Last Sunday, I, like so many others, thought I would take advantage of the beautiful weather
I cycled a bit but unfortunately that trip came to an abrupt end after 63 km.
I won’t bother you with the trip details up to then, as you don’t know the area anyway…
On a somewhat busier stretch I paid attention to the playing children and people walking their dogs.
Just after I had overtaken a group of cyclists, the handlebars were knocked out of my hands by the thick tree roots that ran underneath the path.
I went adrift and off the path, and I don’t remember much else.
I had crashed into a concrete “parking exit marker” ball, 1 meter in diameter.
No crumple zone or air bags on either side of the colliding masses…
Fortunately, there were enough people to assist me, call 911 and Paula.
I came to my senses rather quickly, but I was in so much pain, I might have nearly broken some examining hands.
Paula got there before the ambulance (the police were even faster) and they then spent half an hour stabilizing me.
Then they drove me to the hospital, were X-rays and a CT scan were taken / made.
Other than “a few” bruised and broken ribs, and various abrasions, there was no visible or serious internal damage.
I won’t ever forget that the neurologist could see from my buttocks (!) that I cycled a lot…
Finally – after almost 3 hours – that damn stabilization board and corset were removed!
Because of the excruciating pain in my ribs/lower back, I had to stay at least one night, also because they had to determine/calculate the medication.
What I got until then didn’t help one bit…
Of course I didn’t sleep a wink (figuratively anyway), but during the morning the medication at least had some effect.
I was able to get out of bed independently again, so I wanted to go home straight away (that was just not possible, but by evening I was gone anyway).
I am now back home – the bike is at the bicycle shop and so far the costs are estimated at 800-900 Euro.
Full carbon Columbus front fork, a brand new Fulcrum Race 1 wheel, a crankset, helmet (Giro) and San Marco Regale saddle…
I hope for compensation from the NTFU, but what if the frame is a total loss?
And we are going to hold the municipality liable: although this often comes to nothing after years of proceedings.
At least it’s clear that there is a serious lack of maintenance, not just on this path, and an accident like this can be avoided.
The little more than 63 kilometers of cycling went quite well, by the way…
