today i set out by myself to ride highline, down baldwin then cross the creek to trails over there. i walked the upper baldwin till i could ride the remaining switchbacks. i made them. the trail dropped into a narrow rocky wash. i had ridden this in the past. this time i stalled on a small roller. my handlebar twisted to the right which pitched me downhill over the bars. it is a narrow wash. i found the far side right full force on my right shoulder and right side on helmet. i spattered on upslope. inventory of extent of sudden stop. pain in right shoulder. i wiggled around a little to sit up. i wiggled .lightly my shoulder. pain. movement distortion. big time damage. as i fell i kept my arm against my body to prevent possible broken wrist, torn ligaments were the extent of my fear. i need to get to the hospital for treatment. but first i need to stand up and pick up my bike. right arm can’t stand lifting the bike. i get it upright and straddle the top tube. i push off and of a fashion i am ridding. plan is to catch baldwin trail for several miles to verde valley school road then ride back to my van @ bnb so i could drive myself to the hospital.
40 minutes of dirt and pavement riding after the fall i made bnb. i could not lift my bike onto the bike rack. i asked bnb to check out the bent rear brake lever and told them what happened and what i was planning. took bike gear off and put on topsiders. left hand turn right side key start. made hospital . appears to be just staff rigs in the lot. good no waiting line. walked in. xray tech walked by and remarked she remembered me from last year’s fall. 3 xrays and read by er doc diagnosed broken collar bone almost @ the joint. i was fitted w/ a cross brace sim to my experience 36 years ago after i broke my left collar bone from a dirt bike crash. pain meds.
riding by myself enjoying making all the decisions. i made a brain fart and payed for it.
i have more hours each day to fill. typing is painfully slow.
just another experience on my odyssey. my goal is to be self sufficient. i need to buy another car sleeping bag to sleep on the floor as lowering and raising takes a full 2 hands, way too heavy to do one handed.
pain meds wacked out to shallow left field
Craig, Man, so sorry to hear about your fall. Hope things heal quickly. I appreciate all your blogs. I tore my achilles in May, had the surgery and have been rehabbing since. The Doc will let me ride but only passive things like smooth trails or asphalt bike trails so I live vicariously through your ride descriptions and MTBR, and such. Walter
Bad news Craig. As always if you need a warm casual place to rest up for awhile, head our way.
Hey Craig, sorry to hear about the injuries. Don’t recover as quick as we get older! Hope for a speedy one.I just went thru disc fusion so am less able to do much for awhile.
Hi Craig,
Sorry to hear you are hurt. Hope you can heal up fast. Randy
Craig,
I snapped mine 2 Aprils ago skateboarding after a good day of biking. 6 weeks later and I was back on the bike as good as new. Best of luck in your recovery…injuries suck. red from Davis WV
Craig, what a bummer. What are the doctors telling you regarding how long before you’re back to riding? I assume it will be a couple months before the collar bone is healed? Need a place to crash?
Craig-
We’ve never met, but I am a long time reader, first time commenter. As an IT geek/cube jockey, I often miss out on riding. It brings a light to my day to read your blog and live vicariously through your experiences on the trail. I am sending you good thoughts and vibes and hoping you get a little trail magic (and a record setting speedy recovery!)-
Craig,
Sorry to hear this. Hope you get to a good spot and get healed up.
Bill
Bummer deal. Let me know if you have any questions.
Jeff
I thought my crash into a cactus yesterday was bad. If you want to chill out for a while in N. Phoenix just day the word. Scott.