What a Fall!

Weekly women's only ride tonight. We had a great turnout with twenty women. About 12 of them had never ridden with us before, or only once before. So, J.D. split us into two groups. I was sent with the experienced riders and I happy to report that I kept up with them. Vicki did the check-in at the designated location and we continued on.

I was following along and suddenly was surprised by a left turn. I still get a little turned around in this area, so I thought I'd made a mistake again and stuck with the group. Suddenly, I follow a bend in the road and looming in front of my face is the hill. Now I know what everyone refers to as the hill that I usually avoid on this route when I ride with the smart ones! Well, I'm here now, so up I go. I had no momentum and had not been preparing my energy or heart rate for a climb like this. I finally manage to get to the top and am huffing and puffing and grateful for a break in the shade where everyone is gathering.

We decide to do another loop, but take the smart route and thus avoid the hill this time. We get to the police station and everyone is regrouping and gabbing. I'm ready to go, so I start the pack off which means I can take full advantage of my gravitational advantage down the hill and really attack the uphill. I do so and then stop at a usual regroup intersection. Apparently I was alone in thinking it was time to regroup, so I'm quickly passed. Trying not to fall behind, I jump back on my bike and take off. Up the first hill that slows me down, I fall behind two other girls. At the top, I stop for a water break and there is no one behind me. I wait for a bit, and then decide if I wait any longer I'll really be behind. As I crest the next hill I have not caught up with the entire group and as I look behind me I see Janet and Vicki starting up the hill. Come to find out, Vicki thought I'd fallen back and doubled-back looking for me. Janet proudly announced that I had been leading the group.

I hung back as one of the new riders had trouble clipping in and rode sweep to keep the group from leaving anyone behind. Eventually, I was alone in the back and enjoying the ride at a little slower pace. I approached a stop sign where Elizabeth, another new girl, was stopped. I slowed and confirmed she was okay. She actually was catching her breath and waiting for me so I wasn't alone. She was ready to go, so as I confirmed the intersection was clear, I clipped back in and was about to pedal on.

Just then, a car came at me from the left. He must have been behind a bush when I looked. I quickly grabbed my brakes and came to a stop. As I did so, I hadn't unclipped again, so as the bike and I came to a stop, gravity worked it's magic and over I went, fast and hard! It was a no speed fall, so I saw it coming in slow motion. The only reaction I had time to do was put out my hands to catch me. Crash! I was stunned. Elizabeth quickly set her bike down and ran over to give me a hand and pick me up off the ground. I was embarrassed and yet thankful that this time I could report I had "correctly" fallen to the left so my derailleur and gears should have been protected. As I stood my bike up, something was off. Sure enough, I bent my handlebars. I shrugged and we headed back to the shop.

It was only about a mile left, and there isn't much you can do on the road for bent handlebars. I just adjusted how I held the bar and made the ride back. My left hand hurt and my chest hurt, but mostly, I was near tears at the thought of having to buy new handlebars for my new bike, already. At the shop, I announced my silly fall and pointed out the damage. At this point, I also discovered some road rash on my left shin. J.D. said the bar could be popped right back out no problem. When I took off my gloves, I discovered two bruises forming on my left palm already and a point where I had clearly caught a rock, but the padding of my gloves had saved me from true gashes. If there had been any speed to that fall, the damage would have been much worse.

Safely at home, I discovered a bruise forming on my chest too. I truly took the brunt of the fall on my left hand and my chest with my handlebars between the road and my chest. It's a lesson to learn. I'll be paying more attention to those stops from now on. Hopefully my handlebars can be fixed and the bruises don't last too long.

Goals
Today's Miles: 13.5
Total Miles Achieved: 583.9
Financial Investment: $1781.14
Total Weight Loss: -0.4