I'm just back from a couple of weeks holiday in France.
Unfortunately I got hit by a car whilst cycling last week and now have
a broken leg (as well as various other injuries). Plus my Birdy Blue
is a write-off.
I'm always saying to people how good French drivers are about giving
cyclists a wide birth - so it's a little ironic that this happens to
me in France.
I was knocked unconscious and have no recollection of the
incident. Third party witnesses say that the I was cycling straight
along the side of the road and a car simply came up behind me and ran
into me, apparently without making any attempt to overtake. Presumably
the driveing simply did not notice me. He is 87 years old and one
suspects should not be driving.
My left fibula is broken, it's a clean break and the doctor at the
hospital assured that it's "pas grave", but no exercise allowed for 45
days. It's not in plaster. I also have a very sore right shoulder. The
hospital doctor seemed pretty certain that the damage was just
muscular, but no X-ray was taken and I have my doubts. The lowest ribs
on my left side are also sore, maybe something is cracked there
too. Now I'm back here in the UK I'm going to see my doctor first
thing in the morning and will go and get my leg, ribs and shoulder
X-ray'd. I also have quite a lot of skin scraped away down my right
hand side, which has been painful but is healing fine. My head was cut
in a couple of places on the right hand side. One of the wounds was
quite large and has been stapled up. (I was a little suprised to have
a stapler applied to my head but there you go).
I don't want to provoke re-hashing of old helmet arguments but for the
record I wasn't wearing one on this occasion, although I do sometimes
wear one. I'm not sure how much difference it would have
made. Presumably the cuts to my head would have been prevented
(although these are not serious injuries). Perhaps I would have
retained consciousness. Although I'm not sure that, of itself, would
have made any difference in the long run. In some ways being out for
the count probably saved me from no small amount of pain. Still, the
fact that I was knocked out is some cause for concern of itself. My
wife is keen I should wear a helmet when cycling from now on and I've
agreed to her request.
So, I now have a few weeks of sedentary existence with little to amuse
me other than figuring out how to maximise my claim for damages over
in la belle France, whist simultaneously figuring out what to buy to
replace the Birdy. I like the Birdy, but these days I don't really
have that much use for a folding bicycle, so I'm wondering if I should
treat myself to a replacement for my old Stumpjumper.