Crash question

Tom, Sorry about your crash but good no serious injury.

After a crash you want to check things out very thoroughly. Take a good
look at your handle bars, fork and stem. Any tweaking of these and they
must be replaced or you risk serious injury later. Toss the tire, I
suspect it will have broken threads and is likely to give problems.

If your handle bar has scratches within a stress zone, replace them as the
scratches can easily turn to cracks resulting in failure.

You got the road rash figured out. keep it moist with grease and allow a
little time. Dose up on MSM, C, E, and zinc to speed healing.

It wont screw up your training unless you allow. A little soreness is to be
expected. Go out and do some easy miles as soon as the bike is determined
to be safe. The movement of body tissue gets it back into it's proper place
to speed healing.

Ken

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello All,

Had my first decent crash on my road bike yesterday, putting an end to
what was going to be my first century ride at 52 miles. I skidded along
for a few feet on my left side, with most of the damage limited to
scrapes on my handlebars, my saddle, the qr skewer on the rear wheel, and
of course, some skin. The bodily damaged is limited to road rash on my
shoulder, back, hip, and knee, all on the left side.

The crash occured when a piece of metal punctured the front tire. I had a
slow leak, and didn't know what was going on until the front wheel
wobbled. When I tried to correct, the fron tire came off, causing me to
veer to the left (into traffic). I couldn't keep the skidding front wheel
under me, it slipped out from under me to the right, and I ended up on my
left side in the middle of the traffic lane. Fortunately the driver of
the minivan was paying attention and stopped with 30 or 40 feet to spare.

This has prompted a few questions for the group:

1) Anything else I should be checking on the bike? It appears to be in
good shape and only need bar tape.

2) The tire seened quite loose when I put it back on and reinflated.
Should I toss it? This was my first ride ever on this tire, a Hutchison
Excel, but now I'm a bit leery of it. Not saying anything's wrong with
the brand, just wondering I have a bad one or if maybe it got damaged.

3) Any trick to caring for road rash, other than neosporin and time? I'm
a bit stiff and banged up this morning, and am wondering if it's going to
screw up training.

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello All,

Had my first decent crash on my road bike yesterday, putting an end to
what was going to be my first century ride at 52 miles. I skidded along
for a few feet on my left side, with most of the damage limited to
scrapes on my handlebars, my saddle, the qr skewer on the rear wheel, and
of course, some skin. The bodily damaged is limited to road rash on my
shoulder, back, hip, and knee, all on the left side.

The crash occured when a piece of metal punctured the front tire. I had a
slow leak, and didn't know what was going on until the front wheel
wobbled. When I tried to correct, the fron tire came off, causing me to
veer to the left (into traffic). I couldn't keep the skidding front wheel
under me, it slipped out from under me to the right, and I ended up on my
left side in the middle of the traffic lane. Fortunately the driver of
the minivan was paying attention and stopped with 30 or 40 feet to spare.

This has prompted a few questions for the group:

1) Anything else I should be checking on the bike? It appears to be in
good shape and only need bar tape.

2) The tire seened quite loose when I put it back on and reinflated.
Should I toss it? This was my first ride ever on this tire, a Hutchison
Excel, but now I'm a bit leery of it. Not saying anything's wrong with
the brand, just wondering I have a bad one or if maybe it got damaged.

3) Any trick to caring for road rash, other than neosporin and time? I'm
a bit stiff and banged up this morning, and am wondering if it's going to
screw up training.

I think anytime you lay the bike down, you want to have the LBS check the
frame alignment. If you call ahead, they may be able to do this while you
wait.

The shop has seen many more (even subtle) cases of damaged frames than
yourself. That's what you pay for.

Sorry to hear about the mishap.

My two cents...

rsquared

Tire rolling off........that sounds really bizarre, unless you were
cornering and/or decending very fast. I don't know anything about Hutchinson
but I wouldn't use that brand anymore.

If you hit your head you should ditch the helmet.....I think most
manufacturers will replace for free if you send a letter about the incident
with the helmet. At least they used to.

No additional advice but much sympathy. Crashing sux. At least now you don't
have to wonder what it feels like anymore. All you can do is treat it like
any other kind of stiffness/soreness......work through it and try to keep
the rubber side down. :-)

Susan in LA

Tom, Might possibly be back in your area from Sept to end of November.
Hope to bring a bike of some kind for a little riding. Judy and I got a
little place up on Lake Seminole just across the border.

Ken @ Kauai

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello All,

Had my first decent crash on my road bike yesterday, putting an end to
what was going to be my first century ride at 52 miles. I skidded along
for a few feet on my left side, with most of the damage limited to
scrapes on my handlebars, my saddle, the qr skewer on the rear wheel, and
of course, some skin. The bodily damaged is limited to road rash on my
shoulder, back, hip, and knee, all on the left side.

The crash occured when a piece of metal punctured the front tire. I had a
slow leak, and didn't know what was going on until the front wheel
wobbled. When I tried to correct, the fron tire came off, causing me to
veer to the left (into traffic). I couldn't keep the skidding front wheel
under me, it slipped out from under me to the right, and I ended up on my
left side in the middle of the traffic lane. Fortunately the driver of
the minivan was paying attention and stopped with 30 or 40 feet to spare.

