About 18 years ago, some time in July I believe, maybe early August, I did the Mt. Evans Hill Climb. It was one of the best results I've ever had, 36th I believe out of about 63 people. For a non-climber, it was epic and one of the transcendent days of my life. I've always wanted to be a climber but as I'm about 190 pounds when I'm pretty lean, it just isn't the cards for me.
Fast forward 18 years. Cycling, next to my wonderful family, and maybe part of it, is again a predominating force in my life. While doing a little acceleration for a city limits sign (and I've jumped for this sign a million times) on one of the first rides of the year, one of two things happened--1. My gears skipped and/or I then clipped out of my Speedplay pedals simultaneously, and/or 2. I just plain old clipped out of my Speedplays at 32 miles an hour at the very least. I could not control my bike and in a horrific crash where I basically flew over the handlebars and forward awkwardly on to the pavement, landing first on my shoulders and then smashing the back of my helmet with great force (shattering the back of it) I was knocked out for about five minutes or so, and when I came to I had a terrible headache and body was ripped to shreds.
The helmet most possibly saved my life. The first thing I thought about when I came to was not how my bike was, or how messed up my body and head were, but about the most important people in my life--Kelly, my wife, Lucy, my 9 year old, and Lillian my 5 year old. I also wasn't completely aware that I hadn't brought others down with me in this spill, especially my dear brother and lifelong sporting compadre who had just made it into town for his annual spring visit. Michael miraculously avoided a disastrous chain reaction fall--all those years of racing and cat like reflexes somehow prevented making the crash more awful than it was. I love, love cycling, but never want it to take me away from or hurt the people dearest to my heart. It is a conundrum, because the sport does make me so very happy.
Fast forward 5 weeks and I'm still recovering, but mainly from the effects of what was a bad concussion. I lost my equilibrium and was nauseous and fatigued for weeks, and each day it gets better, but I still struggle sometimes. Today, I did this ride in a great time, somewhere around 1.45. I felt strong and this was such a confidence boost.
The helmet most possibly saved my life. The first thing I thought about when I came to was not how my bike was, or how messed up my body and head were, but about the most important people in my life--Kelly, my wife, Lucy, my 9 year old, and Lillian my 5 year old. I also wasn't completely aware that I hadn't brought others down with me in this spill, especially my dear brother and lifelong sporting compadre who had just made it into town for his annual spring visit. Michael miraculously avoided a disastrous chain reaction fall--all those years of racing and cat like reflexes somehow prevented making the crash more awful than it was. I love, love cycling, but never want it to take me away from or hurt the people dearest to my heart. It is a conundrum, because the sport does make me so very happy.
Fast forward 5 weeks and I'm still recovering, but mainly from the effects of what was a bad concussion. I lost my equilibrium and was nauseous and fatigued for weeks, and each day it gets better, but I still struggle sometimes. Today, I did this ride in a great time, somewhere around 1.45. I felt strong and this was such a confidence boost.
