Why ... is Dunstan ... lucky?

Click here for photos: WARNING - NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!

The Stack...

On Monday Eve I rode up to Pennant Hills to get things at work ready for the painters to do their thing. I was riding across the Sydney Harbour bridge towards the city on the cycleway from N. Sydney; past the middle and heading downhill with a tailwind so probably doing about 40-45 kph. A girl was coming the other way on her MTB and we were reaching an extra narrow section so I moved over to the left to give her plenty of space. Just as we crossed I hit a bit of metal that was sticking out from the pipes on the handrail. The first I knew was I heard a metallic 'clunk' (actually the sound of my brake lever hitting the bit of metal) and then I was flying through the air in a 'Superman' position.

The Aftermath...

I came to a rest after sliding about 10m and dead opposite where the security guard was. My initial thought was to get back on my bike and ride on to avoid embarassment but I quickly realised that wouldn't be a good idea. The guard helped me off the cycleway and Wendy (the girl on the MTB) cleared my bike out of the way - I later discovered that I'd clipped her as I came off but fortunately only lightly so she wasn't hurt. We were soon joined by another security guard and they called an ambulance. I knew that I had a big hole in my elbow and suspected I had broken my forearm. At this stage I was sitting on an old tin of paint with my back against a wall. I began to have some really lucid thoughts and then everything faded to white (why do they call it 'blacking out'?) for what must have been a couple of seconds. Then the security guard brought me round and helped me to lie down. The 4 of us were soon joined by Elaine - she had been leading a Bridge Climb group and had seen me sliding along the path! Elaine covered me up with her jacket to keep me warm and she, Wendy, Sam and Paul (the security guards) were great company; even agreeing to a few photos! I called Ali, Hani and Jane and they co-ordinated arrangements to pick up my bike.

The Hospital ...

Once the paramedics (Nathan and Kylie) arrived they put my arm into a sling and helped me to my feet. I felt a lot better by this stage and was able to walk down the stairs unaided - getting a round of applause from Elaine's boiler-suit clad group on the way past. The rest is less interesting: lots of waiting around in the hospital, Some X-rays, a clean up for my wounds and some more waiting. Al, Hani and Trudi came to see me in the hospital and brought me a heap of goodies :-) The 4 of us had been planning to go to a Tango class in Broadway and I was really grateful to them for cheerfully downgrading their evening to come and keep me company. Great news when I got the all clear as far as broken bones - so relieved!!! By the time it came to the stitches Hani was the only one who didn't feel squeamish (good job being as she's a vet!)
I must have been feeling the benefits of a whole load of adrenalin and endorphins 'cause it actually didn't hurt too much, even though I had persuaded Mike (the doc) not to use anaesthetic, much to everyone's bemusement! Good choice - I certainly felt alive and anyway, I knew I'd need a good cold beer once I got out of the hospital!
4 stitches and a few dressings later I was discharged.

Why am I lucky?

1. I met some amazing people who really went out of their way to look after me and check I was ok. Thanks Elaine, Paul, Sam & Wendy.
2. My friends and all of my housemates were great - its nice to feel truly cared for.
3. Because it happened during a maintainence phase of my training and not before a big race.
4. Not to have broken anything! A cast would need 6 weeks and my serious training starts in 3.
5. That I didn't bang my head!
6. My bike isn't as bad as it could have been.
7. I managed to stay in control mentally. That's gotta be a good life experience!
8. I ended up wih a great story and some cool pics for you, the blog-reader, to check out!