Just got out of hospital...

spasypaddy · June 2007

Kind of had an accident on friday, was going down a hill in the cycle lane next to a line of traffic. Some bloke was going the other way and went through the traffic to turn right (he was going up the hill). I was doing around 30mph (cycle computer says i peaked at 44mph but i think its wrong!). Didnt see him until a second before i hit him and he didnt see me until i hit him! Went into his front wing (he had stopped as he shat himself). I smashed into his front lights and bounced off his windscreen/bonnet onto the road on the other side. 6 or 7 people stopped to help and an ambulance was called. Saw my knee cap which was quite cool.

A and E was painless, considering what i assumed i had done i wasnt in any pain, but it turns out that the 4inch wide gash and inch deep gash was all that it was a gash and there was no actual damage to anything! Would of been out in a few hours but i didn't know i was allergic to penicillin which i now know i am! Had an operation on my knee yesterday evening to clean it up and stitch it up from the inside.

The only actual damage i can see to my beloved cannodale is that the handlebars are broken in two. What would you do with the bike? Replace after an accident or repair?

I'm very lucky to be alive and with such little damage, on codine and 1000mg of paracetamol every few hours! So lala land for me. Thank fuck i was wearing a helmet.

I have pics of my injuries if anyone is interested but its rather bad and i wont post if people dont want to see

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

Cunobelin · June 2007

Glad it wasn't worse for you!

I would worry thathe forks are bent, or there is damage to the downtube or toptupe.

It is always worth getting a competent LBS to check the frame over, especially as this is evidential should you decide to claim.

He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.
(Unattributed Trad.)

spasypaddy · June 2007

yeah i will be getting it checked out, i dont know whether i want to ride that bike again though.

im very lucky to be alive

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

rgisme · June 2007

Sorry to hear about the accident and glad you're ok- ish. It sounds pretty nasty. Definitely get the bike checked by your LBS, it sounds like it took quite an impact. It will be worth talking to a solicitor dealing in personal injury, to see if you can claim for your injuries, which don't sound insignificant, as well as the bike damage. If you're a member of the CTC use their legal dept., if not you might have legal expenses cover under your home insurance, or might be able to interest a solicitor doing private no win no no fee work - find one familiar with cycle accident claims. I should imagine you will have some sort of case, but I suspect there will be a degree - possibly a significant degree - of contributory negligence since it seems you were travelling at speed up the inside of a line of traffic. Basically your case highlights, once again, one of the dangers of using cycle lanes.

spasypaddy · June 2007

i have to say that there were alot of people who stopped to help me and the guy i hit seemed genuinely concerned, not enough to ring me later to ask if i was ok...

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

Cunobelin · June 2007

There is a quandry here, I have been there...

I had a bad accident on a bike some years ago,with fractures of skull, ribs, pelvis and collarbone. It took me 6 weeks to get back on a bike (very gingerly - and then on my first recumbent), but some eighteen months to feel comfortable with the bike I had the accident on. Even now some fifteen years later I still feel more cautious about the place where it occurred. I have no problem cycling there, but just use more caution than elsewhere.

Take your time getting back on the road, deal with each issue as it arises, don't rush it and trust your feelings.

Carry on with the checks and repairs though - Whether you ride it or sell it on, the same care needs to be taken with the checking and repair of the bike. Not only will this mean a propoer resale value if you go down that route, but your future use, or the new owners use will benefit from the time and effort..

He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.
(Unattributed Trad.)

Asterixcp · June 2007

..be wary about the frame, I was T-boned by a camper van that pulled out of a LH minor road. Just cuts and grazes and a tacoed rear wheel.

The entire bike was stripped down and rebuilt. However both the LBS and I failed to spot a tiny dent in the down tube and the fact that it was very slightly bent. A few months later I noticed the frame was now cracked just above the cable-stops. Of course I had only claimed for the obvious items.

Thanks for the offer of your pics, but I don't even like the scenes on Casualty[;)]

Pour vivre heureux, vivons le v‚lo..

Oddballcp · June 2007

Replace the frame and charge to his insurance. The frame will be damaged, even if you can't see it. You were going straight on, he was turning, you had priority, his fault.
But watch out next time.

http://victoryatseaonline.com/war/kellys.html

tentonnehammer · June 2007

Hells teeth mate that sounds like a right nasty accident and I am pleased you werent hurt more badly, look after yourself and happy healing for the bits that are smacked about. Get the bike checked out, I bet a decent LBS will say it will be unsafe given the impact etc and sue him for the lot.

woodford2barbican · June 2007

Post the pictures! Please!

