Last ride of the season...

[kschilk]

It wasn't supposed to be...just kinda' ended up that way. Last Sunday, I had plans to ride with a couple guys (Joe & Rich) that I'd met on a forum. We'd ridden together once before, at the Allegheny National Forest Trails, at Rocky Gap. These guys are only about half my age but we seemed to "click" and I really enjoyed riding with them so when they invited me to join them for a day at Majestic Trails, I jumped at the chance. My son-in-law and his quad accompanied me on the 2 1/2 hour drive to Majestic, right on the NY/PA state line.

We got there, signed-in and had everything unloaded, when Joe & Rich pulled in but it was still just after 9 AM. It was cold and foggy, at first but it quickly cleared-up and became much warmer, within an hour or so. Joe & Rich had to leave around 1:30 PM so we rode hard and steady, managing to hit most all of the 40+ miles of trails and even got in a few good laps, on the park's small MX track. It was a great time!

When the time came for Joe & Rich to split, Dwayne (my son-in-law) and I decided to load-up and head for the ANF Timberline trails. It was about halfway home, right on our way and since Dwayne had never been there before, it seemed like the perfect op to show him around. It's a large (38 mile) loop and not so well marked, in many places but I'm fairly familiar with it. Timberline is all two-way traffic but when it's not overly crowded, you can run a pretty good pace and it's a fun ride.

We got there, unloaded and found the place to be nearly deserted. We made a fast run, down the first half of the loop and to it's furthest point south, where there was another trailhead/parking area. After a short pause, to show Dwayne where we were on the trailmap, we headed off on the other half of the trail loop. By now, we were pretty warm so I led at a rather leisurely pace, trying to cool down a bit. This part of the trail was in the deeper part of the forest so it was dark & shady but the trail was fairly wide, smooth and free of any major obstructions.

Suddenly....I simultaneously herd a loud "whack" and felt an instant of extreme pain! The pain quickly turned to an overall numbness and my ears began ringing like crazy. I began feeling pain again but only in my right leg. When I looked down, my right foot was on the footpeg but was turned outward, at a 90 degree angle and I couldn't turn it straight again. I started going into shock...sweating profusely, becoming lightheaded/dizzy and feeling nauseous, as the pain became more intense.

I wanted to stop but I quickly realized I couldn't. Dwayne didn't know the area and the trailmap and markings were too vague, to be sure he could get to a place to summon help...let alone, guide them to me. Since I was struggling to remain conscious, I couldn't even stop long enough to tell Dwayne what had happened but I assumed he would get the gist of it, from the slow and wobbly way I was riding. It took about a full hour, for me to make the 15 mile trailride back to the truck and I don't mind telling you....that was absolutely the most grueling ride of my life!

There were some riders at the trailhead that kindly helped us get loaded-up and we slid by the hospital, on the way home. After an hour on the trail, an hour in the truck and almost 2 hours in the hospital waiting room, they finally took the x-rays that showed my ankle was shattered, badly dislocated and I'd also broken the small bone in the back of my leg. It's gonna' be 8 weeks before I can even think about putting any weight on it so I'm out, for the rest of the season.

Worst part of it, though....is not knowing exactly how it happened. I'm guessing I'd clipped a rock with my boot but nothing really adds up. From the injury, I'd assume my foot was somehow drug under the footpeg but immediately after the impact, it was on top of the peg!?! Weird, eh?

[triplendo]

Wow! Way to tough it out man. Maybe what happened will come to you after a while. Every bad crash I've ever had on a bike, auto or even one bad truck (18 wheeler) crash. The details slowly came back after a week or two.I wonder if the brain blocks out details in some trauma's? Hang in there and you'll be back in no time.

[Mainjet2001]

kschilk.....
You just told us about yourself. I'm impressed as that was a tough trip.
I think if you had stopped for very long you could have very well been there for a long time.
Bet your son-in-law was scared after he found out what your problem is.
Glad you are doing better and heal up soon.

[crfjedi393]

I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. But you definitely did the right thing riding your way back. Kudos to you.
I'm sorry you're gonna be off the bike for awhile.

[mxmama393]

OMG.... I cant imagine and I hope I never have to know what that was like.
So sorry that happened to you.
I hope you heal up smoothly.

Do you mind me asking what brand boot you were wearing? And are they still in ok condition after that incident? (the right boot of coarse)

[racerfty]

sorry to hear a rider is on break for a while, heal up quick and take it from me listen to the doctors, if not you will be in said shape. Had a budy that broke his leg, dotors said no riding for what ever the time was. well he figures to modify the cast to fit in the riding boots and ride again, he crashed tore the screws out of the bone along with breaking more of the bone, years later he has a limp and is amost an inch shorter on that leg. Heal fast and heres to you next ride being an awsome one.

[D3luxe]

I used to ride BMX and took a pretty nasty spill. Of course I was a niave pre-teen, so I didn't wear a helmet or anything, so when my head smacked off the ground it didn't feel too great. My brain pretty much blocked out most of the accident from that, and not from the concussion either (even though I did have a minor one.)

I remember hitting the jump and ending up sideways in the air, thinking to my self "Oh #*@$ this is going to hurt," and after that I don't remember a thing until in the hospital, even though i was conscious the whole time.

Ended up with 7 stitches, a slight concussion, and a pretty much closed left eye for a week or two.


Anyway, that was pretty much to show that your brain works in odd ways. It blocks out anything of too much trauma.

Hope you heal up alright, and fast! You're amazing for riding that out, hah.

[kschilk]

Thank you all, for all the well wishes! It really means alot, coming from fellow riders!

I was wearing Fox Pro Formas, a few years old but still in good condition....well, they were. The steel plate on the toe is smashed and the toe of the boot appears slightly indented. Other than that, there's no serious damage but I have a feeling that the boot, was all that kept my foot from being sheared-off...I see no evidence of a bend in the ankle area.

I spoke with my son-in-law again, this afternoon. He said that he was about 60 yards behind me, when it happened and it didn't appear that the bike had hit anything...I didn't bounce or swerve at all. He only saw me let off of the throttle and look down at my foot...he saw no rocks, roots, stumps or anything else on the trail.

[D3luxe]

Originally Posted by kschilk

Thank you all, for all the well wishes! It really means alot, coming from fellow riders!

I was wearing Fox Pro Formas, a few years old but still in good condition....well, they were. The steel plate on the toe is smashed and the toe of the boot appears slightly indented. Other than that, there's no serious damage but I have a feeling that the boot, was all that kept my foot from being sheared-off...I see no evidence of a bend in the ankle area.

I spoke with my son-in-law again, this afternoon. He said that he was about 60 yards behind me, when it happened and it didn't appear that the bike had hit anything...I didn't bounce or swerve at all. He only saw me let off of the throttle and look down at my foot...he saw no rocks, roots, stumps or anything else on the trail.

A freak occurance, eh?

[kschilk]

Originally Posted by D3luxe

A freak occurance, eh?

With my luck...it coulda' just been a pi$$ed-off chipmunk, with a sledgehammer.

[D3luxe]

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by kschilk

He only saw me let off of the throttle and look down at my foot...he saw no rocks, roots, stumps or anything else on the trail.

Maybe it was a branch or something that got shattered to bits when you hit it.
STILL....
Thats so freaky!

If boots could talk!

[VAL]

I swear I could feel your pain. My stomach is still turning. Heal quick.