Insert shoulder here: The Braeside Incident

Here standeth Highland Horse. Arm in sling. Shoulder in pieces.

He's at the scene of his cycling mishap. At the time, he was en route to Evans Lookout via Braeside Rd. An excellent morning ride including speed, hills, views and great coffee at the end, after a couple more hills.

Here's a shot of the creek crossing just around the corner:

What you can't see in Highland's pic is that preceding this sharp, rocky bend, there is a long, steep hill. At the time of his mishap, he was going very fast, downhill, taking the bend very tightly.

Here's his blow-by-blow recount and the outcome:

"I was hammering down a dirt road at full pelt in damp conditions. The last thing I remember is the back wheel starting to lift and then I was lying under the bike in a lot of pain, trying not to vomit and unable to get up. Lay there in the mud and rocks for about a minute before I could lift the bike off and get to my feet.

The front wheel was locked, so I had no choice but to abandon the bike in some bushes and hobble painfully home.

Didn't realise how significant the damage was until I got my shirt off and saw the new right-shoulder arrangement. Suffered what is called a "separated shoulder", which basically seems to mean various bits and pieces are no longer in their original order and I have a second step on the shoulder."

The prognosis isn't entirely certain as yet. The latest advice from the Osteopath is to seek surgical advice.

Highland's advice, for future reference, is: Slow down. Go wide.

Do not, do not, try to take the inside track at speed. It will break you.

 

In our last post, we begged the questions:

Is it the chill in the air that's causing these incidents?

Cycling into the sun?

It seems that cycling into the sun on chilly mornings is indeed the culprit.

So, once my ribs are mended, Highland's shoulder is repaired and our bikes are again roadworthy, what to do?

Perhaps ride later in the day; or, if cycling in the morning, ride away from the sun?

Perhaps slow down?

Highland Horse's anvil-like bike was relatively intact after the incident and a day of rest; shrouded in shrubbery nearby. We went out to retrieve it before cycling archaeologists stumbled upon it.

In vintage, it rivals Dark Horse's old machine. Its only sign of wear and tear? A slightly bent rear derailleur.

As Toad of Toad Hall would say:

"Poop, poop. What marvellous machines!"

Take care and pedal on!

Thunder Horse

A farewell to cycling innocence ... Ouch!

So, I noticed the merry month of May was without a post and thought it must be well past time to update 'the readership' on Team Iron Horse antics.

Shortly before, after or during that thought, I fell off my bike. And no, it wasn't stationary at the time. 

In fact, it's been over a week since, at around 40kmh I reconnected with Planet Earth; rediscovering the fact that gravel and gravity don't mix.

In short, (clinically*) fractured ribs, lots of abrasions and bruises (mostly on the upper left arm and both shoulders). Bruises have been coming through all week on the legs, hips and arms. 

Irreversible damage and dismemberment was visited upon various cycling accoutrements: shredded seat, burst CamelBak, torn rain jacket, busted helmet and I suspect that I need a new front wheel.

What caused such mayhem? A rock in a pothole ... I think. Without video footage to review I suspect the exact cause may remain a mystery.

We were descending Hat Hill Road, past the Pulpit Rock turnoff, aiming to walk up Hat Hill itself. Highland Horse was along for the ride, another of our regular thrice weekly micro pedalathons. Shortly after the incident he expressed amazement that there wasn't more blood!

Here's his eyewitness account:

"Nasty business. We were going at the clappers at the time and riding into the sun. Thunder went down hard in an explosion of dust and just kept bouncing - he could have taught Barnes Wallis a thing or two."

Guess I must have rolled quite a few times after being catapulted over the handlebars. Don't recall a great deal.

So, be careful out there.

:: NEWSFLASH ::
As I was about to post this entry, news has come to hand that Highland Horse met with injury while cycling along the Braeside Road earlier today. Scant information at the moment. Dislocated shoulder. More news as it comes to hand.

Is it the chill in the air that's causing these incidents?
Cycling into the sun?


So, once more, be careful out there, but have fun!


Pedal on!
Thunder Horse

* Clinically fractured, as per the Doctor who saw me in Emergency when the pain escalated. No breaks found on the Xray, but they're bloody sore to the touch. 
It seems I need visible fractures to elicit any sympathy at home. [Not entirely true ;-) ]