30 June 2015

Disaster Strikes The Day Before My ProCycling European Tour!!

Well before the Beat Cancer Tour I had booked myself on a procyclingtours.com European holiday.

The tour was called The Classic Climbs of Italy and France where I was going to finally live my boyhood dream of riding up the mountains used in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour De France.
Some of these mountains included Alpe d'Huez, Col d.Izoard, and Col du Galibier just to name a few.
I had done 00's of hours and 000's of kms training for it, and was definately in the best riding form of my life...and looking very forward to testing myself on these magical mountains.

30th May at the RAH
The day was Saturday 30th May.  As I wouldn't be riding until the Wednesday and due to fly out tomorrow, with the sun shining I thought I would get in one last training ride.  Ususally when I ride without Ollie I go with the Fast 40's group that leave from the old Megabike shop in Hyde Park, however I thought I would play it safe and go with the slower group that leaves from the current Megabike shop in Rundle St.

We had a very enjoyable yet uneventful ride out to the Bower Rd roundabout and back to the City for the after ride coffee (half strength skim hot chocolate for me!!)
After saying goodbye to my riding friends I headed off for home.  Riding along Anzac Hwy and passing over Greenhill Rd, the flags above the SA Power Networks were indicating I had a strong tailwind, and that combined with the slight downhill saw me get my speed up to 45km/h.

Coming to the next intersection at Leader St, my eyes firmly on the green light which I had, I saw out of the corner of my eye a car that was going to turn right.  Having lived in the area for 17 years, and ridden on that stretch of road thousands of times (as well as turned that same corner hundreds of times previously) I knew that he had a red light and would have to stop.



Broken pinky finger and bruising at 3 weeks
Unfortunately he didn't, went through the red light, and into my oncoming path.  I happened all so quickly that I don't know if I even had time to slam on the brakes.  I slammed into the side of the car and ended up on the bonnet.  With the pain I had I knew my European dream trip wasn't going to happen!!

Some other drivers got out and helped me to the side of the road, then two ambulances and a short trip later I was in the RAH getting assessed.  After a few examinations, X-rays, and a CT scan I had the following:
- Acetabular fracture of the pelvis (the top of the femur (thigh bone) pushed against the inside of the pelvis with such force that it caused a fracture)
- Broken collar bone (I had surgery the next day where the doctors told me that they removed 10 fragments and then inserted a metal plate with 4 screws which will be in there for 4 months)
- 2 cracked ribs
- Broken pinky finger which also required surgery to have two pins inserted into it (yes I am right handed!!)



The Day I Came Back Home!!
As ironic as it was, I arrived in hospital the day before I was due to leave on my trip, and got out the day before I was due to arrive home (two weeks in total!)

As I write this, four and a half weeks later, I am still in a wheelchair and will be for up to another four weeks, and still having constant follow up visits at the RAH.  I will be getting the pins out of my finger in two weeks time, and the shoulder plate in around three months time.

However, after having a lengthy discussion with my doctors yesterday, they are confident I will make a full recovery, and I can get back on the indoor trainer in two weeks where I can start spinning the legs and getting back on track for the Beat Cancer Tour!!



                                                                                             Six Weeks After The Accident......

 First Time Back On The Bike With My Support Crew!
 
To Make A Donation To My 2016 Beat Cancer Tour click here:
Posted by
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)