As most of you regular readers will know, myself and my friends are keen mountain bikers, but today our luck caught up with us. Now I'm not saying that we're the best in the world, but we're not slow and we're not afraid of big air, but when things go wrong at these velocities they tend to go VERY wrong.Picture the scene.
Myself and the rest of The Restless Natives are waiting on the last member of our merry troupe to finish his run. Suddenly, Cletus the slack-jawed yokel and International Man Of Mystery bursts into view, travelling pretty fast.
Cue much shouting of encouragement and general peer pressure from friends.
Cletus hits the last, and very large, jump with total commitment. Cletus then finds himself with plenty of hangtime as he's approximately 8 feet in the air. Gravity finally asserts it's authority and pulls. The bike touches down, it goes one way, Cletus goes the other way.
Thump!
Silence.
When we got to him, Cletus was winded and lying in a pretzel like configuration. After some anxious moments, Cletus raises himself to a seating position, whereupon it's clear to all concerned that the Clavicle, or collar bone, has quite clearly broken.
Ouch.
I suppose all sport has it's risks, but had Cletus not had on a full-face helmet, he would surely be looking at adding a concussion, or possibly even a fractured skull to his list of injuries.
Suffice to say I paid attention and I'll be ordering one myself as soon as I'm paid.
8 comments:
woah nellie. the most I ever got from my sport was a few dislocated fingers (playing netball)
did he cry? lucky about the helmet!
I scratched the top of a spot once playing chess - does that count? Seriously though Inchy, you need to be kitted out in the best protection your sport has to offer - forget Formula 1, cycling is the most dangerous sport on the planet. Velocity plus very little protection. I'm amazed that there aren't fatalities.
Kate - There were no tears. Cletus is a big man's man and shows no weakness, but he was hurting bigtime.
Steve - The area we go cycling in has had 1 recorded fatality in 2006. I look like I'm auditioning for the main part in Robocop when I get on my bike, but body armour can only do so much.
Ouch indeed!
oh dear, poor old Cletus. That is one of the reasons I don't do extreme sports... I don't want to end up with a smashed up face. The other reason is I'm a lazy sod.
I like emmak's answer. It is also why I stick now soley to dog walking around the block ( er, with my dog, of course). Safer and the dog can't complain if you only go half way round.
I have to tell you I'm more than a little disappointed the story wasn't accompanied by a very graphic picture of the aforementioned injury. Throw me a bone, Mr. Inch.
Emma - I'd hate for anything to happen to your cherub-like face, so I agree, stick to knitting, but should you wish a photo shoot wearing nothing but my body armour, don't hesitate to call baby!
Kate - Extreme dog walking is a new entry in the Beijing Olympics this year.
Ron - I didn't have a camera with me or you better believe I would have. By the time we got to the hospital he was already being treated and you can't use a mobile there. Sorry chief.
Jimmy - Aye!
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