dandiego
Turbocharged
While out with some friends on Sunday, March 13, at about 2PM, I took a pretty good spill on some beautiful California backroad asphalt. I was on the S22, about 4 miles west of Borrego Springs, heading up the Montezuma Grade at about 50MPH, when my rear wheel lost traction while in a steep right hand turn. I might’ve hit gravel, a stone or oil. Might've ben those ultra hard Dulop E3s. The bike fishtailed and I was thrown fairly violently into the oncoming lane. I went airborne, landing on my back and left side. I was able to immediately stand up, though the wind was knocked out of me. My helmet and jacket sustained considerable damage.
My Triumph Rocket III Touring ended up facing the other way; it wasn't totaled but couldn't be ridden. Bent handlebars, broken clutch lever, scratched sidebag and tweaked crash bars. The tow truck arrived 3 hours later while I picked up bike parts and nursed my wounds. I was sore but nothing was broken. Busted up foot, back and shoulder. Road rash on my back and both legs. My Joe Rocket helmet, Triumph jacket and Sidi Canyon boots took most of damage. I'll be sore for a while.
The wife was understandably upset that I didn't tell her right away, but understands. Doesn't like me riding, but understands.
The bike sustained surprisingly minimal damage. Maybe/hopefully $1000 or less. It's at the shop so they can determine how bad it is/how much it'll cost. If there's no frame damage, it may be as simple as new crash bars, handlebars, clutch lever and cosmetic repair to a side bag. If I did tweak the frame or forks, it'll be an insurance job.
Went home and cleaned up, hoping to dodge a hospital visit, but the pain was progressively worse, and I had banged my head during the fall. So it was off to the ER at 10PM; we were there until 0515, as I suspected would happen. The kind medical profesionals at Kaiser ran a full battery of tests to rule out head, neck, spleen damage. Lots of road rash and bruising--and a sprained ankle--but nothing broken and all tests look OK.
Bottom line: The old guy is very sore--everywhere--after a near-disastrous 50 MPH get-off. I doubt I'd have been this sore at 25 (years old or MPH).
I'm in a temporary cast pending an ortho visit tomorrow to examine a hard cast or not; on crutches and some great pain meds. Doing OK. Back to work tomorrow or Wednesday.
My pride will require physical therapy but is expected to recover.
I'm resting @ home now, taking a day or two off of work to recuperate. RICE: Rest Ice Compression Elevation. Nothing's broken except my ego. Road rash and soreness all over. The safety equipment did its job. I was fortunate. I'll take this as a wake-up call to slow it down in unfamiliar territory.
My family and friends came through with calls and texts and much-appreciated prayers.
In the market for new crashhbars (front and rear), nw handlebars and possibly a left-sidebag (if I can't repair it).
So, question for the peanut gallery: is it true that there are two kinds of riders? Those who have gone down and those that will? Ouch...
More on my improving condition later (bike and body).
