As some of you will be aware, I had a bit of a spill at the weekend. I wanted to describe what happened and give thanks to all those that helped. I'm finding typing and concentrating a bit hard so it will be quite brief.
Cyclingmollie (C), Kaputnik (K) and I started off for a ride to the English border at 9 on Sunday morning. The weather was good but breezy, mostly in our favour on the way out, so we thinking to cut the ride short. We made good progress up over Redstone, with only light swearing, passing a couple of riders taking a break near Danskine. We then turned towards Longformacus. Going down the hill into the valley (Whiteadder?), we saw a heart "drawn" on the opposite hill. We also saw a mountain rescue team practising. Coming over the next hill we stopped to enjoy the panaroma over the English and Scottish borders, with the sea visible. Shortly afterwards we passed over a cattle grid and started to speed up down the hill, with a strongish cross-wind. At that point I experienced something like strong speed wobble and basically lost control [best theory at this stage is a front tyre blowout, perhaps from the grid - but this isn't confirmed yet].
The next I remember is C coming to help - basically he was trying very hard not to let me get up! It was hard for him - I like to get straight back on the bike after spills. At the same time he was trying to call an ambulance - this took 3 times cos of the lack of signal, and our location (in the middle of nowhere) was difficult to describe. Then some time after, C will remember better, K came back shocked, he'd been a little ahead so had to cycle all the back up from Longformacus to see this horrific scene. Also the 2 cyclists we passed before stopped to help. In particular I remember Pip holding my hand and me to squeeze every now and then - very comforting for me. A motorcylist stopped and was asked to ask the mountain rescue guys to come and help. When they came, they put me in a human tent, a neckbrace and sleeping bag - all very welcome it was becoming chilly. The ambulance came quite quickly - based at Chirnside.K came with me - thanks mate - and C stayed with the bikes having called home for a pickup.
The ride in the ambulance took a while - they went quite slow in case of back injury - eventually we arrived at the borders hospital near Melrose. The A & E were good - cleaning me up - lots of gritty road rash -ow! And a couple of X rays. They were going to let me go home but I couldn't sit up so I was kept in for obs and my wife took K home. The next day I had a CT scan ruling out most problems except for a separated AC joint in my right shoulder. I was released on Tuesday pm, when I started to feel brighter.
List of injuries:
Mild concussion and small lump on head
Abrasions mainly on the right side - head, shoulder, arm, hip, both knees, left hand esp thumb, ankle
massive lump on upper right leg
Shoulder separation
My bike seems largely okay but I will take it in somewhere for a postmortem and checks - any recommendations? I have the gps device but need to edit it to grt the relevant evidence.
Many many thanks to the following:
Cyclingmollie (cool under pressure) and Kaputnik for being the best of cycling buddies
Paul and Pip for stopping to help
Brian the motorcyclist
The Borders Search & Rescue Team
The ambulance team
All the staff at the hospital
My lovely wife
I am extremely grateful that you were all there for me when I needed you.
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