Captain's Corner - October 2008

Your current Rides Captain isn't a very good Rides Captain. Every month that I've written this column, I have tried to mention something about safe bike riding. Yet, at the end of August on a BTCNJ ride, I had an accident. My front wheel got stuck in a rut, and over the handlebars I went. Doug Chucka was riding behind me and also went down as he crashed into me or my bike. Doug and I are okay; he has a separated clavicle. The doctor told him if he had to have a shoulder injury that this was the best one to have. I did a face plant. My upper lip required stitches, and my four front teeth were broken. Doug and I have no injuries that time won't heal and a good doctor or dentist won't fix.

Leading up to the accident, it was a beautiful day. Many friends were on the ride. I was riding in a pace line, which is unusual for me. I couldn't tell you who was in front of me or how close I was to the back wheel. All I remember is seeing the rut, like it was a black and white photograph. If a rider before me pointed or called out the hazard, I missed it. Don't misunderstand: I'm not blaming anyone. I made a mistake by not leaving more room between myself and the rider in front of me. So down I went.

Don Schlenger told me I wasn't a good patient. Instead of staying still like you are supposed to, I was moving around; checking for injuries, I guess. I gather an ambulance was immediately called, but the police arrived on the scene first. When the police officer asked me how old I was, I told him "I was born in 1960. You do the math." Although I was alert and responding, I have no recollection of what happened between riding and "waking up" in the ambulance when asked "What day is it?" I told the EMT that "It was one week after the Ramapo Rally." The EMT didn't know when the Rally was; too bad, he missed a great ride. The bottom line is this - if someone takes a hard fall, although they might seem like they are with the program, it is very possible that they are in shock and responding on instinct.

So off we go to the Morristown Hospital. At this point, BTCNJ's Outreach Committee kicks in. The informal committee consisted of fellow riders who happen to be on the scene. What assistance was needed immediately? For starters, what happened to our bikes? Somehow Mary Ann and Jeff Brand got the bikes in Doug's truck and drove back to my house. When Doug and I were discharged after 6-½ hours in the emergency room, Mary Ann and Jeff drove back to the hospital to take us home. Could we have called our families? Yes. Did we want call our families? No. We already get enough grief about riding. A day later, Henry Gozdz from BTCNJ's formal Outreach Committee called me. Had I been more prepared, I think I could have gotten everything on Doug's "Honey-Do" list done. Tracy Cicatelli called me while I was in the ER. She confirmed my decision to get the plastic surgeon to stitch up my upper lip and, more importantly, she told me she found my hearing aid. Later, she emailed me photos of the rut so that I could notify the town about repairing the road.

Having an accident is no fun. Being on a ride when someone has an accident is also no fun. Though the ride continued, Tracy said it was a rather somber affair, with everyone taking extra care.

Meanwhile BTCNJ's legendary Outreach has continued. Doug and I have received many calls, emails, and cards from our many BTCNJ friends offering help and wishing us a speedy recovery. We want to thank everyone for their concern, and assure you that we are healing. By mid-October, we expect to be riding again. But don't feel too sorry for us. The first two weeks of October, we are off to Paris, London, and then sailing home on the Queen Elizabeth 2's final transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York City.

We all need to ride carefully, regardless of our ride category. LEAVE ROOM! If an accident happens, decisions need to be made. BTCNJ does not dictate what should be done, but common sense should prevail. While accompanying the injured party to a medical facility, taking care of his or her bike, getting cars home, or taking the injured person home isn't mandatory, it is all part of what makes BTCNJ and its members special. Ride SAFE! Have FUN!

Ride Safe! Have Fun!

Barbara Klein

P.S. Jim Nicholson's Effective Cycling classes have moved way up on the priority list.

P.P.S. Our bikes survived the crash with nary a scratch. However, just to be safe, we brought them into our respective bike shops for a complete safety check.