrick Mahoney said...

sorry man, a total bummer being on vacation and racing so soon. Hope you heal quick...

Unknown said...

Ouch ouch ouch! I'm sorry to read this. I had an unkind encounter with a speedbump recently taht left me with a huge gash (taht got infected) and a fracture...I can totally relate. The gash hurt worse than the fracture actually...

heel up!

joyRuN said...

Oh no! I'm glad to hear you're somewhat okay.

Carly said...

I am so glad you are OK! What a terrible accident. Heal up quick and take care of yourself.

Julie said...

Hi Rock Star,
Oh boy, I am sorry to hear about your little oops:) At least you are okay and it sounds like you have a good attitude about the whole thing. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will be able to compete in your scheduled Tri! Take care of you and no more speed bumps!

Big Clyde said...

Sorry to hear about it, Rock. You are tough...I'll give you that.

Yes, when you buy that new helmet, get some gloves.

teacherwoman said...

OH my! How scary! Glad to hear it wasn't any worse!

Tri Mommy said...

YIKES! I hope you are on the mend. I swear by bike gloves. Yes, they get sticky and smelly but you can throw them in the wash. I had a crash that 2 years later I still have a scar from and my hands were unscathed. It would have been bad without the gloves.

Get some gloves! I'm glad nothing was broken and that all will mend.

Jess said...

Ohhh geeze! I'm glad to hear you're mostly OK and on the mend. I hope you'll be able to do the tri! Heal quickly!

Travel / Surf Guy said...

Dude - sorry to read about your mishap. Thankfully this hasn't happend to me (yet) but I have had many close calls so much so, I now ignore my phone when it rings and I'm riding - I wait until I stop to check it.

Good luck on your recovery and I hope you make the startline for the NYC

KC (my 140 point 6 mile journey) said...

Oh dammit! I'm sorry to read that you crashed like that. I hope you are all better so you can do your tri coming up. How weird the Tyson quote and then this. Yikes! No more quotes like that, ok?

Caratunk Girl said...

Woah - that Tyson quote first, then the crash! Glad you are OK for the most part, that sucks!

Are you and your wife really coming to Maine this weekend? Weather should be better than this week. Especially on the coast!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I am glad that you are ok, I hope you heal fast

Al's CL Reviews said...

Ouch! So sorry. I hope you heal quickly.

Diane said...

Hi Rockstar,
I just got back into town and read this entry. So very sorry to hear that you spent some time in the ER. I think you must be getting to like that place!
Seriously, I wish you a speedy recovery and be sure to let us know how you are doing. You'll be in my thoughts. Best Wishes.

Kathleen said...

Yikes! I hope you are on the mend :(

Laura said...

Hope you are healing well. My hubs got cut off by someone last year and broke his shoulder blade. Thankfully, he healed well and is full on racing.
Glad your helmet did it's job as well. I am always shocked when I see (non) racers NOT wearing a helmet....