This has prompted a few questions for the group:

1) Anything else I should be checking on the bike? It appears to be in
good shape and only need bar tape.

2) The tire seened quite loose when I put it back on and reinflated.
Should I toss it? This was my first ride ever on this tire, a Hutchison
Excel, but now I'm a bit leery of it. Not saying anything's wrong with
the brand, just wondering I have a bad one or if maybe it got damaged.

3) Any trick to caring for road rash, other than neosporin and time? I'm
a bit stiff and banged up this morning, and am wondering if it's going to
screw up training.

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Tom, Might possibly be back in your area from Sept to end of
November. Hope to bring a bike of some kind for a little riding.
Judy and I got a little place up on Lake Seminole just across the
border.

Ken @ Kauai

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello All,

Had my first decent crash on my road bike yesterday, putting an end
to what was going to be my first century ride at 52 miles. I skidded
along for a few feet on my left side, with most of the damage limited
to scrapes on my handlebars, my saddle, the qr skewer on the rear
wheel, and of course, some skin. The bodily damaged is limited to
road rash on my shoulder, back, hip, and knee, all on the left side.

The crash occured when a piece of metal punctured the front tire. I
had a slow leak, and didn't know what was going on until the front
wheel wobbled. When I tried to correct, the fron tire came off,
causing me to veer to the left (into traffic). I couldn't keep the
skidding front wheel under me, it slipped out from under me to the
right, and I ended up on my left side in the middle of the traffic
lane. Fortunately the driver of the minivan was paying attention and
stopped with 30 or 40 feet to spare.

This has prompted a few questions for the group:

1) Anything else I should be checking on the bike? It appears to be
in good shape and only need bar tape.

2) The tire seened quite loose when I put it back on and reinflated.
Should I toss it? This was my first ride ever on this tire, a
Hutchison Excel, but now I'm a bit leery of it. Not saying anything's
wrong with the brand, just wondering I have a bad one or if maybe it
got damaged.

3) Any trick to caring for road rash, other than neosporin and time?
I'm a bit stiff and banged up this morning, and am wondering if it's
going to screw up training.

Cool! Maybe we can get in a ride, if you feel like going that slow!

"Susan in LA" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Tire rolling off........that sounds really bizarre, unless you were
cornering and/or decending very fast. I don't know anything about
Hutchinson but I wouldn't use that brand anymore.

I'm gonna ditch the tire based on the advice here and my own lack of
confidence in it. I think the brand is pretty good, team postal rides
them, but I got a lower end tire from their line. Am probably going to
get another vredestein. I've been real happy with them.

Quoted message said:

If you hit your head you should ditch the helmet.....I think most
manufacturers will replace for free if you send a letter about the
incident with the helmet. At least they used to.

Managed to keep muy head from banging the pavement. Strained a few neck
muscles holding my head up. The helmet didn't take any impact.

Quoted message said:

No additional advice but much sympathy. Crashing sux. At least now you
don't have to wonder what it feels like anymore. All you can do is
treat it like any other kind of stiffness/soreness......work through
it and try to keep the rubber side down. :-)

I had a pretty good crash several years ago on my mountain bike and broke
my hand, so this was a more minor crash. The disturbing part was that
this time, I didn't see it coming and couldn't do anything to control the
bike. I've gotta imiagine it was a nice turn of events for the bike
though. Instead of straining under me, it got to ride a nice cushy
clydesdale for a few yards!

Seriously though, thanks to everyone for the advice and sentiments.

Quoted message said:

Susan in LA

Tom Henderson said:

3) Any trick to caring for road rash, other than neosporin and time? I'm
a bit stiff and banged up this morning, and am wondering if it's going to
screw up training.

The secret is to not let it scab over. Keep it covered with a bandage
and lots of Neosporin.

Mike Tennent
"IronPenguin"

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Susan in LA" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Tire rolling off........that sounds really bizarre, unless you were
cornering and/or decending very fast. I don't know anything about
Hutchinson but I wouldn't use that brand anymore.

I'm gonna ditch the tire based on the advice here and my own lack of
confidence in it. I think the brand is pretty good, team postal rides
them, but I got a lower end tire from their line. Am probably going to
get another vredestein. I've been real happy with them.

Quoted message said:

If you hit your head you should ditch the helmet.....I think most
manufacturers will replace for free if you send a letter about the
incident with the helmet. At least they used to.

Managed to keep muy head from banging the pavement. Strained a few neck
muscles holding my head up. The helmet didn't take any impact.

Quoted message said:

No additional advice but much sympathy. Crashing sux. At least now you
don't have to wonder what it feels like anymore. All you can do is
treat it like any other kind of stiffness/soreness......work through
it and try to keep the rubber side down. :-)

I had a pretty good crash several years ago on my mountain bike and broke
my hand, so this was a more minor crash. The disturbing part was that
this time, I didn't see it coming and couldn't do anything to control the
bike.

Yeah; it's freaky.......one second everything's just peachy; the next second
you're body surfing on pavement at 20+ MPH. Other than trying to stay alert
I try not to think about it too much. :-)