Aron B
Maximum Pace
- Mar 24, 2012
- 351
- 244
So on Saturday we started out on a nice ride, with @Andy in Tokyo, @GrantT, @Chikako and hopefully new member Mieko. Some people cut it short, and @GrantT, @Chikako and I climbed up Amamezasu-toge 天目差峠 on the 395 from the Naguri side. After assembling at the top, I went down first, more or less as usual. I've done the descent several times before, and the conditions were good: dry and no debris.
For weeks (months) I had been unsatisfied with my descending, basically not daring to apex enough and/or braking too much, essentially missing the right flow of the corners. This time I slightly misjudged a left-hand corner, braked too hard, skidded, released, and then did not correct enough to avoid a fall (I think it should have been possible). I crashed into the guardrail on the right-hand side of the road, then toppled over it into the forest, tumbling down about 5 meters. I got up right away, hearing @GrantT calling out for me. He'd seen my bike lying on the road. Things were hurting a bit, and after about a minute I tried to make my way back up.
Back on the road, it turned out I had a very deep cut in my right knee, the bone was well visible. None of our phones worked, and @Chikako descended to call an ambulance, then climb back up. After about 30 minutes, three (!) police cars with six (!) policemen arrived first, the ambulance followed shortly after.
I was taken to Hanno Seikeigeka Hospital; they took X-rays and CT scans. Apart from my knee, there were no other serious injuries. I went into surgery for about 90 minutes, receiving surgical and chemical debridement and stitches. After the operation there was no pain unless when putting strain on the stitches.
@GrantT found my phone that dropped out of my pocket and stayed with me until the ambulance was leaving, thanks! @Chikako went with me to the hospital, leaving only when everything was taking care of at 9pm. She then collected our two bikes at the Hanno police station (that the officers had kindly taken with them), got on the train and arrived home with our bikes only at midnight! Also thanks to @Sibreen who offered to pick up our bikes if we would not have been able to.
I've been in that hospital for the past two nights. There are conducting blood tests right now, and if there are no infections I can probably go home today.
Things to take away from this:
For weeks (months) I had been unsatisfied with my descending, basically not daring to apex enough and/or braking too much, essentially missing the right flow of the corners. This time I slightly misjudged a left-hand corner, braked too hard, skidded, released, and then did not correct enough to avoid a fall (I think it should have been possible). I crashed into the guardrail on the right-hand side of the road, then toppled over it into the forest, tumbling down about 5 meters. I got up right away, hearing @GrantT calling out for me. He'd seen my bike lying on the road. Things were hurting a bit, and after about a minute I tried to make my way back up.
Back on the road, it turned out I had a very deep cut in my right knee, the bone was well visible. None of our phones worked, and @Chikako descended to call an ambulance, then climb back up. After about 30 minutes, three (!) police cars with six (!) policemen arrived first, the ambulance followed shortly after.
I was taken to Hanno Seikeigeka Hospital; they took X-rays and CT scans. Apart from my knee, there were no other serious injuries. I went into surgery for about 90 minutes, receiving surgical and chemical debridement and stitches. After the operation there was no pain unless when putting strain on the stitches.
@GrantT found my phone that dropped out of my pocket and stayed with me until the ambulance was leaving, thanks! @Chikako went with me to the hospital, leaving only when everything was taking care of at 9pm. She then collected our two bikes at the Hanno police station (that the officers had kindly taken with them), got on the train and arrived home with our bikes only at midnight! Also thanks to @Sibreen who offered to pick up our bikes if we would not have been able to.
I've been in that hospital for the past two nights. There are conducting blood tests right now, and if there are no infections I can probably go home today.
Things to take away from this:
- I have been lucky
- Improving descending skills is good, but one lapse of concentration could be (near) fatal
- It was very useful that I carried my residence card and my health insurance card
- Riding in a group is safer than alone
- Do take your phone along when riding
- I have the best girlfriend