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