I Crashed Today, but fortunately not on my VTR
#1
I Crashed Today, but fortunately not on my VTR
I crashed today, but fortunately I was on my mountain bike. On the flat, in the dirt I went to jump a 2 foot vertical rise I'd done many times before, but I didn't lift the front soon enough...brain fart.
So over the bars I went. Bike's okay, but I face planted knocking both incisors loose (one was angled back at a 20 degree angle and almost 1/8 inch lower than its neighbor) and lacerating my upper lip pretty good, along with other facial scrapes.
My wife immediately called my dentist of over 20 years, who happens to be the team dentist for the Anaheim Ducks. He referred me to the Ducks' oral surgeon, who got me right in.
I was put under and the worst tooth was able to be pushed back in. Bone had to be repaired behind the looser one, along with mucho sutures (5 centimeters) inside my lip.
Good thing my heavy blond mustache covers my swollen and deformed lip, but otherwise I look like I've been in a bar fight since my knuckles are skinned too.
Even better thing I wasn't on my SuperHawk when I had the brain fart. I always put everything else out of my head when I'm canyon riding.
So over the bars I went. Bike's okay, but I face planted knocking both incisors loose (one was angled back at a 20 degree angle and almost 1/8 inch lower than its neighbor) and lacerating my upper lip pretty good, along with other facial scrapes.
My wife immediately called my dentist of over 20 years, who happens to be the team dentist for the Anaheim Ducks. He referred me to the Ducks' oral surgeon, who got me right in.
I was put under and the worst tooth was able to be pushed back in. Bone had to be repaired behind the looser one, along with mucho sutures (5 centimeters) inside my lip.
Good thing my heavy blond mustache covers my swollen and deformed lip, but otherwise I look like I've been in a bar fight since my knuckles are skinned too.
Even better thing I wasn't on my SuperHawk when I had the brain fart. I always put everything else out of my head when I'm canyon riding.
#3
Thanks lazn, it was just supposed to be a casual ride, so I just had a baseball cap on. But like I said, when canyon riding it's total focus. Keith Code has a $10 analogy, "Everyone has so much attention (like money) to spend on the actions of riding". If you have $10 and you spend several dollars target fixating, watching scenery (or another rider), or daydreaming, you may not have enough left to ride safely.
By the way lazn, I hope you're feeling better. As soon as I'm off the Hydrocodone in a day or two, I'll be able to get on my bike again (mountain and VTR). Hope you get in the saddle again soon as well.
Oops, I just looked up your post crash thread and realized it was way back in June that you were riding again. Time flies. I'm sure you've had some fun miles since then.
By the way lazn, I hope you're feeling better. As soon as I'm off the Hydrocodone in a day or two, I'll be able to get on my bike again (mountain and VTR). Hope you get in the saddle again soon as well.
Oops, I just looked up your post crash thread and realized it was way back in June that you were riding again. Time flies. I'm sure you've had some fun miles since then.
Last edited by VTRsurfer; 12-21-2009 at 11:23 PM.
#7
That's sucks man. I crashed on a downhill moutain bike a couple years back. Once I was shortcutting through a grassy section that was a little too high and hit a log which shot me over the bars and the second time that same day I was going pretty fast down a dirt hill going to the trails. This huge hill. Real high speed stuff. Got to the bottom and the bike washed out under me and down I went. Persoanlly I'd prefer to not ever crash on the motorcycle. Hitting a tree at 40kph on my race quad was enough for me.
#9
OUCH! I can just picture how much that hurt when it happened. I try to ride my mtb on the safe side, but you can never predict stuff like that. We went riding at the beginning of this past summer, and it was on a normal trail, nothing major, but the dude that was in front of me got his front wheel caught in some roots, flung over the bars and (since he didnt have gloves on) split one of his fingers wide open on one of the roots. thankfully, i had a roll of gauze and medical tape in my seat bag. it was enough to get him to the hospital before he bled through the entire roll of gauze.
Any damage to the bike?
Any damage to the bike?
#10
Hope you heal quick and well from your mishap!
#11
I'm glad you're going to be ok. MTB crashes really are dangerous - even the small ones.
I locked my front wheel behind a rock on a really steep, technical section a couple years ago. I was instantaneously tossed over the bars and landed on my left pinky. Tore a ligament in the first knuckle and it was jacked for an entire year!
An 80 MPH get off on the track was mild, by comparison - although a lot more expensive.
