2010-12-07 - Rider Down, Marble Arch Roundabout (London)

james, i know that you are going through this trauma as much as she is, and she is very lucky to have you to help her through this. my thoughts and support go out to you both. i am in london this week and if there is anything i can do - anything at all - please let me know.

thoughts and prayers to you both James, stay strong
Al x

Hope Veronika is doing well and you are also OK, James.

On a slightly different question, wondered if anyone else who was a witness to the accident has been able to cycle since then? I used to go to work on the bike every day - but just haven't been able to cycle since last Tuesday. I know I need to 'get back on the horse' but just don't feel ready yet..

Anyone else having anything similar?

wishing Veronika a speedy and full recovery, & James i'm sure you'll keep strong giving her the support she needs. Wonderful to read the posts from the witnesses and those who were with her and who acted during the horrific incident.

(If anyone involved feels they would would benefit from a riding buddy at any point whether just to build up some confidence which may have been affected by this or for any other reason there will be people here happy to do this. There are also a team of cycle trainers on the forum who I know would be happy to help. PM me if you wish to arrange this)

Just read this thread and -for what it's humbly worth - wanted to add my support. Thinking of you both.

Hi James and Veronika, just to emphasise, if we can do anything just let us know.
Digger

Just noticed this - talk about emotional roller coaster!

Good luck, James and Veronika. I'm afraid there's not much I can do except send my best wishes, and hope V heals quickly.

James, I was very nervous to go down hills again after my accident. It's nowhere near as severe, and thus scary as your Veronika's accident and so it stands to reason that you haven't been able to get back on the bike. Consider walking the bike to the park on the weekend and just tootling around without having to be out in traffic?

Hope Veronika is doing well and you are also OK, James.

On a slightly different question, wondered if anyone else who was a witness to the accident has been able to cycle since then? I used to go to work on the bike every day - but just haven't been able to cycle since last Tuesday. I know I need to 'get back on the horse' but just don't feel ready yet..

Anyone else having anything similar?

Get in touch with cycle trainers:

https://www.lfgss.com/forum49.html

Both times I got hit I felt a great deal of nervousness when the circumstances that resulted in my accidents occurred again(e.g. cars on the right turning across me, car pulling out of a junction from the right). I'd sort of tense up, braced for the impact.

I had to get back on the bike, it's how I get to work, fetch my kids, etc...

My advice is to get the bike out, and ride it on your usual route, the one you are most familiar with. It might be a bit frightening, but the fear will fade. Maybe do the ride very early on a Sunday morning, when there will be a little traffic about but not much.

Don't let this terrible incident stop you from riding - that would make it a double tragedy.

On a related note; when my first child was born, after I'd left mother and baby at the hospital, I found I couldn't cross roads. The overwhelming responsibility of suddenly being a parent who this new tiny person relied on was too much. I didn't dare risk injury by stepping off the kerb. I walked around the block for an hour, unable to get across the road!
I conquered the fear by...
Crossing the road. Just doing it, not thinking about it too hard.

But I looked both ways really, really carefully.

Same advice for your riding. Just do it, don't think too hard about it, but take all the necessary precautions.

Good luck.

To James and Veronika, wishing you all the best on the road to physical and emotional recovery. This is when this forum is actually amazing, and human. I'm very proud of those who helped Veronika; it couldn't have been easy.

Hi all. Just a quick update while I'm hanging around in waiting rooms and catching up on the world. Veronika is not fully awake but she's not sedated either. So hopefully she'll be lucid in a few more days. There have been and will be some bumps in the road but today is a good day :)
Thanks for the continued support, it means a lot.
-james

That's great news James! All the best for the further recovery!

Thanks for the update James. I'm really happy to hear of your good day. I wish you many, many more and send you and Veronika my very best wishes.

+1

bump

Hope the festive season has been pain free for both of you and that Veronika is on the mend.

+1. All the best for 2011 to both of you.

James and Veronika\
Wishing you both well this coming year.

James and Veronika, wishing you all the best, I and I'm sure all on here hope that your recovery procedes apace.

Thanks everyone, and a prosperous 2011 to all of you. Good news! Veronika is out of intensive care and into a high dependency ward. It doesn't sound much of a change but it's a big difference in the level of care needed. She still has her right leg and the focus now is on healing bones and skin. She's awake and talking and demonstrating an inner strength that I am in awe of. Thanks again for all the well wishes. I told her about the forum and she is touched by all the support.
I'm getting ready to go back to work tomorrow - first proper day in since it happened - which will involve me getting back on the iron horse for the first time since then too. It's got to be done though. If Veronika's already talking about cycling again I better not lose my bottle :)
Thanks
-james

Fantastic news James.

All the best for tomorrow...

Good stuff.

Onwards and upwards!

Thanks for letting us know. All the very best to you both.

James, that is really good news. Be strong. Keep cycling ;o)

How wonderful, James. Please give Veronika all our warmest regards! May her recovery continue.