The EMT treats my scrapes earlier this month at the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic. (There's a video of the crash in a previous post.)
The scrape on my leg from the crash at the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic.
The scrape on my arm from the crash at the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic.
The scrape on my left arm from the crash at Rockford.
The scrape on my right arm from the crash at Rockford.
A smaller scrape below my knee from the crash at Rockford. I covered it with a Tegaderm patch.
A bigger scrape above my knee from Rockford. I didn't feel like taking off the gauze, so you'll have to use your imagination.
A scrape on my shoulder from Rockford.
Smaller cuts on my left hand from Rockford.
Smaller cuts on my right hand from Rockford.
The materials I used this morning to change my bandages.
The progress of the scrape on my leg from the Fixed Gear Classic.
So yeah. Forgive my language, but I'm pretty fucking sick of crashing. I've crashed four times since May:
1.) During the road race at collegiate nationals another rider tangled his bars with mine in a left turn. We both went down and my race was pretty much screwed from then. I probably could have avoided the crash if I was a bit looser or if I had been riding closer to the front of the pack.
2.) The next day, at the criterium at collegiate nationals, there was a 6" gap in the the start / finish straight running parallel to our line. Each lap, everyone pretty much had to sideways-bunny-hop it to get around the corner. A rider several places behind me got his wheel caught in it and slid out, causing the guy ahead of him to slide out, causing the guy ahead of him to slide out, causing me to slide out. I seriously thought I had avoided the crash when I heard it happen, but then a rider came sliding into my rear wheel. The officials neutralized the race while one of the crashed riders was stretchered away.
3.) At the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic, the rider on second wheel overlapped the first rider's wheel as he finished his pull. He slid down the track, taking out my rear wheel and causing Dave Byer to t-bone him.
4.) At Rockford, my front tire went flat in a fast downhill 90 degree left turn, causing me to hit the ground instantly and slide a few feet on the pavement. Eric Forrester happened to be the unlucky rider behind me and also went down.
I had the pleasure of taking the most painful shower of my life yesterday.
I'm hoping I'll be healed enough to ride the 3-day at the velodrome this weekend. It's going to be my biggest race of the season and I've been preparing for it since April.
In other news, Luke and I did well at this week's Nas-Track race. We timed our exchanges perfectly in the two Madisons and ended up winning every sprint as well as the overall. I have a snazzy new Nas-Track hat now.
Ciao. :)