I locked my front wheel behind a rock on a really steep, technical section a couple years ago. I was instantaneously tossed over the bars and landed on my left pinky. Tore a ligament in the first knuckle and it was jacked for an entire year!
An 80 MPH get off on the track was mild, by comparison - although a lot more expensive.
#14
Ouch, I feel your pain with the RC more than mine. Actually there was little pain and none now, I'll probably go off the pain killers after today. But people will be staring at me when I go out.
#15
As for eating, I won't be using my front teeth for awhile. Both upper incisors are "splinted" to adjacent teeth with wire. So I won't be able to use them while they set back into the bone. I won't even be able to eat tacos.
#16
I hear you Coaster, but I'm old fashioned when on my mtb. It kind of comes from surviving riding a bike all over the place in the 1950s. We were always on our bikes.
My wife and I like single track. Mammoth is the best, but we usually go out to Laguna Meadows off Sunrise Highway. I always wear an mtb beanie helmet in the dirt, but we were just doing a casual ride yesterday through San Onofre and **** happens. Besides, I would have had to be wearing a full face downhill helmet to protect my teeth, and that would look kind of silly while riding on level pavement in a State Park. **** happens.
I hope your SuperHawk is getting well.
My wife and I like single track. Mammoth is the best, but we usually go out to Laguna Meadows off Sunrise Highway. I always wear an mtb beanie helmet in the dirt, but we were just doing a casual ride yesterday through San Onofre and **** happens. Besides, I would have had to be wearing a full face downhill helmet to protect my teeth, and that would look kind of silly while riding on level pavement in a State Park. **** happens.
I hope your SuperHawk is getting well.
#17
Ya, it never fails when you let your guard down. Number of years ago after spending the day riding some really technical trails without much of a mishap, I ride down a slight grade into the parking lot, there are grassy berms between the parking rows. I get way more air than I was prepared for, taco the front wheel, take the impact with my shoulder and the side of my head, break my helmet in half, etc. The only thing was, no one was around to see it! I just wish I was able to heal as quickly as I used to be!
#18
Ya, it never fails when you let your guard down. Number of years ago after spending the day riding some really technical trails without much of a mishap, I ride down a slight grade into the parking lot, there are grassy berms between the parking rows. I get way more air than I was prepared for, taco the front wheel, take the impact with my shoulder and the side of my head, break my helmet in half, etc. The only thing was, no one was around to see it! I just wish I was able to heal as quickly as I used to be!
Twice I've needed stitches on my forehead after getting hit by a board while surfing (one was mine, the other was from an *** that took off in front of me). Both times were on a 2 foot wave. Not the best for bragging rights.
Last edited by VTRsurfer; 12-22-2009 at 12:26 PM.
#19
There are some damp spots near the bottom of the canyon on the San Juan side just about every morning up to noon, so I'm taking it a little easier or changing lines. But otherwise it's quite often great most weekdays hitting it about 11AM or later. At 2PM the eastbound commuters start streaming in trains. So 10 or 11 start and off the hill by 2PM is usually good.
I like to leave a margin for error, especially after my wife came back from Gelsons in Dana Point with stories of fatalities that happened two weeks ago. Two different guys that work there (one rides a CBR1000 Repsol) told her what happened:
A guy on a sportbike came around a corner and ran into a bag of cement that had fallen off a truck. Crashed and died.
A guy riding a borrowed $72,000 Ducati Desmosedici was hit head-on by a teenage girl who was texting.
So, on a brighter note, I am up for a weekday ride after the Holidays are over. Let me know.
#20
I'd be up for that, but I don't do Ortega on weekends/holidays since I retired. Too many crazies dragging knees. And the cops are thick, often with aircraft on weekends. I rode it with my wife last Tuesday and by myself last Friday. I'm faster than some and slower than many, and I don't count Harleys. I can have fun pretty much doing it all in 3rd at around 5k rpm going into corners.
There are some damp spots near the bottom of the canyon on the San Juan side just about every morning up to noon, so I'm taking it a little easier or changing lines. But otherwise it's quite often great most weekdays hitting it about 11AM or later. At 2PM the eastbound commuters start streaming in trains. So 10 or 11 start and off the hill by 2PM is usually good.