(Glad you are ok......)

spasypaddy · June 2007

my dad has just been offered the ride to work scheme and he has said i can get a new bike through that and ill pay him back slowly. ive only had the bike two weeks and love it but i dont think i can get back on it. I wouldn't sell it if i wasnt happy with it (safety wise), assuming the frame is ok i shall sell it.

the pics will be linked not directly posted as some wont appreciate them!

http://img453.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 094jx5.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 095qr1.jpg

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

woodford2barbican · June 2007

That is a nasty slice - it looks like you almost peeled your knee cap off. I hope you heal quickly.

spasypaddy · June 2007

cheers, i am now on first name terms with my knee cap. I have called him Jimmy

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

That's terrible spasypaddy hope you get better quick.[v]

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
Ride to work part 2 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu
Ride to work part 3 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv

Asterixcp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by spasypaddy

cheers, i am now on first name terms with my knee cap. I have called him Jimmy

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are in Leeds?

Anyway, you must give your other kneecap some (slightly less drastic) attention lest jealousy ensue. That would not help your cycling.

Pour vivre heureux, vivons le v‚lo..

BentMikey · June 2007

Holy cow, glad you're OK mate.

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

spasypaddy · June 2007

yeah im in leeds, it happened on Otley road. I'm a student (finished uni forever two weeks ago) so i was hoping for a few weeks of cycling and dossing and all ive done is spend it in hospital!

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

urrrrrrrrrs · June 2007

wow mate ,that is some serious gash there ,obviously being a student tax dodger[:)] you'll be numbing the pain with a few visits to the student bar which co-incdentally i hadmany happy times up there when my friends were at uni there[8D]

well get back to north london quickly, the roads around Barnet await !!

i'd rather have a bottle in front of me,than a frontal lobotomy

spasypaddy · June 2007

unfortunately im on so much painkiller and antibiotics i can't drink for two weeks at least!

im going to need a new bike before i start exploring the roads of barnet, something will have to be sorted out in the next month as i need to ride. I want to be riding as soon as i can get back onto a bike!

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

urrrrrrrrrs · June 2007

when has a few pain killers ever stopped a stoooooodent from drinking[:D] lightweight !!

EV**S have opened up a big store in Hendon (junc of aerodrome rd and A41) or somewhere more independent ? for your bike

i'd rather have a bottle in front of me,than a frontal lobotomy

dangerousjules · June 2007

f**k ev**ns go independent!

dangerous jules.
all right ,lets not panic, i'll make the money by selling one of my livers. i can get by with just one right?

urrrrrrrrrs · June 2007

actually the more i think about it DJ you're right !!!!!! its just that i go past it everyday on my way into work

went in there when they first opened (bought a water bottle) and asked out of curiosity about servicing and i quote "ther are no decent quality bike shops capable of servicing bikes in this area of north london" oh ok then ,you lying bastards i thought, as i had a service for œ25 from a LBS up the road

i'd rather have a bottle in front of me,than a frontal lobotomy

spasypaddy · June 2007

i'll probably go see what the shops in friern barnet have to offer. Im not sure yet, need to heal first but getting a new bike is extremely high on my list of priorities!

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

BentMikey · June 2007

Seen a cycling specialist solicitor yet? I would. I would also be much more careful about going past traffic at 30mph, though.

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

stelvio · June 2007

Reads like a classic example of how bloody dangerous cycle lanes can be; cyclist "undertaking" in a cycle lane, collides with oncoming vehicle turning across traffic flow.
If no cycle lane, cyclist would be overtaking, not undertaking, and both cyclist/driver would have a chance to see each other.
Undertaking also puts cyclist at risk of car doors opening, left turning cars etc.
A useful lesson,thanks for sharing it.

BentMikey · June 2007

To be honest, overtaking can also be dangerous. It would probaby have avoided this particular incident, but you also get people turning right out of a side road and coming across your path. It always pays to be very careful when filtering/overtaking a queue of traffic.

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

No **** man.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
Ride to work part 2 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu
Ride to work part 3 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv

ChrisKH · June 2007

Crikey Spasypaddy, hope you're on the mend. Must be something about Fridays (see my accident post). I'm only glad that my damage is to my bike and not my body (plus I can't do 30mph on a Brommie without wind or gravity assistance anyway!). Look on the plus side, there's a potential lucrative personal injury claim you should be making. And from the pictures I have to say it would be justified.[xx(]

Baby elephants are so last year, darling.

stelvio · June 2007

Originally posted by BentMikey

To be honest, overtaking can also be dangerous. It would probaby have avoided this particular incident, but you also get people turning right out of a side road and coming across your path. It always pays to be very careful when filtering/overtaking a queue of traffic.

Absolutely.
Being a bit dim, I had to learn this one the hard way, but fortunately without the gruesome results spasypaddy posted.

spasypaddy · June 2007

had there not been a cycle lane i probably would have just waited in the traffic! or overtaken at a much slower speed. Im just very thankful that i have done such little damage and what damage i have done is not to any muscles or bones. Im lucky to have walked away!

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

spasypaddy · June 2007

out of interest as i was attached to my bike (cleats) how come the bike didnt come with me? or was the force of the collision enough to rip me out of the cleats will my pedals/cleats be damaged need replacing?

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

Just got out of hospital...

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