WhiteGiant
Maximum Pace
- Nov 4, 2006
- 1,233
- 395
...KIN' 'ELL!
Wrong place, wrong time! What else can you say?
In a way, I suppose I've been pretty lucky over the last 6 1/2 years of cycling. I have had accidents before, and despite a couple of them causing some serious injury, all of them had involved mama-charis - ie. Non-motorized vehicles - Until now, that is!
I won't bore you with too many details, as it was a fairly straightforward accident.
I was riding towards a T-junction in the left-hand lane. All of the cars in that lane had to turn left anyway, and (for a change) they all even had their indicators on. It seemed like nothing could go wrong... Except however, that the driver in question didn't intend on turning at the lights - He turned left about 8 meters before the intersection, into a smallish parking-lot . The only problem was that I was in the process of overtaking him as he made his turn. It was very easy to assume that he would also be travelling straight for another 8m before beginning his turn, like everyone else. As it is, my right hand hit (an knocked off) his left wing-mirror, causing my front wheel to veer right, and into the side of his car as I came down heavily on my left elbow - I want to pretend I didn't hear the "crack" over the sound of my bicycle hitting the pavement, but I knew straight away that it was probably broken (not being able to move in the full range of motion is usually an obvious sign).
An ambulance ride to the hospital, and an X-ray confirmed everything. Next was a trip to the police station, with my wife, to answer a few questions. Then, we both went to the scene of the mishap to pick up my bike, wrap it in plastic-bags, and finally lug it home on the train.
NOT HAPPY
OUT OF SHAPE
ALMOST HOME, GIRL!
And the most obvious question: IS THE BIKE O.K?
Yes & no! Mostly yes, I think. Except the new hoods I replaced less than a year ago are broken. And I won't know if anything else is damaged until I ride it again, but did I mention, I'VE GOT A FU@KING BROKEN ELBOW! Sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you guys. Apparently, the doctor recommended I have surgery on it within a few weeks to avoid any possible permanent damage.
I am open to suggestions, if anyone knows a REALLY GOOD doctor. Normally, I wouldn't let any of these quacks within 10 feet of my person - Based on the Japanese university system of, "You pay, you pass!" - So as far as medical treatment is concerned, I will take personal recommendations quite seriously.
That said, the rest of me is O.K, and my arm doesn't even hurt that much - until I tense JUST the wrong muscle. So as long as I keep it still... Typing sucks, but you get that! My sense of humor is intact (although still not very FUNNY), and it tries to keep me company.
>Phil & Pete: I'm not sure I'll make it for the river ride this Saturday - Take a rain-check!
POINT OF IMPACT
Wrong place, wrong time! What else can you say?
In a way, I suppose I've been pretty lucky over the last 6 1/2 years of cycling. I have had accidents before, and despite a couple of them causing some serious injury, all of them had involved mama-charis - ie. Non-motorized vehicles - Until now, that is!
I won't bore you with too many details, as it was a fairly straightforward accident.
I was riding towards a T-junction in the left-hand lane. All of the cars in that lane had to turn left anyway, and (for a change) they all even had their indicators on. It seemed like nothing could go wrong... Except however, that the driver in question didn't intend on turning at the lights - He turned left about 8 meters before the intersection, into a smallish parking-lot . The only problem was that I was in the process of overtaking him as he made his turn. It was very easy to assume that he would also be travelling straight for another 8m before beginning his turn, like everyone else. As it is, my right hand hit (an knocked off) his left wing-mirror, causing my front wheel to veer right, and into the side of his car as I came down heavily on my left elbow - I want to pretend I didn't hear the "crack" over the sound of my bicycle hitting the pavement, but I knew straight away that it was probably broken (not being able to move in the full range of motion is usually an obvious sign).
An ambulance ride to the hospital, and an X-ray confirmed everything. Next was a trip to the police station, with my wife, to answer a few questions. Then, we both went to the scene of the mishap to pick up my bike, wrap it in plastic-bags, and finally lug it home on the train.
NOT HAPPY
OUT OF SHAPE
ALMOST HOME, GIRL!
And the most obvious question: IS THE BIKE O.K?
Yes & no! Mostly yes, I think. Except the new hoods I replaced less than a year ago are broken. And I won't know if anything else is damaged until I ride it again, but did I mention, I'VE GOT A FU@KING BROKEN ELBOW! Sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you guys. Apparently, the doctor recommended I have surgery on it within a few weeks to avoid any possible permanent damage.
I am open to suggestions, if anyone knows a REALLY GOOD doctor. Normally, I wouldn't let any of these quacks within 10 feet of my person - Based on the Japanese university system of, "You pay, you pass!" - So as far as medical treatment is concerned, I will take personal recommendations quite seriously.
That said, the rest of me is O.K, and my arm doesn't even hurt that much - until I tense JUST the wrong muscle. So as long as I keep it still... Typing sucks, but you get that! My sense of humor is intact (although still not very FUNNY), and it tries to keep me company.
>Phil & Pete: I'm not sure I'll make it for the river ride this Saturday - Take a rain-check!
POINT OF IMPACT