Nothing Like a Little Road Rash

[KevinTodd]

As a relatively competitive runner and bicyclist, I have had my share of scraped knees and elbows, as trips and falls on uneven pavement or gnarly, rooted trails are as common as black toenails. I was actually only a few days away from being completely scab-free from my most recent meeting with the asphalt this past Thursday, as I set out for my routine morning ride.

I had the usual gear on--a short bib kit as it was 70 degrees, gloves, a helmet and glasses. The previous incident had been a simple "stop and drop"; one in which I simply didn't get my foot unclipped in time as I stopped at an intersection, and basically just fell over--drawing blood (and embarrassment) but nothing other than scrapes.

I was on a well-traveled paved bike path that cuts through my city, about two-thirds of the way into my ride (it's a 15-mile round trip that I try to grind out a decent aerobic pace), when I went to pass another cyclist. I had been watching him as I approached, and I saw him checking his mirror, or so I thought. I called "on your left" as I approached him at about 18MPH, and in the blink of an eye, he turned left directly into me, taking us both down to the concrete. His landing was softer as he and his bike were on me when we went down. We slid about 15 feet I suppose, and I felt my head bounce off the ground and immediately thanked my helmet for doing its job.

I stayed on the ground for a moment, trying to get my bearings and get my feet unclipped from the pedals. The guy that hit me was apologizing profusely, offering assistance, and generally being a very nice guy, all things considered. He said he had no idea why he had turned without looking. He said he had seen me approaching and had heard me call the pass, but yet he still tried to make his turn and we collided hard. I was angry at first, but it subsided quickly when I realized his demeanor was if anything overly genuine and apologetic.

I got up, straightened my bars and seat, gave the rest of the bike a cursory look, and rode the rest of the way home, bloodied and already starting to stiffen. I had scraped my entire left side pretty darned well---my entire knee is skinless, and I have several other abrasions from my upper thigh down to and including my shin bone. My left elbow is raw, and there's a large chunk of flesh missing just above the abrasion, near my bicep. the knuckles on both hands are scraped raw--and again--I was wearing gloves. I can honestly say that this is the worst road rash I have ever had in my entire life, and I rode Motocross as a kid.

That first shower hurt like hell, and I felt like I'd been in a car wreck for a couple of days. Lateral movement on my knee was excruciating. I've been keeping the wounds dressed and covered for the most part, with the exception of a few hours each day to let them dry out a bit. The weird thing is how uncomfortable this much road rash can be, especially now that they're starting to scab and heal. There isn't mush I can do that doesn't remind me what happened.

I had a tetanus shot just this past year, so I'm covered there. My GP always laughs at me when I see him each year--because he says I'm like a little kid with all my scraped up knees and elbows. My wife asked me if I'd be giving up the bike for awhile---but I won't; I enjoy it too much. I will revise my passing policy however.

[ckelly78z]

Man, I try to be REAL careful around pedestrians, dogs, and other bikes, they are more unpredictable than cars. I have taken to wearing a helmet (even if no one else does), but should probably look into some gloves.

It always seems that the person at fault gets off much easier than the hapless victim of their stupidity....take it easy for a few daze, and maybe slow down a bit when passing in the future.

[creaturecat]

i got hit - flew 65 feet. landed with both knees, into the curb.
35 big staples - in one leg, amongst lotsa other things.
i won't post pics.

[rwest]

Glad you’re relatively okay.

I joke about having a magnetic personality, because it seems like whenever I come down a bike trail people either walking or riding seem to drift over into the passing lane; got to be some human orientation sort of thing that makes people do it?

I never pass if there is a turn off, because hardly anyone looks back before they turn- crazy.

[rattlsnak]

Pics or it didn't happen!

Were you on the Silver Comet or Beltline, or?

[stevej37]

Three years ago....me vs a car turning to cross a bike trail

[Rusty Heap]

Road Rash doesn't hurt BAD until the 1-2 week mark when the scabs are healed and falling off but the new skin is oh so fresh.......

