B
biglou
This is a ride/crash report:
Went to Merwin Saturday morning to ride the track and trails. The trails are finally drying out enough to make it fun again. Did several laps on the track, then a woods loop, then more track. We had about eight of us going out for our second woods loop and we were all moving along at a pretty good clip. As usual, Jason (Blue Thunder) was waaaay out front with Wade right behind. I was leading the second group through the maze. As we were climbing one of the extended uphills, I was in a tight left-hander and somehow managed a head-on with Jason on his 426. We went right side to right side and both went down hard. I sorta impaled my nether region on the gas cap during this and was unable to stand for a few minutes. Jason didn't make out so well. He broke his first two toes and may have some nerve and tendon damage. He's sees an ortho tomorrow. There was a split in his foot between his big toe and the next toe that went back about two inches into his foot, top and bottom. It was not pretty. Ripped his brake pedal off in the process. His Cycra Pro-Bends managed to bruise all four fingers on my right hand and jam my wrist. I have a general feeling like someone has laid a serious beatin' on me. Everything on the right side hurts, and some stuff on the left! Jason says that other than the toes, he can't even tell he hit the ground. Looks like he's going to be out for a couple of months. I just remember seeing that #411 plate get real big, real fast. Then there was that sickening sound of plastic hitting plastic. They kicked his bike over for him and he was able to ride out, as was I. But our riding was over for the day. It was off to the ER for him and off for an ice pack for me. Bad thing was, we had two new guys that had never been riding with us before. At least they got to see a heck of a show. I don't know that there was anything either of us could have done. We were both swinging to the outside line and there was just no time. Rate of closure was fast. Luckily, there were no trees right against the trail at that spot or things could have been much worse. This would have been a great ride for the helmet cam!
Again-Full gear including chest protectors saved both of us from what could have amounted to something much worse than what it was. Because of the safety equipment, a little luck and a little help from elsewhere, we will be back at it soon.
Went to Merwin Saturday morning to ride the track and trails. The trails are finally drying out enough to make it fun again. Did several laps on the track, then a woods loop, then more track. We had about eight of us going out for our second woods loop and we were all moving along at a pretty good clip. As usual, Jason (Blue Thunder) was waaaay out front with Wade right behind. I was leading the second group through the maze. As we were climbing one of the extended uphills, I was in a tight left-hander and somehow managed a head-on with Jason on his 426. We went right side to right side and both went down hard. I sorta impaled my nether region on the gas cap during this and was unable to stand for a few minutes. Jason didn't make out so well. He broke his first two toes and may have some nerve and tendon damage. He's sees an ortho tomorrow. There was a split in his foot between his big toe and the next toe that went back about two inches into his foot, top and bottom. It was not pretty. Ripped his brake pedal off in the process. His Cycra Pro-Bends managed to bruise all four fingers on my right hand and jam my wrist. I have a general feeling like someone has laid a serious beatin' on me. Everything on the right side hurts, and some stuff on the left! Jason says that other than the toes, he can't even tell he hit the ground. Looks like he's going to be out for a couple of months. I just remember seeing that #411 plate get real big, real fast. Then there was that sickening sound of plastic hitting plastic. They kicked his bike over for him and he was able to ride out, as was I. But our riding was over for the day. It was off to the ER for him and off for an ice pack for me. Bad thing was, we had two new guys that had never been riding with us before. At least they got to see a heck of a show. I don't know that there was anything either of us could have done. We were both swinging to the outside line and there was just no time. Rate of closure was fast. Luckily, there were no trees right against the trail at that spot or things could have been much worse. This would have been a great ride for the helmet cam!
Again-Full gear including chest protectors saved both of us from what could have amounted to something much worse than what it was. Because of the safety equipment, a little luck and a little help from elsewhere, we will be back at it soon.