About 18 days ago (I'm still counting days rather than weeks) I was taking a day off after spending 14 days in Saudi Arabia for work. Crossing a roundabout, across a major-ish road from one minor road to another. Normal set up, dyno lights ON, winter jacket - HI VIS; as I cycle round the roundabout a silver car coming from my left (UK remember) comes to a halt, and I relax, not noticing the black car that just sails straight onto the roundabout without stopping.
Too late I see it "she's going to stop" keeps running through my mind right until "fuck! she didn't stop" as the middle of the bumper hits the front triangle and the right hand corner connects with my hip. Briefly airborne, sideways, before an impact with the tarmac on my left hand side.
No loss of consciousness, just a mental check, what hurts, what doesn't; face leering over me "I'm really sorry, I just didn't see you" - I've just been SMIDSY'd (Sorry Mate, I didn't See You). Despite the pain, that got logged - tick box number 1, roundabout, impact, didn't see me, prosecution, damages.
I can tell you now, lying on the tarmac, in the wet, on All Hallows Eve, cold, and wondering if you have a broken hip is no fun. As usual, the british National Health Service (free at the point of delivery) worked its wonders. And yes, I'm happy to pay the taxes for it - political, I know.
Damage to me, elbow, massively swollen, but cleared of fracture, now various lurid shades of bruise. Various soft tissue damage to LHS from torso to knee, whiplash to neck and lower back.
Fractured pelvis - this one fucking hurts. It's a weight bearing fracture, I have a stick and am getting past hobbling, now 18 days later to just limping. Prognosis 6-8 weeks recovery, so Christmas. At the moment, opiates are my friend, and I'm at about 50% capacity with work.
Damage to the bike/kit
- seat pan - both halves
- fork, chainstay
- handlebar, handlebar clamp
- LHS bar end shifter, RHS brake lever, bar tape
- Front dyno light
- rear skewer (oddly)
- jacket, undershirt and helmet
Wheels and mainframe OK luckily.
As the ultimate machine once said
"I'll be back"
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