gpelpel

The gravel/sand on the road also seems the most plausible to me. I have seen a rider crash on a sharp corner a mile or so higher up on NG a couple years ago. She took the corner a bit wide where her front wheel slid on the fine sand on the pavement. I have never seen much squirrel activity at this location however a half mile lower the side of the road is like swiss gruyère and the little beasts are constantly crossing. One rebounded off my rear wheel spokes once.

VNA

Very pleased to read that you are improving and getting back to your life routine.

Certainly not wanting to add to all your worries but I am curious if your neurologist mentioned that you may have damaged your pituitary gland and would find out later with hormonal imbalance that can be debilitating. (easily treatable with hormones replacements)

Speaking from experience after having hit a windshield and passed out for only a few minutes (concussion)--only a year later having muscles pains and cramps and many other symptoms was finally diagnosed with hypopituitarism--always wondered if football players and others with concussions end up with similar lasting injuries?

Again wishing you the very best.

ROJA

Hi Dan! I'm just reading this thread for the first time now and I wanted to let you know that I'm really glad that you are recovering well and you will be in our thoughts and prayers for a continued and full recovery. You've always been a friendly face at the BF rides! Please let me know if you or your family need any help during this time.

bikingshearer 

Dan showed me the helmet - it looks far better than you would expect. Other than some abrasions to the outside (significantly more minor than one would expect), it looks at first glance as though you could wear it again. No, Dan won't do that for three reasons: (1) he's smarter than that; (2) if he tried, there are about a dozen people, me included, who would pry it off his head; and (3) someone cut the straps to get it off his unconscious noggin. (The straps and buckle help exactly as intended.)

It is quite possible that the helmet saved his life. At the very least, it saved him from much worse head and brain trauma, the kind that heals very, very slowly, if at all.

Lanceoldstrong

UPDATE 26 Days after my crash on 6/20/12

Went back to work today and it felt good, it is half days for a while on doctor's orders. He says taking it slow is the formula for a full recovery.

As a cyclist this strategy sounds very familiar. On a Century or Double Century you don't ride the first 10 miles at 25 mph if you want to finish strong at the end.

So cycling predisposes me to sticking with the doctor's plan. It sounds like a good one to me.

JoelS

So glad to hear that you're getting back to the routine! It's got to feel good.

Midland

Great news LanceOldstrong back to work.Do as the doctor say's, 1/2 day's at first until he clears you for more.Even then error on the side of caution, please.Too much to soon is hard to fix retroactively.

DiabloScott

Life is an endurance event. Don't burn all your matches at the start line.
BTW, I just publicized my Diablo Splits on Strava... have fun finding yourself, and add them to your favorite segments.

This'll probably paste funky:

[TABLE="class: my-segments, width: 1100"]
[TR="bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TH="align: left"]Activity Type[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]Name[/TH]
[TH="class: cat, align: left"][/TH]
[TH="align: left"]Elev Difference (ft)[/TH]
[TH="align: left"]Grade[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ride[/TD]
[TD]Diablo NGR Split 1: Prologue (Mile 0.0 - 1.6)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]188[/TD]
[TD]2.3%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]
[TD]Ride[/TD]
[TD]Diablo NGR Split 2: Penny Lane (Mile 1.6 - 2.6)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]324[/TD]
[TD]6.2%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ride[/TD]
[TD]Diablo NGR Split 3: The Bump (Mile 2.6 - 3.6)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]361[/TD]
[TD]6.7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]
[TD]Ride[/TD]
[TD]Diablo NGR Split 4: The Washout (Mile 3.6 - 4.6)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]269[/TD]
[TD]5.2%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ride[/TD]
[TD]Diablo NGR Split 5: The Ranches (Mile 4.6 - 5.6)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]351[/TD]
[TD]6.6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #F7F7F7"]
[TD]Ride[/TD]
[TD]Diablo NGR Split 6: Chainbuster (Mile 5.6 - 6.6)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]330[/TD]
[TD]6.4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

rokataje

Hope you reciver soon Dan. I agree with the poster who said you guys are Nucking Futs for descending so fast. Please take it easy and recover soon. My wife has started a meetup group called "Cycle Chix". They should get together and ride. My wife LOVES to ride.

Robert

Lanceoldstrong

Thank you for all the hard work. I like the splits a lot. My time on Penny Lane is respectable too.
It figures since the terrain there favors me. I am built a lot more like a classics rider than a pure climber.
Thanks again those splits are cool, your advice is good too.

Lanceoldstrong

Thank you so much.

Lanceoldstrong

Update One Month and 3 Days after My Accident

Again, please know that all of your well wishes have been the best medicine and the visits from those of you that live close and regularly ride with me have been so good for maintaining my essential morale.
So one month after I got knocked out cold and spent 4 days hospitalized, 2 in the ICU until I came to, you all can please pat yourselves on the back for pulling me through with your love, care and well wishes.

