2017-10-12 - Rider down, @spotter in Kentish Town

Sick! HOW?!

Great news about the bike. Heal up rider!

what a relief

win

School close where he crashed has taken it in. Waiting for more details.

Awesome :)

yes school!

Good news!

So good.

Heal up @spotter

Awesome! I would place money on that someone was being helpful and locked it up or took it in, left him a note or something and he's forgotten due to the amnesia.

Banging news. So pleased it hasn't been stolen.

Is it in OK condition? Any evidence of a big crash or anything?

Don't know yet.

:)

yay!

so that rules out the case that it was malicious right?

I hope so, too, but as ever with 'Rider Down', let's not speculate.

Great news about bike. GWSTFU @spotter

Hi everyone,

I'm going to do a full run down of what seems to happen and the damage it caused, but before I do I want say thank you.

I can't over state how much better all the kind messages, offers of help and kind acts have made me feel. The support has really, truly, made a huge difference to me.
Thank you all so much, your words and actions will not be forgotten.

I had a very busy day today with a lot of visits to dentists, doctors and nurses, but the main news is that my bike was recovered. I've was only able to get a quick look at it, but it looks to me like one of the rack stay clamps is missing.

I think the clamp failed in some way, causing the rack to rotate into the wheel as I hit speed bump on a down hill section. Looking at the blood stains and scuffs on the road it stopped me very abruptly and I flew 2.5m before hitting the ground.
Whilst no on saw what happened, I suspose it could be possible that I was doored or otherwise hit by a car but I don't want to let suspicion get the better of me, I'd rather focus on getting well. The simplest answer is the best. The clamp failed or came loose, and the bike became a catapult with me as it's payload.

It seems someone found me on the roadside outside a primary school in Tufnell park. After some of the fantastic staff came to give much needed first aid and called the ambulance they took my bike and Helmet for safe keeping.
At some point the hospital lost the ambulance incident report and I didn't know a thing about it, which is why we didn't know what took place or where I was found. Only by getting a freedom of information request from the London Ambulance Service did we get a look at their copy of the report and thus find out where I was, from there it was a simple matter of speaking to the school to see what they knew.

The accident itself has left me injured in a few ways. As previously mentioned the level of concussion means I've effectively lost a week of memories. I've got no memory at all of the day it happened until I woke up in hospital. I doubt I'll ever get that back, frankly I don't want to. The preceding week is spotty at best, but as people remind me of events and conversation things come back bit by bit. It was a pretty dull week for me it seems so I'm not worried.

Physically my face has several lacerations; My upper lip has been cut through to the interior from under my nose to lip itself. My mouth has been split on the corner on the right side fully through my cheek (think a single sided version of the joker / a Glasgow smile). My bottom lip was torn away from my lower gum and my chin split. All the stitches feel like I've got a mouth full of spiders but the image is worse than reality.
Two of my frontal teeth are broken off, about two thirds of one and a quarter remains of the other. they're thankfully still alive though very painful, once my face is healed I'll have to have some extensive and expensive dentistry to fix it, but it can be fixed.
I've fractured my 1st right rib, which the doctors tell me is indicative of the force I hit the ground, apparently its only broken with a great deal of effort. normal this results in a punctured lung or other serious thoracic issues, I had two CT scans to double check nothing like that had happened. I'm extremely glad it didn't because Id have been in a whole other world of trouble.

Lastly and least concerningly i've broken my little finger and got a fair wack of road rash over my hands, shoulders, arms and legs.
This may sound grim but trust me it's not that bad really, I'll be up and about soon enough. The facial surgery team at UCH are excellent at what they do. I can't speak or eat very well for the time being, but that will pass in no time I'm sure. I've had serious injuries from cycling several times before and I've never let it let me slow me down, I don't plan to now.

My bikes damage is an odd mix, the rack and fork are bent and written off and the frame is being checked but I suspect it is too. However the only damage I could see other use was a bit off scuffing to the left shifter. Odd really. I'll get well first then I'll think about what's the next step in replacement or rebuilding.

Anyway that's it's for now, once again I want to thank everyone for everything you've done, I can't really express my gratitude well enough with words.

Jack

Forget the bike for now fast recovery is more important....

I'm glad it wasn't worse, take care of yourself man.
Curious attachment for the rack, what make is it?

Never mind, google-fued it.

Good to hear you're on the mend and feeling positive, great news!

Now I'm a little nervous about the grub-style attachments on my Gamoh.

1 Attachment

If you are not hungry do not eat too much.
I hope you do not have too many medications.
Heal fast and rest well J
g

Very god work Colombo in the reconstruction of the accident I believe. Lost no memory at the time whatsoever I still have no idea what made me stop very suddenly and go over the handlebars going downhill in Hampstead and break my femur. Probably was high speed and pothole but I remember strange mind meanders on my U lock detaching and blocking the wheel as well as third party involvement. Looks like you doing well and UCH are world class NHS.