First Crash of the Season!!

So after not being on the bike for over a week due to being sick, I headed out this morning for a nice long ride in the beautiful California Sun. The weather this weekend is absolutely perfect! Cloudless sky and temps in the 78-82 range with low humidity. This is the type of weather that everyone dreams of when they think of living here.

So I set out to do about 40 miles nice and easy. I did not want to jump right back into where I had been because I was afraid if I push too hard I would relapse into my cold. I went about 8 miles down the San Luis Rey river trail to the beach and met a couple of friends; then we headed over to Camp Pendleton and met up with another guy before we set off on a ride north through the coastal roads of the base and along the beach to San Onofre. You can check out the entire workout at Map My Ride.

I was feeling great! I was even getting a little frustrated that I had to keep slowing up and waiting for one of the other guys whose fitness level was not quite up to the group's pace. Anyway we turned around after about 27 miles and started back south. About that point is when it happened.

As we were coming through San Onofre state beach there were some landscapers planting young trees along the roadway. Seems they did not think that the trees would blow over in the wind, so they just lined them up along the sidewalk. Well here we come, barreling down the road and finally starting to really make some good time; probably 22-24 mph. All of a sudden one of the trees falls over right into our group. I was third wheel and all I remember is the guy in front of me swerving really fast to the left. Then I hit something full speed without even time to try and get out of the way. I of course went down, hard, and slid maybe 10 feet down the pavement. Luckily I think the tree absorbed a lot of my speed other wise my road rash would have been even worse. I got a good skinning on my knee and both elbows, as well as some good road rash on my hip and my back.

Worst of all I scuffed my favorite jersey! At least my bike was okay. I would really have been bummed if that had broken. Especially since I still had 25 miles to go on the ride!

So after I dusted myself off, I got back on the bike and hammered it home. I think my friends were amazed that I still wanted to ride but sometimes it the best thing. If the bike still works and you aren't really hurt badly, continuing can actually lessen the extent of the injury by keeping the blood flowing.

All these miles trying not to get taken out by a car door and I get clobbered by a tree! Who would've thought!

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and if you have a chance, click the link on the left and donate to my Ride For Semper Fi campaign, no amount is too small. And thank you!