2011-06-15 Rider Down: Me

A week ago now but I'm still in pain after a holiday in france and self medication with Jack Daniels.

I'm heading south on the bus lane on the A21 towards Catford I'm half drafting this chap not too close trying to make good time; as I've got to drive through the night to france when I get home. Cycling along fine then BANG the inner tube blows my front wheel is all over the place and then before I know it I'm launched forward into the air superman style I hit the ground hard, both my thighs have road rash, as does my hip and now ripped shorts. My palms/wrists take a lot of the impact but my now destroyed mitts took the being skinned out of the equation. My elbow managed to pick up a 2cm round hole which looks nasty still.

The chap in front stops and asks if I'm ok (the bang was loud & thank you), I do the usual thing of no it's ok I'll just fix the puncture and ride home, just as the pain starts to set in. I see my tyre is shredded and that I'd hit a rock (1/3 brick size) on the road that I hadn't seen. The tops of my hoods are pretty cut up but still are ok, the wheel is still true so it got away lightly. Managed to get a black cab home while still in shock

The bruising on my hands and hip are still really painful, I take it's there's nothing I can do about claiming as it was just detritus in the road (off a lorry maybe?) I took photos at the time just in case.

Dude, that sounds raw - heal up soon!

Ow ow ow

Heal up fast

Ouch, bad luck Mark. Lay off the JD, it's clearly delaying the healing process!

Not sure what you can do about claiming, the council will be able to avoid taking responsibility and it'll be very hard to identify the vehicle the debris came off of.

Ouch!!!

Sorry to hear that big man :-(

Heal up quickly!

Nasty. Heal up fast.

As it's not a fault in the carriageway I doubt a claim would be possible even tho, strictly speaking, the council are responsible for clearing such debris from the road. Just gotta take it on the chin (and hands, and hip, and knees, and elbow...)

Jesus Mark, that's awful - heal up soon...

Came off lucky mate.

Be grateful you weren't in close promixity to a big red thing or thrown into the carriageway or some shit.

Heal up.

Cheers guys

WjPrince, yeah I know... other than the pain and lacking of skin I got away pretty lightly.

I went to a festival that night.. hardly great for r&r.

Didn't realise it was as serious as all that when you tweeted it last week. At least it sounds like you didn't damage any artwork.