[look 171]

A real cyclist would asked, anything happened to the bike? Seriously, I have been through a bunch of crashes. It used to be once a year, some were pretty nasty from race pace training rides. After the dust settles a few seconds later, the first thing I look at was the bike. Is it mangled? The previous few crashes, I no longer care about the damn thing. When I broke my collarbone a few years ago on a rainy training ride, I could care less what they did with the damn bike when they dumped my fat ass in the back of the ambulance. You know it as well as I, the road rash will go away in time and you will go out and do it again. The worst is the next couple days. I always went out for more riding to loosen up myself and the pain goes away within the first 5 -10 mi, next reason is to not lose form. Need that to keep on racing through the season. I soak myself in the tub to loosen up the scabs if it isn't too bad. Sorry to hear about your situation. Its sounds like its very painful. Get well pal.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Three years ago....me vs a car turning to cross a bike trail

Ho-Lee-Sheet! I take it you gave up bikes?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Ho-Lee-Sheet! I take it you gave up bikes?

I was back on the bike within two months.
I ride every day, weather permitting, with no affects from the surgery.
This is a simulation of what they did..except it was my left leg.

[red-beard]

Classic Rule 5 - You are a hard man!

Originally Posted by KevinTodd

As a relatively competitive runner and bicyclist, I have had my share of scraped knees and elbows, as trips and falls on uneven pavement or gnarly, rooted trails are as common as black toenails. I was actually only a few days away from being completely scab-free from my most recent meeting with the asphalt this past Thursday, as I set out for my routine morning ride.

I had the usual gear on--a short bib kit as it was 70 degrees, gloves, a helmet and glasses. The previous incident had been a simple "stop and drop"; one in which I simply didn't get my foot unclipped in time as I stopped at an intersection, and basically just fell over--drawing blood (and embarrassment) but nothing other than scrapes.

I was on a well-traveled paved bike path that cuts through my city, about two-thirds of the way into my ride (it's a 15-mile round trip that I try to grind out a decent aerobic pace), when I went to pass another cyclist. I had been watching him as I approached, and I saw him checking his mirror, or so I thought. I called "on your left" as I approached him at about 18MPH, and in the blink of an eye, he turned left directly into me, taking us both down to the concrete. His landing was softer as he and his bike were on me when we went down. We slid about 15 feet I suppose, and I felt my head bounce off the ground and immediately thanked my helmet for doing its job.

I stayed on the ground for a moment, trying to get my bearings and get my feet unclipped from the pedals. The guy that hit me was apologizing profusely, offering assistance, and generally being a very nice guy, all things considered. He said he had no idea why he had turned without looking. He said he had seen me approaching and had heard me call the pass, but yet he still tried to make his turn and we collided hard. I was angry at first, but it subsided quickly when I realized his demeanor was if anything overly genuine and apologetic.

I got up, straightened my bars and seat, gave the rest of the bike a cursory look, and rode the rest of the way home, bloodied and already starting to stiffen. I had scraped my entire left side pretty darned well---my entire knee is skinless, and I have several other abrasions from my upper thigh down to and including my shin bone. My left elbow is raw, and there's a large chunk of flesh missing just above the abrasion, near my bicep. the knuckles on both hands are scraped raw--and again--I was wearing gloves. I can honestly say that this is the worst road rash I have ever had in my entire life, and I rode Motocross as a kid.

That first shower hurt like hell, and I felt like I'd been in a car wreck for a couple of days. Lateral movement on my knee was excruciating. I've been keeping the wounds dressed and covered for the most part, with the exception of a few hours each day to let them dry out a bit. The weird thing is how uncomfortable this much road rash can be, especially now that they're starting to scab and heal. There isn't mush I can do that doesn't remind me what happened.

