Training Log Archive: Magic

It's about time I caught up on what exactly happened last weekend. I was near the end of a two hour cycle which I had thoroughly enjoyed and was cycling pretty well, I had gone down through Eccy Woods and turned left to take the quieter residential road to join Abbeydale Road. This road is slightly downhill and has speed ramps once you get out of the woods. I guess I was doing 30mph or so and obviously had to focus on the ramps so they didn't throw me off. I looked up from one of these and saw a car crossing the road right in front of me. The image of the car is a blur and I think that I tried to get me feet unclipped and put them down (I think I got the left down). I reckon that there was approximately 10m between when I saw the saw the car and when I hit it so there wasn't any time to think about it. I can (again, in a dream like manner) remember heading towards the car but nothing after that. I was told that I was unconscious for about 15 minutes and when I came to the paramedics were around me. I was in pain but too much, but I don't recall leaving the scene or the journey to the hospital at all and didn't wake up until I was in A&E.
According to the police there were no cars parked around the junction and no other traffic around. I usually make a habit of looking for cars on side roads as (especially when on a bike) you never know if someone will pull out on you. However in this situation I think that the speed ramps were taking all my focus. The driver said that he looked both ways before pulling out but obviously didn't see me until it was too late. Unfortunately he was going straight across the junction (I was on the through road) so when he did see me he was side on in the middle of the junction leaving me nowhere to go. I apparently hit the front wing (leaving a big dent) and judging by my injuries, it was with the upper right of my back. I hit the ground next to the car (so did 30mph - 0mph instantly) but my bike carried on over the bonnet (haven't quite worked how that happened yet). My helmet is cracked throughout with a strip missing around the rim (haven't worked how that happened either) but my bike appears to have come out unscathed.
Personal damage wise I think that I have been very lucky, my limbs and head have all escaped injury (aside from a bruise on my left side of my head). Sure as my trunk is quite battered it makes all movement difficult but it could so easily have been a lot worse. I think that I have 18 fractures (7 along the side of my spine and the 7 adjoining ribs, my right shoulder, a vertebrae and 2 ribs at the front). Time for some R & R!

C • (un)Lucky man! 11

A second of nothing so I don't lose the wee from the graphs

Set free today so now relaying on the good will of friends to make sure that I stay alive as I can do very little on my own, also on so many painkillers that I've never quite sure if I?m awake or dreaming! Fell a lot more comfortable today and have been taught how to move with minimal pain. Also walked a bit for the first time all week which was very odd as the world won't stay still enough for me! Good to be out of the hospital but it's still going to be a long time before I'm fixed; tried coughing today as the doctor said it's important to clean my lungs out. If felt like someone had driven a knife into my back, twisted it around a bit, pulled it out and hit me; I was paralysed with pain, body froze and I couldn't breath. Won't be coughing again for sometime no matter how much I need to!

C • coughing 1

Allowed to get up today so celebrated by visiting the toilet, otherwise still to sore to do anything other than lie in bed.

Allowed to move, so neck isn't in to bad a state, the only problem now is the pain that is preventing me from doing so. More pain killers will be required. Friday looks like the likely release date, but really need to move better by then. Will look like a plank for the next while though as I have to keep the neck brace.

C • Best be careful then 2

Another day being looked after by the NHS. Left ribs are tender but not painful (but that might just be the drugs), right shoulder is a funny shape but moving fine, left side of the back of my neck is sore but the neck brace sorts that out (but is very uncomfortable) but the back of my right shoulder and down to the middle of my back is still hurts like bejesus. Think this must have been my contact point with the car - think that I have several fractured ribs here and damage to the side of my spine (see Faye's description on Facebook for a more scientific description).
Just had a visit from the consultant, he's happy with the state of my bones so I can know start moving and have some physio :-)

C • good news 6

think that all day lying on my back may count as a rest day!

C • It depends 1