A note from the ICU: I have been told that in the ICU the doctors kept bending over my bed and saying to my unconscious form:"Daniel, Daniel, if you can understand me wiggle your fingers" they were getting nothing.

Mrs. Oldstrong, tried for the doctors and said "Daniel, Daniel, I love you honey, If you can hear me squeeze my hand"
I gave her a nice strong squeeze on the hand from somewhere deep down where only her voice could reach me.
Like the song says: For love's the greatest healer to be found.

• I saw my neurologist again today for a follow up check

. He continues to say my recovery is incredible.
At his direction I waited to go back to work until a week ago, and then kept it part time.
He says I can start back to full time a week from now.
He also has told me to keep getting lots of rest, but there is even more indication now that I am headed for a full recovery. He even said I am making so much progress he does not need to see me again.

He asked if I was riding on my stationary trainer like he suggested earlier and he was happy to hear I have been doing regular light sessions. (Endurance and Tempo Zones only, nothing heavy).

The doc says after I have a level of recovery allowing me to return to work full time I can resume cycling. On that note...

Here is what a wise man on this forum told me about resuming my cycling:

Use this crash to become "mindful" in the future.

• Be mindful of the risks inherent in descending
• Be mindful of the injury consequences if something goes wrong.
• Be mindful of the heavy emotional toll these consequences inflict on your loved ones.
• Use this mindfulness as the deep source of carefulness whenever riding, especially descending.

He explained it so well and from deep within himself and his experience.
It was a great lesson he shared with me.
It is a lesson I will take to heart.

Midland

More great news from LanceOldstrong! Your recovery sounds spot on at this point, full recovery right around the corner. But, Hey man you have Dr's orders to take naps, don't give that up for a while. lol

JoelS

That is truly wonderful news. I'm so glad to hear that you're well on your way to a full recovery. Keep following instructions!

DiabloScott

Absolutely right, and an important lesson for us all.

We need a Return of Dan Diablo Recovery BF Ride ... when the time is right.

Slow up, and slow down.

" I don't need to see you anymore" is about the best thing a doctor can say.

Bostic

Great news Dan. I look forward to seeing you at the rest stop on the Mt. Tam double in a few weeks.

bikingshearer 

Or you could follow the immortal words of bigbossman, MarkoPolo and, sometimes, me: "Let's do it. After all, what's the worst that could happen?"

I should have the tandem in hand after this weekend, Danno.

RaleighSport

I think I speak for all the other strangers when I say, we're glad you're doing so great man!

gw_12

Great news Daniel. Can't wait to see you on the road again.

Red Rider

Wow! Daniel, I'm so happy for your news! You had the right care, the right neurologist, the right support from family & friends -- just perfect!

Looking forward to our next ride, the BF Mindfulness Ride. Or the BF Daniel Crushes Us Again Ride. Just getting you back on the road will be enough.

Excellent recovery -- I can't say enough good things about that.

ahmose

I just heard about your crash today. I'm very pleased that you're making this amazing progress. My very best wishes for your full recovery.

Lanceoldstrong

Bikingshearer:
This advice resonated with me so I took my bike to Sharp Bicycles in Lafayette, a shop you highly regard that I am also impressed with. I stopped in there the other day since they are right around the corner from my Neurologist and I asked if they do point by point post-crash safety inspections. They gave me such a detailed run down of all that they check, and why, that I knew it was the right place. Then yesterday I dropped off the bike.

When I brought the bike I told the shop person on duty, "Bill" I think, that I was an ultra distance rider who depended on his bike for double centuries as my favorite event. He did not look at me like I'm nuts. He asked how many doubles have you ridden this year?
I told him, Death Valley Spring, Solvang Spring, DMD & Davis and again no look at me like I am crazy.
Turns out he is an 8 time DMD finisher and does long Brevets too.

He looked at me like he was seeing a fellow member of "the tribe" and he told me he would personally talk to the mechanic to have him give my bike the 110% check. They will have it about a week.

My first day back at work full time today after 2 weeks of part time and it went well.
I am inching closer to a ride again, not there yet but I can see it from here.

DiabloScott

That's confidence-inspiring... but I hope they don't find anything... because there's nothing to find. Maybe you could spring for some new handlebar tape or something.

I remember when Sharp was out by Hilltop Mall in Richmond.

gpelpel

Glad you are getting really close to fully returning to your normal life.
Sharp is a nice shop, Matt, the owner, and Dee, mostly at the register, are very friendly.

bikingshearer 

Excellent, Dan. Sharp's is a top-drawer outfit. They are on the very short list of places I would trust to do that kind of inspection.

BTW, I have my tandem in hand now. Keep it/me in mind if your doc will clear you to be a stoker before he will clear you to get out on the road on a single.