Well today was the good bad and ugly. I thought I'd redeem myself and re-ride the same loop from Thanksgiving day that kicked my butt. I looked at the weather and there wasn't going to be much wind. So I fueled right before and during and really hit the road ready to smash my 17.7 mph avg from just over a week ago. Through the first 20 miles I was right on with last weeks ride so no gain so far. But in the next hour I hit 17.2 miles today where last week I only hit 13. Got up to Veyo and did have a mild headwind from there down to about the volcano on the marathon course. But I was feeling it and with the added fuel and hydration things were rolling. Came back into town at around a 19.6 mph avg and kept pushing the pace to try and hit a 20 mph by the time I finished. Got to the bottom of Bluff St. and over to River Road at a 19.8 mph avg and thought if I push it hard the last 2 miles I'd really have a chance to hit my goal. So I put my head down and started to hammer. As I crossed the bridge over the river a car passed me and then slammed on it's breaks at the light... I had nowhere to go. Either right in the back of that car or into the gutter and road at a current speed of 27 mph. Plus I was down in the drop bars or (aero position). It's super hard to turn fast or break from this position. So I just got around the car without a collision but was not in the gutter and when my wheels came back in contact with the lip of asphalt it derailed my train and I took a super nasty spill in front of about 15 motorists. A few of them called 911 and the ambulance showed up. I landed on my head (did have a brand new helmet on) and shoulder then the hip. My shoulder took the worst of it as I've either broken some bones or at least dislocated the AC joint. Been there before with this injury. The rest of the injuries were just lumps and patches of road rash (pretty good ones... a PR for sure). I declined a ride or service from the ambulance and a nice couple gave me a ride home. I was 58 miles into a 60 mile ride... I just about made it. I'd planned on doing a 8-10 mile run after the ride but after the wreck it was out of the question. My bike took a good beating but seems like nothing too crazy in damage. I did beat up some brand new riding gloves, helmet, feet booties, and trashed the buckles on my shoes. And like I said before my shoulder is the worst bodily injury. It's pretty jacked. I'll give it a day or so to see how it feels then go get an x ray. But if it's the AC joint it will heal by it's self with time. | 