Rick C Johnson
John,
Thanks for sharing the lessons learned. I hope the long days of healing
pass as quickly as possible.
I well know the seriousness of a broken leg as I had a friend who died
after braking his a number of years ago. Another time a friend broke
his in a similar manner as yours (except to make matters worse it was
an open fracture) while were we motorcycling in the remote desert 25
miles from the nearest paved road. Tending to my friend for the six or
so hours it took to get word out to civilization and wait for the two
helicopter relay to be organized gave me a lot of time to think about
the situation. An ounce of prevention is sometimes worth a lot more
than a pound of cure!
These days sometimes I get kidded about the size of the pack I carry -
necessary for a few valuable essentials - on MTB rides (especially the
long ones) but going through that previous experience with nothing more
than an aspirin to offer taught me a couple things. And the laughing
usually stops pretty quick when someone needs something from "the kit".
So, about your pedals. In your spare time you might be curious to see
if your pedals and cleats were grimed up at all. A lot of people don't
give them much thought but I've noticed that some types are more
sensitive than others to the crud that can accumulate during the wet
and dirty conditions of winter and spring. I periodically check that
there's no mud or small pebbles wedged in the cleat area of the shoes.
A wire brush is a good tool to clean both the cleats and pedals. You'd
might be surprised how even a small amount of grime can affect the
releasablity. A conservative spray of WD-40 helps keep everything
working smoothly and will inhibit things from gumming up the works
again.
Enjoy catching up on your reading,
Rick
john wrote:
Hi obra,
To maybe prevent anyone else from busting their
leg in a similar manner,
I figured I should maybe share. (that and I
can't sleep)...
I was riding home from work on the monday jan
30th and decided to get an extra workout and take saltzmann road from
hwy 30 up to skyline.
Well I got halfway, and decided I had enough
climbing so I thought I would just cut over on lief ericson to germantown.
While on lief ericson, I hit some sticks went
down so damn quick and evidently my spd's got "sticky" , my body
twisted and my foot didn't and I broke both bones in between my knee
and ankle, really nice torsional breaks all in a millisecond.
So in addition to learning I can still scream
like a little girl (a very very loud little girl) here are notes of
caution I am sharing:
1. Probably don't ride on really dark roads at
night. (even though I had a good light)
2. Probably should have stayed on saltzmann all
the way up to skyline. Going up is slower and safer on dark unlit roads.
3. Lief was
all muddy and crazy, bu t I rode that just fine, when it got smooth and
hardpacked, I let my guard down and thats when I hit some sticks. Should've kept my guard up.
4. Pedals. this is probably the most important
caution. I had used those pedals for sprinting
last summer/fall. Even though the release
spring wasn't that tight, it was tighter than it should have been for
just general riding. I had never readjusted those pedals. Now there
might also have been an issue with cleat / pedal wear too, you know if
you apply pressue and try to flick out, the cleat catches a wear ridge
and won't rotate sort of thing. I think now,
for general riding, make sure your pedals are on as easy release a s
possible. Obviously not so loose your foot
comes off while standing or sprinting cause that can cause a crash too.
If I would have had any idea that those pedals/cleats would have broke
my leg....
5. Probably let someone know or ride with
someone if you are going on a secluded road or path. If
I had passed out, I would have spent the night up there.
6. Probably don't think it can't happen to you. I've been riding a lot for 20 years and never broke
a bone, and never-ever have seen or heard someone breaking a leg by
having a foot get pedal caught. Well I am sure
it's happened, Just I never saw it. Probably
more so in the old day of cleats ? but of
course back then the shoes didn't grip your foot like beartraps either.
Some of the first clipless pedals, made by look, were actually
initially called safety pedals.
7. Probably don't think you are safe just
because you are going slow. I don't think I was
going over 10 mph. My wheels just went out from
under me so damn quick. Sort of like if you
have ever been taken down by wet RR tracks. It's
quick. Now my brother just shared of som one
breaking a hip crashing from RR tracks.
8. Probably don't think a broken leg is not a
big deal. Initially I was like oh they'll reset
it, then put me in a cast, I'll be home the next day, into work the
next. I should have known better though, by
foot was canted over 80 degress of where it should have been. so, NOooo.. its surgery and
plates, and screws, and more surgery, and really getting atrophied just
sitting the damn hospital, then really sucky mobility, getting faint
just standing up, and hillbilly herion oxocodone, and on and on. And
yeah at least 2 months maybe 3 non weight bearing on that leg?
9. Probably don't ever ever think of smoking.
Initially everyone that was treating me, was asking do you smoke?, do
you smoke ? No ! "Ok
Good ! you'll be all right." I
guess if you are a smoker you stand a good chance of loosing limbs or
digits or ? if you break something down low and they have to do surgey
just cause the circulation is so poor.
10. Anything else? Just be safe be careful ..
oh And before the spring road races, which I'll
miss of course, please practice pack riding, or practice riding next to
another rider, Most important for the beginners is SPIN SPIN SPIN, 100 rpm +. when you push a
big gear you ride like drunken sailor walks. and
relax your upper body. Crashes should not happen, If they are
people are not learning how to ride properly. If there is strong side
wind, you need to be even more careful!
I might try riding around with one leg, but my
luck I would crash and bust that one too... and then I would really be
in a heap of trouble (well at least in a heap).
well maybe on a trainer.
take care, from, John
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