I had a tetanus shot just this past year, so I'm covered there. My GP always laughs at me when I see him each year--because he says I'm like a little kid with all my scraped up knees and elbows. My wife asked me if I'd be giving up the bike for awhile---but I won't; I enjoy it too much. I will revise my passing policy however.

[KevinTodd]

Clearly I got off lucky compared to a couple of you guys!

Marc--I was on the Beltline right near the Ralph McGill intersection---I pick it up right near our home and it's usually pretty lightly traveled that early in the morning, with the exception of other cyclists and runners. I won't post the pics----they're rather nasty, lol.

As for the bike--it's pretty well scraped on all contact points, and my left side crank is bent, so I'll end up getting a new crankset. Computer did not break and everything else seems ok!

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by KevinTodd

As for the bike--it's pretty well scraped on all contact points, and my left side crank is bent, so I'll end up getting a new .crankset. Computer did not break and everything else seems ok!

My auto insurance (State Farm) ended up paying for every dime....because it involved a car.
Gave me the choice of a new bike...or pay for fixing mine. (which I had fixed)
They also paid the entire hospital bill, surgery and in-home therapy.

[vash]

Kevin. that sounds awful.

i did this two years ago, on my MTB bike. i thought it was really bad when i was laying there dazed and confused.

i got back to my truck while stiffening up the entire way. i was bleeding bad!! i couldnt get my bike on my bike rack. a kind gentleman saw me and stepped up to help me.

couple of things. that helmet is a goner. get a new one. if it is a legit helmet company, they will have a helmet replacement program you can take advantage of.

my wife saw me and immediately took me to the ER. i was still dazed and probably shouldnt have driven my truck. the ER took a stiff brush, and some foamy red soap and scrubbed my road-rash. it hurt so much until it didnt. i think i either mentally passed out, or endorphines kicked in. i will still remember the sound of the srubbing. and the color of the foam, as it mixed with my blood. they pulled out grit and pebbles!! i healed very nicely after that cleaning. oh, the doctor said, "next time bring in your busted helmet"

[sugarwood]

That video was unsettling.
I can't imagine a 2 month recovery.
Seems like it would be 2 years.

[stevej37]

^^^
I was hit by the car at noon on a Sunday
The ambulance strapped me to a traction board and brought me to the trauma center.
I laid on the board until Monday at 4pm before it was my turn for surgery.
At 8am on Tues..the next day, they discharged me.
Wed. the next day...I made it onto my JD and mowed the lawn.

The nerve block that they gave me meant that I had no pain.
Never took one pain killer after the discharge.

The Doc told me that before the IM Nailing procedure....it would have been a 6 month bed recovery.

[JavaBrewer]

Ex cyclist here with similar story. In the mid 90's we were training on the SDSU road coarse in/near Descanso, me a couple guys wiped out on high speed downhill turn. I rode over the guy in front and spilled down the center line removing most of the skin on my left side, hip and leg the worst. Rode it home holding my shorts together - about 35 miles and people in cars passing me slowed to see the carnage. I headed to an urgent care where they proceeded to scrub my wounds with betadine and various brushes and clothes - that was excruciating.

On their recommendation I hit up a medical supply place off Miramar road and stocked up on non-stick pads and containers of betadine, antibiotic gel (like medicated Vaseline), and a box of that tube sock like bandage holder. So rather than letting it scab up I changed the dressing 2-3x a day, would soak in the tub to loosen pad, pat dry, then apply liberal amounts of the gel and recover with the pads and tub sock. I kid you not I had new skin within 2 weeks without suffering scabs. Today I have little to no scars on those badly injured areas, only on my ankle and elbow where I let scabs to form. This also allowed me to continue riding during the recovery - bonus I looked like a pro racer in my gear with bandages

The joys of 2 wheels, that past is the reason I wear all gear all the time on the MC. AGATT - can't imagine what I would look like after sliding down the pavement at 50+ mph. I think very much like a serious burn you can die from road rash too. Hope your recovery goes well Todd!