Many of you know already what happened to Lauren and I, but we were involved in a car/bike accident last Sunday.
We came down to Virginia to visit with Lauren's family before cyclocross took over our weekends until Thanksgiving.
On Sunday morning Lauren and I headed out with no defined route in mind, we just had the simple goal of having a nice relaxing ride before our 5 hour car trip home. We had done field tests the day before and were both tired. Lauren killed her test, I did well on mine... at least we will have baselines for our comebacks...
We were about 40 minutes into the ride when we stopped for a minute to check the smart phone and pick a direction home. We were to hop on RT 46 for a minute before turning off to get on another fun road home.We never made it off RT 46. Lauren and I were riding single file pretty close to the gutter of the road. Lauren thought she saw my brake rubbing. I peaked back to check and thought it did look funny. I decided to start to pull over to check.
I started to communicate to Laur that we should stop to check. We were still lined up single file. Mid sentence I heard a crash, a pop, and Lauren yell. A split second later my rear wheel got washed out from under me. I closed my eyes and started to fall left. On the way by I felt the car brush past me as my hip hit the asphalt. I remember tucking up and sliding on my arm and hip. Gravel was flying everywhere. I remember squinting as it hit my face.
The next thing I knew I was standing, with no idea where my bike was. It wasn't until then I had realized we had been actually hit by a car. I turned to see Lauren laying on the grass under her bike. Her arm was wrapped up in the broken frame. I peaked down the road to see the driver stopping, but some distance away. After making sure Lauren was not going to try and move, and getting the bike out from cutting into her arm, I ran down to the car. The driver had stepped out. I instructed him to call the police and snapped a picture of the plate before running back to Lauren.
Between then and now, hundreds of folks have directly helped us or sent prayers and messages our way.
In no order,
Both cars that stopped to help us, the couple, and Randy the EMT. The Ambulance staff, The Helicopter crew, The VCU ER team, both mine and Lauren's. The entire staff at VCU. Dr Zuezler, Dr Johnathan, All of Laur's nurses. Lauren's Family. Everyone that sent us and email, facebook, or phone message, we are extremely grateful.
It doesn't look like either of us will be racing bike any time soon. Lauren has broken vertebrae and ribs, and I have a broken humerus/displaced shoulder that will be operated on next week.
