I decided to crash on my bike today. Well, "decided" carries connotation of intent, and there wasn't much in the way of intent on my part. Just sort of stupidity, probably. I was riding home from work, along one of the more industrial roads, and decided it was probably best to get up onto the sidewalk - you know, to be safer away from those cars - so I started to turn my wheel to go up a driveway to get on the sidewalk and as I did, I thought to myself, hmm, I probably don't have enough angle to pull this off... and simultaneously literally didn't pull it off. The tire caught the lip on the driveway and the bike just kind of toppled over - going at a pretty decent clip - with me on it. I toppled into the driveway, filled with yucky, gritty rocks and gravel. My left knee took the brunt - I am hoping it's nothing more than some severe bruising - because I was able to walk and even ride a bit afterwards (I was quite a ways from any bus stops) so at least initially I had range of motion. Now not so much. It's got a lovely set of cuts that bled like crazy for a while, my hands are sore (hopefully that's all), my left arm is going to be quite bruised if the soreness is any indication, and I have a rather ugly patch of road rash on my left chin. And based on the damage to the helmet, I am glad I was wearing one.
So, all of that was kind of frightening enough. The salt in the wound was that there were about 5 other people riding bikes at the time who saw me go down - and not a single one of them stopped to see if I was okay. Nor did any of the 10 or so bicyclists who rode past as I was getting up and trying to see if I could walk. No one asked if I was okay as we waited for the bus - with blood streaming from my chin and knee - not even the bus driver. I don't get people in this city. I just don't. I would've stopped.
So I finally got home, washed off the dirt and dried blood, doused the cuts with polysporin, took ibuprofin, iced and elevated.
It seems as the evening goes on the throbbing gets more intense and my ability to put weight on my knee and bend it is harder. Maybe that's just par for the course. You know, at 36 falling off a bike isn't as simple as when you're 8. Will I be able to drive my stick shift car to work tomorrow? If not, can I step up and down to get into the bus? Sigh.
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That stinks!!! I am so sorry. But, just for a minute, did you think that was pretty cool? At the office: "Gee, what happened?" you " Ah, it's a bike thing - do you ride?" them: "Well, I've always wanted to" you; "Then you wouldn't understand" and walk away from your awe-struck co-worker. Or - is this the end? Of the bicycle, that is.
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