I like to leave a margin for error, especially after my wife came back from Gelsons in Dana Point with stories of fatalities that happened two weeks ago. Two different guys that work there (one rides a CBR1000 Repsol) told her what happened:
A guy on a sportbike came around a corner and ran into a bag of cement that had fallen off a truck. Crashed and died.
A guy riding a borrowed $72,000 Ducati Desmosedici was hit head-on by a teenage girl who was texting.
So, on a brighter note, I am up for a weekday ride after the Holidays are over. Let me know.
There are some damp spots near the bottom of the canyon on the San Juan side just about every morning up to noon, so I'm taking it a little easier or changing lines. But otherwise it's quite often great most weekdays hitting it about 11AM or later. At 2PM the eastbound commuters start streaming in trains. So 10 or 11 start and off the hill by 2PM is usually good.
I like to leave a margin for error, especially after my wife came back from Gelsons in Dana Point with stories of fatalities that happened two weeks ago. Two different guys that work there (one rides a CBR1000 Repsol) told her what happened:
A guy on a sportbike came around a corner and ran into a bag of cement that had fallen off a truck. Crashed and died.
A guy riding a borrowed $72,000 Ducati Desmosedici was hit head-on by a teenage girl who was texting.
So, on a brighter note, I am up for a weekday ride after the Holidays are over. Let me know.
I usually have a day off during the week and the weather in January can be pretty nice. I'll hit you up in a few weeks.
#22
I fell your pain. I've posted b4 about my last face plant. I'm a roadie. I was on a casual NYD ride on 01-1-07 and a jerk passed me and cut me off taking out the spokes of my brand new front wheel with his rear derailleur. Bastard left me no where to go, and then when my wheel collapsed I face planted at 18 mph. Besides torn up shoulder and elbow tendons, 3 compressed vertebra, my face was not too good either. Broke my Bell in half, and even tore up my JR armored jacket. I'm still suffering from my injuries, trying to avoid going under the knife. PT was not very successful. Can't sleep, numbness, tingling and pain from my shoulder down, and limited shoulder mobility and pain like a knife when I reach the wrong way.
#23
Your face damage looks similar to mine, minus the loose teeth. I feel lucky after hearing about your crash. I hope the other guy at least showed remorse.
Some of those road bikers are just way to aggressive. They need to go to France or something.
Some of those road bikers are just way to aggressive. They need to go to France or something.
Last edited by VTRsurfer; 12-22-2009 at 09:03 PM.
#24
Glad to hear you're ok. You're also fortunate to get quick care like that. The last time I went *** over teakettle on my mountainbike I separated my shoulder and had no insurance and just...left it. Good thing my gf at the time had a bottle full of percoset from her boob job tuneup so I could work
#25
I'm nauseated by all the Yuppie OTH TD'F wanabies. Of course their dirt counterparts can get you into ugly PDQ on a tight trail, whether it be downhill or sometimes worse, chugging uphill!
Last edited by skokievtr; 12-23-2009 at 07:39 AM.
#26
Vtrsurfer hope you get well soon. Have you ever ridden Noble canyon? When I used to work for bicycle warehouse we would do that on Thanksgiving. riding up the road then down the trail. Talk about a workout.
Skokie that sucks hope you get better soon.
Skokie that sucks hope you get better soon.
#27
We ride Laguna Meadows from Penny Pines on Sunrise Highway. All single track and the part through the trees skirting the north side of the meadow is a blast, with slight up and down and just enough rocks and drop-offs to make it interesting. I like to really pump it through there.
#28
Glad to hear you're ok. You're also fortunate to get quick care like that. The last time I went *** over teakettle on my mountainbike I separated my shoulder and had no insurance and just...left it. Good thing my gf at the time had a bottle full of percoset from her boob job tuneup so I could work
#29
Yeah, my wife theorizes that those agro road riders are on testosterone supplements. I'll be carrying my surfboard into Trestles on the asphalt path, which is also a main biking route between San Clemente and Oceanside, and a TD'F wannabe will speed by me from behind, 12 inches away with no announcement, scaring the crap out of me.
#30
What brand Mtn bike do you have?
I have a GT Zaskar (original not a pacific made frame). The only thing original on the bike is the crankset. Everything else is upgraded. Almost full XTR groupo with Chris King headset and hubs, I built the wheels myself.
I have a GT Zaskar (original not a pacific made frame). The only thing original on the bike is the crankset. Everything else is upgraded. Almost full XTR groupo with Chris King headset and hubs, I built the wheels myself.