"Into each life a little rain must fall". Nothing so well bespeaks the truth of a life spent cycling as this phrase. It is written large on the wall of cycling wisdom, "They who ride shall crash". Not today maybe, maybe not tomorrow, but someday you will probably crash if you ride on a regular basis. If you haven't crashed yet, then you have beaten the odds, but by the same token you may be overdue. Ask any road (or off-road) warrior who has ridden his/her trusty stead for many years and you will be able to pull a crash story out of them (they may even want to show you their scars). Yes, you say, but these are the testosterone driven, gonzo, crazy homeboys\homegirls (aka hammerheads) and the generally careless and nutzoid who have earned their crashes through momentary ineptitude or excessive and inappropriate exuberance. Maybe, but I have also heard the stories of careful, seasoned pedalophiliacs who have come up against potholes, sudden explosive flats, rear wheel kisses, dog escape shakes, rough road edges, scrapes with curbs, slides on slick pavement, railroad tracks, bridge gratings, patches of loose sand, general unexplainable loss of control, and that nemesis, the car. Not all of these things are controllable or completely avoidable. Someday one of them may jump out and get you. I say jump, because having crashed myself I know that what gets you is what you really don't expect, something that seems completely predictable and isn't, or something that just can't be foreseen or dealt with in the time that fate gives you. And so we crash. We never want to, but we do.
What can we do about it? Well, first of all, we face the inevitable and prepare for the possibility (or probability) and wear an approved helmet. The brain is unique in that it doesn't regenerate tissue when damaged, whatever you destroy is gone forever, so avoid destroying it. Next gloves, since your most likely point of contact is your hands as you try to break your fall. Gloves will reduce the damage that your hands may incur in meeting the pavement. What else? Well, hydration keeps your brain clear and your body comfortable and this makes you better able to deal with whatever may try to make you crash, so carry lots to drink when you ride. And be very careful not to lose your balance or crash into something if you drink while riding. Eye protection; a bug or dirt in the eye can lead to some fine shaky bike maneuvers and loss of control that can end up as a major crash. Easily prevented by sunglasses or a clear shield. The condition of your bike; do you have tread, do your brakes work well, is your headset tight? Potential loss of control items. Eliminate them from your possibilities!
Finally, with the best preparation you may still crash, remember its not what you expect or plan for that gets you, particularly if you have already planned all of those possibilities out of the picture. So what's left? You can't really know, so now plan for the possibility of the crash itself. Let's say that hypothetically, you've just crashed. You're still conscious, but you can feel some pain points. Unless you're in eminent danger of being run over, move slowly and determine where you're hurt. Don't do anything to make matters worse. If you ride with a group (a good idea) then all the rest will be dealt with for you (assuming that you are still conscious). Someone will deal with your bike, call an ambulance (if needed), call your family, get you a ride or patch up your boo-boos. If you are alone, its a different story. You must call for the help, arrange to deal with your bike, flag a ride, patch yourself up, whatever. Here is a list of things you can carry to be prepared. Telephone numbers of family and friends who will come and get you and your bike, and the money to call them. A map,if you ride out to the boonies, so you can tell them how to get to wherever you are. Some bandages and some salve (neosporin is good). If you're really hurt bad, remember you SHOULD call 911! Shands has a helicopter for the worst case scenario.
Best case; you crash, only minor scrapes and bruises (what usually happens!). Valuable lesson learned.
Worst case scenario, you are alone, you crash, you are unconscious. Total Bummer, does life get less kind or gentle! At least if whoever finds you, knew who you are, or had a telephone number of who to call or knew if you were allergic to medications, someone could help you on the way to the hospital. So carry such a list. Include your name, address, telephone #, your allergies, blood type, etc. Also a person to call in an emergency. Include your hospital preference, your doctors name and # and a xerox copy of your medical insurance card and your drivers license. Carry this info in a small ziplock bag (so it will stay dry) and keep it in one of your jersey pockets, or in your pack where it can be found quickly by someone looking for your i.d. Now you can ride with less anxiety knowing you are as prepared for the worst as you reasonably can be. And remember that everything you do in life involves some risk, so we have to decide in the balance whether the risk is worth whatever benefit comes from the activity. I think you'll agree with me that the balance is clearly in favor of biking.
In the interest of making your riding a little safer, we are including in this newsletter a pullout that you can annotate with your appropriate information and fold and keep with you when you bike. Have fun, but always be mindful of the potential dangers. And by all means, if you have a cellular phone, carry it with you in a protective pack when you ride. It could just be your best friend.
In conclusion I want to point out that this article is not written to make you reluctant or afraid to bike, it is written to suggest that you carry an umbrella, figuratively speaking. Most spills do not result in significant injury, but the possiblity is always there.
Good luck and tail winds.