Fuck. Arse. Bugger. Fuck
So.... the race was going pretty well - I'd had an okay swim (though pulling off my swim cap so I could clean my goggles 3 seconds before the hooter went wasn't the smartest thing I've done this week, but I got it back on by the time the water was knee deep, so that was okay), finally experienced what everyone writes about when it comes to the craziness of mass start racing; I got partially swum over, got kicked a few times, and had two people slightly ahead of me swim together, sandwiching me and completely cutting me off.
The cycle started well - the climb up to the road from the transition point sucked every bit as much as expected (~100m long, about as steep as the bottom of dyers, for those for whom that means anything), but then I settled down, got my rhythm and started passing people. I was feeling all proud of myself having pulled off a nice tactical pass - following someone up a mid-length climb, then powering past them as they slowed for the crest - when I hit the final descent into Govenor's bay. At the bottom of the descent, doing 50-60km/h I braked into the start of the corner; as near as I can work out, I skidded, rolling the rear tire off the rim, or my rear tire blew out, taking my rear wheel out from under me.
Net result: I hit the road doing 50 odd km/h, right hip, right shoulder, then head. I twiddled my fingers and toes, established that nothing potentially lethal had happened, then got off the road. Thought about it a bit more, then pulled my bike off the road, sat down and assessed the damage. Shortly thereafter, a lovely couple by the names of Pauline and William turned up and looked after me until the ambulance eventually arrived (I got them to call it after we'd waited ~>15 minutes with no sign of anyone event related showing up).
Eventually the St John crew associated with the event showed up, followed shortly by an ambulance that took me in to hospital, where I got to flirt with the nurses (as we were pulling up, one of the ambos turned to me and said "you've timed it well - they've got all the attractive nurses in the ED"), and be x-rayed, confirming a nice simple clean broken collarbone. They didn't get particularly excited about my hip, other than ascertaining that nothing was broken. However, it is very much the ouchy, and doesn't really bear weight. Headwise, I seem to be fine - no loss off consciousness (I can remember sliding along the road on my back - though there wasn't to much in the way of adrenaline related time-dilation; I went thud, skiiiiiid, pause.... I'm Aliiiiive! without too much other internal commentary) though I'll be needing a new helmet, my current one having died valiantly doing its duty.
So - initial prognosis; about three months for the shoulder to be back up to full strength, with at least two weeks of doing basically nothing, then playing it by ear and letting Mr Pain telling me what I can and can't do. This is going to rather set back my marathon prep....
But on the up side - I don't (currently) feel like this will damage my riding confidence - I don't think I screwed up; I think I was just unlucky at speed (though I was bloody lucky to come through as comparatively undamaged as I am). Though this is subject to revision after I have a close look at my bike and see if I can confirm what happened.
The cycle started well - the climb up to the road from the transition point sucked every bit as much as expected (~100m long, about as steep as the bottom of dyers, for those for whom that means anything), but then I settled down, got my rhythm and started passing people. I was feeling all proud of myself having pulled off a nice tactical pass - following someone up a mid-length climb, then powering past them as they slowed for the crest - when I hit the final descent into Govenor's bay. At the bottom of the descent, doing 50-60km/h I braked into the start of the corner; as near as I can work out, I skidded, rolling the rear tire off the rim, or my rear tire blew out, taking my rear wheel out from under me.
Net result: I hit the road doing 50 odd km/h, right hip, right shoulder, then head. I twiddled my fingers and toes, established that nothing potentially lethal had happened, then got off the road. Thought about it a bit more, then pulled my bike off the road, sat down and assessed the damage. Shortly thereafter, a lovely couple by the names of Pauline and William turned up and looked after me until the ambulance eventually arrived (I got them to call it after we'd waited ~>15 minutes with no sign of anyone event related showing up).
Eventually the St John crew associated with the event showed up, followed shortly by an ambulance that took me in to hospital, where I got to flirt with the nurses (as we were pulling up, one of the ambos turned to me and said "you've timed it well - they've got all the attractive nurses in the ED"), and be x-rayed, confirming a nice simple clean broken collarbone. They didn't get particularly excited about my hip, other than ascertaining that nothing was broken. However, it is very much the ouchy, and doesn't really bear weight. Headwise, I seem to be fine - no loss off consciousness (I can remember sliding along the road on my back - though there wasn't to much in the way of adrenaline related time-dilation; I went thud, skiiiiiid, pause.... I'm Aliiiiive! without too much other internal commentary) though I'll be needing a new helmet, my current one having died valiantly doing its duty.
So - initial prognosis; about three months for the shoulder to be back up to full strength, with at least two weeks of doing basically nothing, then playing it by ear and letting Mr Pain telling me what I can and can't do. This is going to rather set back my marathon prep....
But on the up side - I don't (currently) feel like this will damage my riding confidence - I don't think I screwed up; I think I was just unlucky at speed (though I was bloody lucky to come through as comparatively undamaged as I am). Though this is subject to revision after I have a close look at my bike and see if I can confirm what happened.