I got the okay to start riding early because I convinced my doctor, Stacie, that I never fall training. I think I’ve fallen training twice in the last 25 years. This is on the road only, of course. Anyway, yesterday I spent nearly the whole day putting a dog door in Ann’s porch. I got out late, rush hour here in Austin. Not a good time to ride. I wasn’t planning to riding much more than 1 1/2 hours. I’ve been feeling tired.
I did a weird route out 2222, which is super busy after 5, then turned onto City Park and headed into the residential area. My phone showed there was a way to cut back over to 2222, up by 620. I turned onto a road that said dead end. I was a little concerned because I didn’t really want to ride 3 miles out of my way to just turn around. It was sort of weird, right before a cul de sac, there was another dead end sign. It looked like a dead end, but one of the driveways looked wider. It was marked with an address, but had a stop sign exiting. I road in and it was a little super short cutoff to the road I was looking for. It’s the first time I encountered a secret road, with road markings anywhere. Kind of fun.
Anyway, I rushed back to go to dinner with Ann. When I got back I normally take Bromont for a mile loop around the neighborhood. But, it was busy and I thought maybe I shouldn’t, but Bromont kept bugging me, so I did. He ran pretty good, but coming back our normal way, there was a couple walking two dogs, so I headed back a street early. Bromont got mixed up and got behind me. He was running in the grass, but a couple cars were coming at us. I slowed down and moved to the left to make sure he was going to be okay. I was riding less than 5 mph, looking backwards and hit a pothole. I was only holding onto my bars with my right hand, my bars twisted and I got launched over the bars. I landed on my right side, hitting my knee and, of course, shoulder. I couldn’t believe it.
I don’t know if I hurt it. I definitely did something to it, but it could be the same as if I just fell without surgery. I slept badly and it aches again. I can’t believe it.
Our roads in the US suck. They incrementally got worse until they are what they are today. 20 years ago, we wouldn’t except roads like this, but it happened to slowly, we forget what they were like.
The weather has been pretty bad the whole time I’ve been gone, so it was a good trip for missing that. It’s spring, so it is raining about everywhere in the Midwest now. I like that.
I’m heading back to Kansas today. I have to drop Sue’s bike back off at her mother’s house in Richardson and then am heading North. It’s 10 hours, so I won’t be back until later tonight.
The culprit. It wasn’t all that deep, but I was going slow, looking back.
Start of the dog door project.
Primed and cut.
FInished on the inside.
Curious guys checking it out.
Ann, with a oyster shot, at Sunday brunch.
Damn ST, 1 step up, 2 steps back…
Easy does it ol guy, sht happens, especially when ya least expect it.
S
As we get older, it is the slow falls that really do the damage. Be careful out there. Word has it that we are not made of stainless steel anymore…
20 years ago, we wouldn’t accept roads like this, but it happened too slowly,
The bad roads are part of the “evil bloated government spending is inefficient and wasteful” rhetoric captivating so many. The same people who buy this failed rhetoric end up spending much more. The concept of a public good is the enemy they have vanquished. The obvious American case being the private health care system.
You might want to note the corrections I made to your quote.
Asphalt is a petroleum product, it’s the thick, viscous stuff left after the gasoline, kerosene, paraffin waxes, and lighter fractions have been distilled off at the refinery. As petroleum becomes more scarce, the price goes up – and so does the price of asphalt. Of course, we could probably use the raw bitumen from tar sands to pave roads, but it’s far more attractive to refine it for gasoline – for now. Chances are in twenty or so years that roads will be mostly gravel, concrete, and brick rather than derivatives of petroleum: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/9928
take it easy playboy
Saw the title and first thought was he either ended up in the ER or scared himself good but only broke it loose. My unofficial medical opinion is it will loosen up in a week or two and life will be good. Tough old goat getting back to eating tin cans and standing in precarious places.
Sorry Steve,, That is tough,,, I know that I have fallen twice now on mine and this morning taking the Braising Torches to my work truck it felt as if it was pulling out of socket..
Get home get right ride more…
You couldn’t believe it.
I can’t believe you would combine a bike ride, bad shoulder and Bromont together.
Indeed. Then he blames the road!
Are Austin roads as bad as Topeka roads though? I will say that Topeka has made a lot of effort to repair roads over the last couple of years, however. Last summer I was forced into a pothole on Washburn avenue that popped my frame pump loose, knocked a water bottle out of its cage and ruined a rim by ripping a spoke out and cracking the rim. Perhaps it’s because I’m a cyclist, but I’m very cognizant of riders and give them the room and respect on the road they have every right to.
Might be a little “or a lot” safer to just ride your MTB on the road for a while? Also gives you more options when exploring unknown areas.
you would have slim sitting at home, watching TV, eating cheese doodles and wasting time?
he is going to fall sooner or later, cycling or not
Well, to your credit – you didn’t fall “training”.
Heal up Steve!
On another note- you are always with beautiful women.. God bless you!