So we've all heard the saying, "If you want to make God laugh, make plans". Well today was the annual Gold Coast Ride sponsored by the Huntington Bicycle Club. This would be the fourth time that I rode the Gold Coast and the fourth time I would attempt the Century (i.e., 100 mile) ride. Let's recap how the last three have gone;2007 - I was just getting back into shape from my ankle surgery and I thought I was up to speed and I ambitiously set out to do the 100 miles. I ended up only doing 85 miles as I "bonked" (lost energy and fuel) and limped home. I met another rider named John who was in the same shape and we made the last miles together. I vowed I would prepare for next year by riding more, getting a good night's sleep the night before and fueling up properly.
2008 - I got a better night's sleep and although I had made plans to ride with my friend Steve (after finding out John wouldn't be doing the , our lines of communication got crossed and I ended up going off on my own as he wasn't up to the 100 and wasn't ready to leave at 6:30 in the morning. I hooked up with another guy and rode well. I ended with a time of 6 and a half hours. I vowed to be in better shape for the next year.
2009 - Steve and I made plans to ride. We started out well together but Steve (who had warned me this might be the case) had to drop out after fifteen miles. He turned back and I continued on by myself. I ended up pairing up with another rider at the second rest stop and we rode the next 80 miles together. Because of the time I lost riding Steve's pace (after all, when you ride with someone, its not good form to leave them far behind) I ended up finishing the Century in 7 hours. I figured next year I would just ride alone and do all the preparation I needed to do.
2010 - This year! I hydrated for days beforehand. I ate the right foods. I lost five(ish) pounds. I trained. I cleaned my bike! I synched my iPod to make it a great play list for riding! I got a great night's sleep and woke up at 5:30 am so I could be there to sign in at 6:30. I got everything together and I started riding at 7:00 in the morning. My plan (do you hear the ominous music playing?) was to ride solo and finish the Century in 6 hours! The ride started out great. I passed three people on the way to the second rest stop (but not racing) and I was the first one to stop there. Lou (Bruno) said I was the first rider he'd seen even go by so I thought, "Great, I'm really doing well, I just have to try to catch anyone in front of me".
I really got my groove going in the next 28 miles. Although the course went up some pretty good hills I kept spinning at a pretty fast cadence and never really got myself too over exerted. When I got to Sea Cliff I was averaging about 17.6 mph and I knew that once I got over the short steep climbs there it was just a quick ride into Roslyn where I could rest up and rehydrate at Bryant Park.
Well, coming into Sea Cliff I started running into all kinds of riders that didn't seem that strong but they were ahead of me! It was then that I realized they were probably riding the 55 mile route and it was more direct from Greenlawn to Roslyn than the 7o or 100 mile routes. It didn't matter, I passed them up too! There was one guy I caught up to on the big steep hills in Sea Cliff and I dropped him pretty easily. I was feeling great as I found myself on Bryant Avenue and only a mile and a half from the park which meant rehydration, a bathroom break and FOOD!
I was that close to the park and as I was traveling down the road at 21 mph I noticed that where the shoulder would normally be was a line of parked cars at meters. Now, I consider myself a somewhat defensive rider so I was looking down the line to see if I could see anyone in the cars. The road itself was a two lane road and since the cars took up the entire space I was about a third of the way into the lane so that traffic could still pass me. So here I am doing a pretty nice clip, my legs feel great, I don't feel tired, I'm having a great ride and it's only 9:58 - which means I'll reach the half way mark at 10:00 - three hours from when I started. I was on pace to do the Century in six hours!
Then, as I neared the rear wheel of a Mercedes parked on the side the door swung open and - BAM! The next thing I knew I was sliding across the road amidst shards of glass and my bike and I were skidding. I felt a sharp pain in my right elbow and shoulder. I got up as quickly as I could, not wanting to be run over by cars behind me. What had happened was that although I tried to swerve out of the way in the nanosecond of time I had, I had managed to clip the window of the driver's door with my forearm and because (fortunately) the door didn't have a frame around the window I shattered the window.
Now one of the things that I recently read is an article in Bicycling Magazine that listed things you should do if you have an accident while riding. One of the things it mentioned was flushing out any wounds with the contents of your water bottle to make sure no foreign debris was in the wound - which I proceeded to do. Around me I could hear people shouting to call 911 and other asking me if I was okay. I seemed to be except for the huge two inch gash in my arm that was bleeding pretty profusely onto the sidewalk.
There is a lovely woman who has a business on Bryan Avenue and if ever an angel on earth existed it would be her. Her name is Dina and she owns Dina's Hair Salon at 20 Bryant Avenue. She was just coming into work when she saw my accident and she came across the street and she was a savior. She went across the street to her shop and got a towel and some hydrogen peroxide and cleaned out anything that my water didn't do. She told me to come over to her shop and get out of the heat but I just wanted to get my bike in a safe place because I could hear the following sound approaching;
So I quickly got myself across the street and into her shop. As I turned around an EMT was coming across the street and telling me I had to come back across. I explained that I had to take care of my bicycle, as mangled as it was. It was then that Dina said I could keep it in her shop, that she would keep it safe and I could come back and get it later or tomorrow. With a sigh of relief I followed Pierce the EMT across the street.
