Bad_request

So,a little back story. A few weeks ago, I replaced the chain on my Trek 1500 as it was starting to show signs or wear. I cut the new chain to length, but after installing noticed it was a few links short. I stupidly lengthened the chain using one of the pins I had pressed out. This was my first time replacing a chain and assumed it would be fine, this is a KMC chain by the way.

So about two weeks later, I'm riding home from a 30 mile ride and get stoped by a red light at a busy intersection. The light turns green and I hammer away. About halfway through the intersection, I hear a loud snap and that was it. My left foot was at the bottom of the stroke and my pedal smacked the asphalt causing me to loose my balance. Tried for a second to recover and the next thing I know I'm sliding through intersection on my side, with cars in front and behind me. After I finish my slide, I stand right up and carry my bike to the side of the road.

First thing I do is assess my condition. Noticed I'm bleeding pretty bad from my left knee and arm and have a throbbing pain in my lower left rib cage. Took off my helmet and no scratches or cracks, so I didn't hit my head thankfully. No way I can finish my ride so I called my girlfriend to pick me up. Get home and clean up the scrapes, and that's when I noticed that my lower left chest is bruised pretty badly and that it's hurting to breath. Figure I should go to the hospital just to be safe. Sure enough I have a fractured rib. Guess when my chain broke my chest slammed into the bars. So looks like I won't be riding for a few weeks, but I sure am enjoying the pain killers

Anyhow, no real point to this post, just felt like sharing my story. Oh and never reuse chain pins haha

10 Wheels

Rest up for the next one...

Paul Barnard

Get all that crashing done while you are young. Us old guys don't crash and heal as well as we used to.

10 Wheels

Full sprint trying to clear a busy intersection.

My Left crank fell off with 8 cars behind me.

FullGas

my personal stats show that I go down hard enough to need medical attention about once every 13 years.

texaspandj

There's only two kinds of riders, those who've fallen and those who are gonna fall. Debatable who originally said that, but never truer words.
Just curious, initially were you more embarrassed than hurt?
When you have a cracked rib, it hurts to laugh,sneeze,cough,yell, breathe and move.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and don't watch any comedys.

Bad_request

First thing I did when I stood up was look around to see if anyone stopped. No one did, and I was honestly thankful of that haha. So yeah, definitely more embarrassing than painful. Really didn't start to hurt until I called my girlfriend and was waiting for her. Once the adrenaline wore off I was aching pretty bad

10 Wheels

Young lady driving the car behind me stopped and protected me from the ones behind her.

KenshiBiker

I feel your pain; hope you heal and recover quickly. Only thing that's confusing to me is why breaking your chain would cause you pedal to hit the asphalt.

amusingbikes

Looks like some pretty nasty cuts. I've fallen off bikes so many times I can't count anymore. My knee hurt pretty bad after a similar accident to yours.

Bad_request

I was standing out of my saddle when the chain snapped. Don't remember the series of events exactly, but I guess when it snapped, my chest came down and smacked the bars, and tilted the bike to the left and that's when my pedal hit the ground.

rumrunn6

glad you lived to tell the story. sorry about your injuries. wut did they give you? don't they cause constipation? just asking cuz I had a tooth pulled & tried a cpl Tylenol w codeine pills. not much of any fun & no I'm trying to get back my regularity. TMI? sorry

Leebo

I only use sram chains with a qr link. No shimano with pins. After breaking 3 shimano chains mt biking, no issues since only using sram. YRMV.

bobwysiwyg

I guess I can understand your feelings about no one stopping, but how sad those motorists saw a cyclist go down and none stopped to aid.

fietsbob

1st time I was on my JC Higgins 3 speed, back in the 50's, a Tree was how I stopped, at the end of the block .

Laurido92

Get well soon!!

BobbyG

A speedy recovery!

Dave Cutter

I was in my 60's when I cracked my ribs.

I had dropped a wet-sweaty water bottle (on a hot day) while trying to replace it in the bottle holder. Hit my head good! But the helmet did it's job.

I was really lucky. I have good insurance and the damage to my bicycle was superficial. I hope your bike is OK. I took 3 weeks to heal. I rode again at two weeks.... but it wasn't a good idea. Four weeks tops... and you be as good as new.

Cycling is a blood sport. Injuries will happen. Heal quickly!

Milton Keynes

A few links short of a chain. I think I just found a new euphemism.

Bad_request

Thanks everyone for the kind words! Imagine I should be good to go in the next few weeks! Thankfully none of the injuries were serious.

I was prescribed percocet for the pain. They do indeed constipate me. Don't think I've had a bowel movement since I've been taking them lol. I've had them in the past and constipation has always been a side affect. Taking laxatives helps a lot though. Need to see if I have any lying around now that I think of it.

Maelochs

Problem with cyclists is that when they crash they often jump right up again and try to ride on. Thus, drivers think that there is no need to stop. We need to learn to lay on the hard pavement in traffic and moan a little to garner some sympathy.

After my last crash (cracked collarbone) I did the "Jump up and act like everything is fine" routine ... which I swear by, because the alternative is lying in traffic hoping the cars do stop---and the lady driving right behind did stop and ask if I was okay. of course I said i was fine---how awkward to have to admit that I had just hurt myself and needed a ride----but only if she could fit the bike as well.

I rode home and spent the next few days laying on the floor---no painkillers, What an idiot.

I have never had cracked ribs and I am really glad for that. Hope everything heals quickly.

10 Wheels

Best to get out and away from the road or street.

OldTryGuy

No need to be embarrassed unless you had a TOMBAY. Going down while moving is par for the course.

Ping Pong is a sport for the faint of heart individual.

A few links short of a chain is better than being one brick shy of a load.

Relistor for OIC....Opioid Indused Constipation https://www.salix.com/products/relistor

My last crash resulted in 2 resounding cracking noises upon landing. I remained motionless, gathered my composure, checked for finger movement and then toe movement. Waited for EMS, neck brace, stretcher, trip to ER, all scans and a neurosurgeon having instructed me that neck brace 24/7 for next 16 weeks should allow healing and prevent paralysis. C6 and right clavicle were the cracking sounds.

Stay vertical and heal rapidly.

NYMXer

I'm just getting over two cracked ribs, not broken but cracked. They hurt like hell when I try to get out of bed or breath but even more if I cough or God help me, sneeze.

While I am sorry to hear of your accident and injuries, my advice is to keep busy and walk fast until you can get back on the bike. Don't be afraid to push you limits. Doing so will help you maintain as much fitness as possible, making a comeback a bit easier. I lost a month of real riding and I'm working hard to get my endurance and fitness back.

Do not rest and relax too much as pneumonia is a real possibility and the best way to ward it off it to exercise as much as you can tolerate. Good luck, heal up and ride on.

Hardrock23

Glad it wasnt too bad, and hope you heal quickly!


Iv gone over my handlebars (and another person & bike, who stopped short in front of me for a u-turn) but thats as bad as Iv had. Im hoping I never go through worse and I try to be careful, but things happen...

I would hope someone would stop to help, or atleast check, though. Especially if im in the road! Im someone who always stops though, for any accident im witness to. Iv only seen one bike accident though (aside from my brothers bmx races, where I couldnt do anything) - Years ago I was driving home and saw a teenage girl crash while going down one of our steepest hills. She wasnt wearing a helmet and cracked her head open, among other things. She swore she had a helmet though and even had an emt go off to find it; Im guessing she was scared of getting in trouble for that. I called 911 then went to get her mom from across the street once emt arrived. She was hurt so badly and was so scared, and I still always think of her.