End Pavement

Shoulder and other injury update over at Celsius1414.

Update: Saw the doctor today (Monday)

Here are a few pics of the more visible effects from last Saturday’s accident. Click for larger. (The last three are from my cameraphone.)

Apart from the pain and wounded ego, the worst part at the moment is the sense of time lost with various walks, hikes, and bike rides not being done. Not to mention falling behind in work and home projects. Being limited to using only one hand to type is super annoying, since my work and much of my hobbies involve using a keyboard.

If I hadn’t been wearing my helmet, I probably wouldn’t be writing this at all.

On the bright side, the shoulder feels somewhat better, though still creepy as various bits move around in a thoroughly disturbing manner. I’m looking forward to attempting a walk around the block soon, and really looking forward to physical therapy (the therapist is awesome), and getting back on track with everything.

So, I’ll need a new helmet. And some blinking lights. ;)

Here’s how a series of small mistakes can turn a nice bike ride into a trip to the Emergency Room.

Mistake #1

Decided to go on a bike ride Saturday afternoon. On my way out the door despite only having 400 or so calories that morning, figuring I’d hit a convenience store on the road.

Mistake #2

Taking a different route than originally planned, a rural one with no convenience stores — or any other stores. Still, lots of beautiful scenery.

Mistake #3

Realizing there was a problem when a headwind started on the generally uphill grade. I kept moving since it would be farther to go home than continue the loop where a store was.

Mistake #4

Not taking into account the extra time resulting from the headwind, thus ensuring I would be riding during twilight, then complete darkness.

Mistake #5

Not carrying blinking lights since I “never ride at night.”

Mistake #6

Three miles from home in mostly dark streets, not getting off the bike and walking.

Mistake #7

Expecting the car coming in the opposite direction to signal if they were going to turn.

And that, dear friends, is how I wound up in the ER, after breaking hard to avoid slamming into the car that suddenly turned in front of me. I missed the car, thankfully, but did not miss the asphalt.

In a classic case of “How was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?” the 30+ miles of mostly rural riding was quite nice, despite the headwind and low calories. I have pictures I’ll post soon.

My doctor said 1-2 weeks healing time/rest for shoulder, then 6-8 weeks physical therapy. For the ribs, it’s 6-8 weeks and nothing to be done except heal and mending.

I had planned on going hiking Saturday morning, but had to change plans at the last minute. Instead I decided to try and get in a bike ride in the afternoon.

I should have gone hiking, apparently.

I’ll keep this short for now due to having to type with one hand, as I managed to go endo over my handlebars onto the street. Nothing broken, miraculously, but I did separate my right shoulder, tearing ligaments I guess. Between that, other bruises, road rash, cuts, etc., not to mention the bruised ego, I’ve definitely seen better days. Thank goodness Denyse and Hans are around to help me out.

So, more later. Hard lessons were learned. Could have been much worse.

Update

Heard from the hospital — it’s a type 3 separated shoulder, and I also have a couple of broken ribs.

Talk about ending pavement! Plans for revitalizing the LA River come and go pretty often, but this new Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan really has some ooomph.

In the LA Times today, by Steve Hymon, “Costly L.A. River plan contains a raft of new ideas”. (Apparently, you can’t avoid making headline puns about this story. ;)

After decades of enduring jokes about the city’s concrete-lined waterway, officials today will release an ambitious master plan for restoring the Los Angeles River, a project that reflects lofty dreams and carries a big price tag.

If anything, the plan is significant not for its specifics but for its sweep and boldness in proposing to turn the industrial-strength storm drain running from the San Fernando Valley to the sea into “one of the city’s most treasured landmarks.”

The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan proposes a $2-billion-plus makeover that would replace vast tracts of industrial land along the river with parks, clean up the river and make it appear more natural while retaining its important flood-control role.

If they could make this bold vision happen, it could have a profound effect on all of Southern California, much less Los Angeles itself.