Update on my bike crash

[Geoff Lock[_3_]]

I know I have posted elsewhere and I tort I should really post something
specifically about my recovery thus far

I have been avoiding aus.bicycles partly because I know I was not
exactly the most popular poster here and partly because I don't feel
like talking about bicycles right now and partly because I was warned
about discussing my case but what the hell, I owe it to the newsgroup.

As some may or may not know, back in mid-Nov 2011, I was minding my own
business riding my bike when I was rear-ended by a car. I have no idea
how fast the car was going except that the skid marks were about
40metres. I hit the windscreen square in the middle, destroyed it, got
thrown in front of the car and was rolling in front of the car for a
bit. I was also under the vehicle for some of the time as I recall
seeing the wheel arch(?) of one wheel - front passenger side I'm pretty
sure (amazing the clarity one gets in times like these).

I suffered 2 tiny fractures (tip of my thumb and somewhere near my right
knee), lost a bit of skin but suffered extensive soft tissue damage in a
few places like - where my skull joins my neck (C1 I am told), some
vertebrae C6(?). my shoulders, my elbows, my hands, my ribs, my lower
back, my hips, my knees, my left ankle and my left foot. I have actually
got a few more other problems but you get the general idea.

My right ankle and right foot seem fine though.

I can now walk - slowly and I use a walking stick to help me along.

I can't ride a bicycle just yet and have given away most of my bikes anyway.

No Sydney to Wollongong for me this year and definitely no Sydney to
Canberra any time soon.

This post is just simply to update anybody who may be wondering what
happened to me and no, there is no need to respond to it as I will not
be adding any more to what I have said above. I hope you all understand.

[Metro Fab]

--
"Geoff Lock" > wrote in message
...
>I know I have posted elsewhere and I tort I should really post something
>specifically about my recovery thus far
>
> I have been avoiding aus.bicycles partly because I know I was not exactly
> the most popular poster here and partly because I don't feel like talking
> about bicycles right now and partly because I was warned about discussing
> my case but what the hell, I owe it to the newsgroup.
>
> As some may or may not know, back in mid-Nov 2011, I was minding my own
> business riding my bike when I was rear-ended by a car. I have no idea how
> fast the car was going except that the skid marks were about 40metres. I
> hit the windscreen square in the middle, destroyed it, got thrown in front
> of the car and was rolling in front of the car for a bit. I was also under
> the vehicle for some of the time as I recall seeing the wheel arch(?) of
> one wheel - front passenger side I'm pretty sure (amazing the clarity one
> gets in times like these).
>
> I suffered 2 tiny fractures (tip of my thumb and somewhere near my right
> knee), lost a bit of skin but suffered extensive soft tissue damage in a
> few places like - where my skull joins my neck (C1 I am told), some
> vertebrae C6(?). my shoulders, my elbows, my hands, my ribs, my lower
> back, my hips, my knees, my left ankle and my left foot. I have actually
> got a few more other problems but you get the general idea.
>
> My right ankle and right foot seem fine though.
>
> I can now walk - slowly and I use a walking stick to help me along.
>
> I can't ride a bicycle just yet and have given away most of my bikes
> anyway.
>
> No Sydney to Wollongong for me this year and definitely no Sydney to
> Canberra any time soon.
>
> This post is just simply to update anybody who may be wondering what
> happened to me and no, there is no need to respond to it as I will not be
> adding any more to what I have said above. I hope you all understand.

Hey Geoff,

Was just on this group yesterday, and was wondering what happened to you.
Been missing you frequent posts! Long time aus.bicycles lurker here, and I
have always made time to read up on your posts.

What happened to you has been a chilling thought of what may happen to me or
one of my kids one day....(various ages 8-18yo)

We have basically given up on the road cycling, not that we were too
serious, just a weekend cruise every second week end or so ranging from
30-75k.

If we do get out on the roadies now, we usually stick to cycle paths or the
quiet local roads, where we can get a ride in around 30k return.

In the recent times I have been going out on my own early weekend mornings
from about 4:30-5am and doing a 50-75k circuit, but have found it pretty
boring on my own, and couldn't really see myself mixing with the serious
folk out there..

My youngest started up BMX racing over the last few years & seeing I was
spending a lot of time at the local track for training / racing I decided I
would give it a go...

Been racing now for the last 12 months and having an absolute ball! Racing
cruiser class (24inch) with other club members, ranging from teenagers to
55yo.

Yeah, there are a few bumps and bruises, but the additional protective gear
(MX style pressure jacket, knee. shin pads in addition to mandatory full
face helmet, gloves, long shirt / pants) is certainly a good investment...

Even been giving a few "open day" and zone events a go, usually following
along behind the pack, but having a blast just the same!

But the best thing, is you don't have the added stress of "where are those
damn cars"

Not saying its for you or anything, just sharing my experience...

I really feel for you mate, and hope the injuries come good in the near
future.

Cheers,

Gary.

[Alan Erskine[_3_]]

On 16/05/2012 3:55 AM, Geoff Lock wrote:
> I know I have posted elsewhere and I tort I should really post something
> specifically about my recovery thus far
>
> I have been avoiding aus.bicycles partly because I know I was not
> exactly the most popular poster here and partly because I don't feel
> like talking about bicycles right now and partly because I was warned
> about discussing my case but what the hell, I owe it to the newsgroup.

<snip>

You don't owe anything to anyone. You just get better and remember,
don't get angry, GET LEGAL!