After getting my vital information they strapped me down, put me in the ambulance and then proceeded to lash me into the gurney to make sure that my head wouldn't move around. All during this they were impressed with how lucid I was. I met an officer that was only introduced to me as "Dancing Bear" who apparently has a great affinity for salsa, merengue and other latin dances (this came about as I told them I teach dance) and he told me he once dance with Jorge Posada's wife - the things you learn in an ambulance. And for my very first ride in an ambulance, I have to say it was pretty fun - all things considered.
And then we were off to the Northshore LIJ emergency room. I finally got in and everyone there was so helpful and wonderful (apparently it was a slow day so I didn't have to wait long). My nurse Lauren was great and even though I'm older than twelve she kept calling me "Sweetie" - have to admit it was a little freaky but she had a great bedside manner.
Oh, I had enough presence of mind to call Amy and let her know what was going on before I rinsed out my wound and then again when the ambulance was getting ready to leave so I could tell her where they were taking me. It was after they moved me into the operating room that she and the kids arrived. I was very apologetic for making them ruin their day as the plan was to go to the Universalist Fellowship Church in Huntington (which I passed during my ride) and then have a relaxing day - AND AGAIN GOD LAUGHED.
Amy was wonderful and I kept apologizing for ruining their day - I just felt so stupid about the whole thing. I did find out that they would have to give me a tetanus shot and then they whisked me away to do some X Rays to make certain there was nothing broken and no debris in the wound where they couldn't see it. When they brought me back I got to meet my doctor - Dr. Musi. He was young, fun and hip and very helpful. Again, after hearing my story of hitting a car door at 20+ mph everyone was amazed that I hadn't broken anything and that I wasn't more injured. I guess I can attribute it to all my years of dance and stage combat - I know how to roll when I hit the floor!
After a while the resident who would be stitching me up came in to introduce himself - Dr. Laurence Denbusky. He assured us he would have me together in no time but then when he showed us the size of the needle he was going to need to inject to get the pain killer in I have to say I was a bit taken aback. The idea of an inch and half needle going sideways under your gaping wound is just not my idea of fun. And then Lauren, with her amazing bedside manner asked me if I wanted something in my IV to help me. So along with having my first ambulance ride I had my first experience with morphine. Now that was a freaky experience but I didn't feel the needle go in and isn't that the point?
Amy stood by my bed and held my hand as Dr. Denbusky and Dr. Musi working in tandem stitched me up. It took three internal stitches to close the muscular tissue back together and ten external stitches to close up the skin but it looks like I'll get to keep the arm! Only kidding, all in all it was not too bad and I'll have a great conversation piece.
Amy was great during all of this. She got the kids packed up, packed the snack bag, the camera, books, and all in record time. However, the only thing both of us forgot to mention was to bring clothes. You see, my cycling clothes were bloody and had a few holes, my cycling shoes were ripped and aren't the most conducive to walking about. Again, Lauren came to the rescue and said that they had some scrubs they could give me to wear out of the hospital. Of course, I was excited thinking I was going to get some cool Northshore LIJ scrubs but they turned out to be disposable ones. Anyway, after all the dismissal information they gave me some blue disposable scrubs (darn) and we were released. First order of business, get the bike!
So we found our way back to Bryant Avenue (thanks to some EMT's and their GPS) and there was a note on the door of Dina's shop to call her home number. I called and her husband gave me her cell phone number which I called. She was on her way home but told me she would be there in 25 minutes. While we were waiting we went across the street to Diane's Bakery (also on Bryant Avenue, lovely decor and the people were so nice) who informed us that the lady who hit me had been in (she's a regular customer) after the accident and she was visibly upset about it. Well, not as upset as I was. Anyway Dina opened up her shop and gave me my bicycle and she was so generous and so giving, very maternal. She gave me a hug as I left and told me she would keep me in her thoughts - again, an angel on earth!
Then on the way home we decided to drop the bike off at Adams Cyclery to have them professionally go over the bike and see what is going to need to be replaced and repaired. Darren took one look and said that the shifters (250 - 300 dollars) would have to be replaced and he'll give the rest of it - especially the frame - a thorough going over. I guess that is something that we'll have to look into in case I have to make an insurance claim. I've never really had an accident before so I don't know how this works.
Then it was back home and my family has been so wonderful. We do something every night before dinner that we call our "Gratefuls" and it seems that universally our gratefuls this night were that nothing more disastrous happened to daddy. I can only say to that - Amen.
So stay well my friends and I will be seeing you on the road soon - even if its on the old Frankenbike for a while.
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