Accidents accumulate with time

Painful to look at even after 35 years. I healed and so did the bike after Dr. Peter Johnson operated.

I’ve ridden at least 200,000 miles since starting in 1969 on a ten-speed. In that time I’ve had quite a few accidents. For the record, in reverse chronological order. I know a few people who have never crashed. They might not have ridden this many miles, but they’re still lucky.

December 2015: A thin layer of mud in the bike lane caused me to fall and hit my head, Tantau Avenue in Cupertino. Bad concussion, ambulance to hospital, then a month to feel back to normal. Giro helmet destroyed. Bike undamaged.

November 2008: Campagnolo Super Record left crank (4 years in use) broke at the pedal eye as I hammered up Scott Boulevard in Santa Clara on the railroad overpass. I flipped onto my back, where I hit the thickest part of my helmet. Helmet destroyed. Uninjured. Bike undamaged.

December 2004: Campagnolo Record left crank (16 years in use) broke at the pedal eye as I took a left turn from Pomeroy onto Pruneridge Avenue while commuting home from work at night. Hit my head. 3 stitches. Bike undamaged. No helmet. No concussion.

October 1995: Collided head-on with a descending mountain biker on Aptos Creek Fire Road. Concussion for 10 minutes. Rode home 35 miles. Front wheel bent and some brake components damaged. No helmet. No residual effects from concussion.

September 1993: Car making an illegal right turn from Homestead onto Hollenbeck in Cupertino cuts me off while driving at slow speed, causing me to grab onto its right rear fender and fall to the ground. Unhurt. Bike undamaged. No helmet. Car did not stop. Probably a teen driving.

May 1993: Campagnolo front brake cable snapped while crossing a pedestrian bridge over a creek, causing me to hit a Cyclone fence head-on and flip over. Uninjured. Front fork replaced and top tube slightly crumpled. No helmet.

December 1982: Hit oil on a curve while descending Hwy 84. Slid out. Banged elbow. No helmet. Checked at emergency room for possible injury, but OK. Bike undamaged.

June 1981: Head-on collision with a car on Portola Valley Road. Right arm compound fracture, artery damage, left kneecap cracked, neck wrenched. 3 months recovering. Fork and front triangle replaced. No helmet.

April 1980: Crashed on dirt road in Pinkies Road Race. Road rash otherwise OK. Finished race. Bike OK. Leather helmet.

April 1980: Front wheel hit by cyclist during a criterium, causing me to crash. Raspberry on right hip became infected. Leather helmet. Bike undamaged.

October 1979: Rocks across road caused me to lock up my brakes and fall while descending Mt. Hamilton. My head came to rest next to a car’s left tire as it stopped when it saw me coming. Left wrist fractured in three places. 8 weeks in cast. Bike OK. No helmet.

I’ve had a few other minor falls, like the one on Page Mill when I hit black ice while climbing a steep section at 3 mph, but not worthy of reporting.

So you might be wondering, how about while driving? I’ve had one, a fender-bender in 1976 when an old lady’s Buick slid into my VW during a blizzard as I approached a stop sign.