Don't post any more about your case until after it's settled and only
with the Court's permission; you may have to deal with an appeal too.

I hope you get better soon and come back to us.

[Rob]

On 16/05/2012 3:55 AM, Geoff Lock wrote:
> I know I have posted elsewhere and I tort I should really post something
> specifically about my recovery thus far
>
> I have been avoiding aus.bicycles partly because I know I was not
> exactly the most popular poster here and partly because I don't feel
> like talking about bicycles right now and partly because I was warned
> about discussing my case but what the hell, I owe it to the newsgroup.
>
> As some may or may not know, back in mid-Nov 2011, I was minding my own
> business riding my bike when I was rear-ended by a car. I have no idea
> how fast the car was going except that the skid marks were about
> 40metres. I hit the windscreen square in the middle, destroyed it, got
> thrown in front of the car and was rolling in front of the car for a
> bit. I was also under the vehicle for some of the time as I recall
> seeing the wheel arch(?) of one wheel - front passenger side I'm pretty
> sure (amazing the clarity one gets in times like these).
>
> I suffered 2 tiny fractures (tip of my thumb and somewhere near my right
> knee), lost a bit of skin but suffered extensive soft tissue damage in a
> few places like - where my skull joins my neck (C1 I am told), some
> vertebrae C6(?). my shoulders, my elbows, my hands, my ribs, my lower
> back, my hips, my knees, my left ankle and my left foot. I have actually
> got a few more other problems but you get the general idea.
>
> My right ankle and right foot seem fine though.
>
> I can now walk - slowly and I use a walking stick to help me along.
>
> I can't ride a bicycle just yet and have given away most of my bikes
> anyway.
>
> No Sydney to Wollongong for me this year and definitely no Sydney to
> Canberra any time soon.
>
> This post is just simply to update anybody who may be wondering what
> happened to me and no, there is no need to respond to it as I will not
> be adding any more to what I have said above. I hope you all understand.

Thanks for the update. Thats some serious stuff which takes a long time
to heal, if ever. I have a crook knee, cycling helps me keep going but
every now and again get nagging pain from the knee.

r

[hemyd]

"Geoff Lock" > wrote in message
...
>I know I have posted elsewhere and I tort I should really post something
>specifically about my recovery thus far
>
> I have been avoiding aus.bicycles partly because I know I was not exactly
> the most popular poster here and partly because I don't feel like talking
> about bicycles right now and partly because I was warned about discussing
> my case but what the hell, I owe it to the newsgroup.
>
> As some may or may not know, back in mid-Nov 2011, I was minding my own
> business riding my bike when I was rear-ended by a car. I have no idea how
> fast the car was going except that the skid marks were about 40metres. I
> hit the windscreen square in the middle, destroyed it, got thrown in front
> of the car and was rolling in front of the car for a bit. I was also under
> the vehicle for some of the time as I recall seeing the wheel arch(?) of
> one wheel - front passenger side I'm pretty sure (amazing the clarity one
> gets in times like these).
>
> I suffered 2 tiny fractures (tip of my thumb and somewhere near my right
> knee), lost a bit of skin but suffered extensive soft tissue damage in a
> few places like - where my skull joins my neck (C1 I am told), some
> vertebrae C6(?). my shoulders, my elbows, my hands, my ribs, my lower
> back, my hips, my knees, my left ankle and my left foot. I have actually
> got a few more other problems but you get the general idea.
>
> My right ankle and right foot seem fine though.
>
> I can now walk - slowly and I use a walking stick to help me along.
>
> I can't ride a bicycle just yet and have given away most of my bikes
> anyway.
>
> No Sydney to Wollongong for me this year and definitely no Sydney to
> Canberra any time soon.
>
> This post is just simply to update anybody who may be wondering what
> happened to me and no, there is no need to respond to it as I will not be
> adding any more to what I have said above. I hope you all understand.
>
As a fellow cyclist who got hit several times until getting too **** scared
to ride, I wish you a speedy recovery.

Henry Mydlarz

[James[_8_]]

On 21/05/2012 6:30 PM, hemyd wrote:

> As a fellow cyclist who got hit several times until getting too **** scared
> to ride, I wish you a speedy recovery.

I feel sorry for you (both).

I chatted to one fellow recently who has been hit from behind 10 times
on his commute to work. I think this is over a 5 - 10 year period. He
rides over Mt Dandenong.

I just don't get it. I've been riding for about 25 years and average
over 10,000km per year around Melbourne. I've trained, raced, commuted
and ridden socially, day and night, and never been hit from behind.

You have to ask yourself, is it luck or something more too it?

BTW, I ride on pretty busy streets, with tram tracks, parked cars,
pedestrians, highways, etc. It's not like I sneak along the bike path.

And it's not to say I don't have encounters with motorists. Most
incidents seem to be them failing to give way, or giving the ol' left
hook or right cross, or opening their car door when they shouldn't. I
have crashed into them a few times. The last was an old bloke who
pulled out from the left and was heading for a park on the left.
Trouble was I was doing about 55 km/h down a hill, and thought he was
going to go down the hill - not across the road. I'd already moved
right to go around him, but he kept coming out and I couldn't avoid him
- quite. Thankfully by the time we connected I'd washed of a lot of
speed and didn't hurt myself as much as my bike, which he paid for
anyway, as well as the sizeable dent in his car left by my right knee,
which is thankfully quite solid.

--
JS