Crash and Burn

One beautiful summer afternoon, I was on a bike ride with my sister.  We were wheeling along having a good time when I spontaneously rode onto a wooden boardwalk to be closer to the water, then turned a tight corner and felt myself starting to fall. I wasn’t going fast, but I was clipped in (clipless bike pedals) and couldn’t release my foot fast enough.

I did some kind of weird, twisty-turny acrobat thing and BAM … went down hard, injuring my back, neck and shoulders. But worst of all, hitting my head with such force it reverberated through my whole body. I remember swearing loudly as I crashed. I was stunned, embarrassed and hurt. Not my finest hour.  

My sister was ahead of me and didn’t see the crash. But happily, there was a man standing nearby with his family who watched the whole thing happen. He stood protectively over me … asking if I was alright and suggesting I lay still for a moment to catch my breath and analyze my injuries. I could sense him studying me closely and his calm presence felt like a guardian angel keeping me safe. I was not thinking clearly so never learned his name, but will always be grateful for his caring support. 

After what seemed like a long time, I staggered to my feet and made my way to a nearby bench. My sister rode back and dug in her pack for some Ibuprofen and Arnica. She’s always prepared for mishaps! I checked in with the advice nurse, who told me what to watch for in case of a concussion. After a long rest and short pedal back to my car, I drove home. I was hurting, but did just fine. 

A week later, I developed the worst headache I’ve ever had in my life and felt so nauseous. I thought for a moment I had Covid. Happily, I did not … but I did have a pretty serious concussion. Weird that it showed up days later, although I’m told it’s not that uncommon.  

Now, I’m in physical therapy both for the brain and for my back, neck and shoulder injuries. Doctors grounded me from riding. Not so much that I can’t ride - more that I can’t afford to fall and hit my head again. I’m so happy I was wearing a helmet. It surely saved me from a more serious injury. 

Tip for the day … never get on your bike without one!