Pamestique 

So Saturday weather was beautiful... decided to go ride E Chino Hills. Had a lovely route planned out in my mind, about 25 miles, 2800' of climbing... was feeling good... so I ride out to the bottom of Faultline and start to climb over to the top of Sidewinder. It was still really overgrown but I could see the trail so rode slowly, being cautious. At one of the whoop-de-doos, just at the top, the mustard grabbed my wheel and the bike started to toppled over, of course, toward the ravine; down the hill. It would have just been better to fall but instead I was able to get my right foot out of the cleat and tried to stop my fall. It all went in slow motion, but I could see my leg falling underneath me, foot turned at a weird angle just as the full weight of my body came crashing down on the leg... I heard the "crack" and knew immediately something was broken.

So I laid there, pondering my fate; knew I was in the middle of no where; out of cell phone coverage. Hadn't seen anyone else out there. I had no choice but to walk out... long story short... was very difficult to do. I could take a step or two and had to stop because of pain. Plus the trail was uneven and on a edge so difficult to walk even without a bike and sprained ankle and broken leg. With about 100 yds to go to the main trail, there is steep whoop de doo which I knew was going to hurt and difficult to negotiate... finally I see another rider coming up the trail. I say "I am so glad to see you! I broke my leg and need help!" The rider looked disgusted and said "What can I do?" Obviously he didn't want to mess up his STRAVA run and was pissed I stopped his climb. He walked passed me and kept going. WTF!?@?@? Really!?

Eventually I made it to the main trail (it took me 1 1/2 hours to walk 1 1/2 miles) and was able to ride, in pain on the main rd to the Rolling M Ranger Station. No one there; no cell coverage. I had to ride up this steep little hill to the overlook where I was finally able to call a friend. My friend is God sent and a blessing and jumped right into action calling 911, the park rangers, arranging to meet and pick me up (once I was driven out of the park) and taking me to the hospital (BTW many times I don't take a cell phone with me - lesson learned will never ride again without the cell phone). At the hospital the fracture was confirmed - just below the knee. Thankfully the non-weight bearing bone. My worse injury is the ankle.

Reason for the long post.... gosh darnnit - never leave someone in need, never. At least try and make a call to 911; act, do something. I just can't imagine not caring so much for a fellow rider, just leaving them out in the middle of nowhere. For shame on that person... for shame.

berner

Very sorry to learn of your injuries. The bones will heal but the memory of the encounter with the uncaring cyclist will be with you for some time. I posted several months ago about sociopaths what I'd learned by reading "The Sociopath Next Door". The book was written by a psychologist, formerly on the staff of the Harvard medical school for many years, so she clearly knows what she is talking about. She informs the reader that one in twenty people are sociopaths and the principal characteristic of such people is a lack of empathy. Not all such people are serial killers but all serial killers are sociopaths. Mostly such people are manipulative and uncaring, which while not immediately dangerous can lead to dangerous situations, as you experienced. You are, mostly, among friends here.

trailangel

Hey.. sorry to hear this.
Exactly how did the mustard grab your wheel again?
Anyway... you must be a tuff woman to go out alone.
Now being a 'Senior Citizen' I have noticed these younger 'don't give a ****' guys, and I don't remember being this way. No wave, no "Howdy" no taking the hands off the bars...
They are just boys that haven't grown up.
Wishing you speedy recovery!

Wanderer

Sorry to hear of your plight, and happy to know you are on the mend.

Kharma will catch up with that as&%#e for failure to render aid. I hope it happens in spades!

bikemig 

I wish we knew this person's facebook username; it's time to unlike someone.

jimxyz

What fellow biker would not help another in need?! That sucks.

jimincalif

Sorry to hear about your injury - you're tough, walking and riding out like that - well done!

As to that other rider, what a total jerk. There is no excuse not to render assistance in a situation like that!

Hope you heal quickly.

Elvo

Wow that sucks, glad you were able to get out. If he truly was doing a strava segment, you can just go on Flyby and see who passed you at that time =)

Pamestique 

Hey good idea! I'll go check...

TrojanHorse

WOW! Just... wow. Did you get a picture of the clown? Time for some internet shaming. That's truly astounding. So much for the prevailing wisdom that roadies are a-holes and mountain bikers are much friendlier. Well I'm really flabbergasted that somebody would abandon you like that.

I hope you heal quickly!

CliffordK

Absolutely unbelievable.

One might not always be able to help, but one can take a detour on a ride to make a phone call or act as 3rd leg walking down the hill.

And there is always another weekend for riding.

10 Wheels

So sad...people here ( as in cars and trucks) stop and ask me if I need help when I stop just to take pics..

Because they see the bike laying down.

snidely

Karma is a ***** (for the guy that didn't help). On the plus side, no one can ever tell you to HTFU. Glad you made it out ok. Quick recovery wishes!

Johnny Mullet

Sometimes people just suck! Hope you get a speedy recovery!

Jed19

Wow! A fellow cyclist actually refused to help someone with a broken bone out there in the boonies? Really surprised beyond imagination.

I wish you a speedy recovery. And apart from carrying a cell phone, you might actually want to consider a riding buddy whenever you intend to ride in isolated/backwood areas without cell phone reception. If it were to be a head injury, for instance, then immediate help is kinda needed.

LGHT

Wow that's a horrible story glad you made it out ok.

PhotoJoe 

Heal well, Pam. Glad you're (relatively) OK.

Pamestique 

My riding buddy stopped by at lunch to see how I am... this is exactly the same discussion we had... I will never again do an isolated trail by myself... I was scared with the hurt leg... head injury... can't imagine.

I "learned" alot of lessons on Saturday:

1) tell someone your planned route (I did do this)
2) carry a friggin charged up cell phone! (was a miracle I did that)
3) If the area is isolated; save it for another day.
4) When alone, don't take any risks;
5) If your brain tells you not a good idea (I had that thought when I saw how overgrown the singletrack was) don't do it;
6) and never assume someone will stop when you need help. Still unbelieveable the guy walked by... still can't believe how cold-hearted he was...

MY biggest problem is absolute boredom... I am not good at just sitting home...

mwandaw

We need to change your nickname to "Nails", because you're tough as nails. I can only imagine how tough it must have been to get out of there on your own. Good job!

It seems like you're already feeling better You're probably what one of my friends calls a "tedia-phobe". I can relate to that!

Heal quickly!

Rick@OCRR

Sorry to hear that Pam! The crash was tragic enough but the guy refusing to help you was beyond tragic; sub-human, really.

Now, when it comes to breaking bones, I specialize in collar bones, but I'm sure your leg and ankle are just as bad if not worse.

Hope you heal quickly but at least an athlete in great shape, like you, will heal more quickly than most! I'm tempted to tell you to stick to road cycling but . . .
1. That's dangerous too and
2. You're a mountain biker first and a road cyclist 2nd, so you wouldn't listen to me anyway!

Heal quickly and completely!

Rick / OCRR

KenshiBiker

On behalf of all road-only cyclists, please accept my apologies for the boorish, and dangerous behavior of that one individual. Glad you finally made it out, and hope you make a full and speedy recovery.

rooftest

Man, that's messed up.

Beachgrad05

I just saw this. So sorry to hear of your injury. So glad you made it to help! That jerk will get his some day. Karma will B***H slap him some day.

Guess GMR will have to wait a tad longer for you to heal. Good thing it isn't going anywhere. I'll be ready when you are and we will make that hill ours.

bhchdh 

Heal well, and soon.

Pamestique 

Funny... Kathy and I were seriously thinking of doing GMR Sunday... I messed that up!!! Hopefully maybe someday we can do it together!!!

PS Changed bandages today and wash the splint as it was getting funky... love the "cankel" and bruising...

Also Rick been there done that with the collarbone - broke twice now have titanium!

Also I had debated between doing the Upper SART on the road bike and riding my mountain bike... boy did I make the wrong choice!