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scozim

DITCH

I guess I'm entitled to one stupid move for 2010. The sun was out (first time in 7-10 days) and it was 50 degrees F this afternoon. We even had the normal 20 mph wind. I had to go for a ride so I grabbed my favorite '84 Sprint and headed out. Three miles in I turned west which then means I have a crossing headwind from the right (northwest). I'm normally leaning a little into the wind in this direction.

All was going well until I skipped a gear and looked down at the same time I hit a wind break. Well, leaning to the right with a wind break causes you to drift right. I looked up right as I was nearing the edge of the road. I had time to hit the brakes and slow a little, utter a choice word and realize "this is going to hurt".

Fortunately the ditch was pretty soft, although there were some large rocks in it and the bottom was full of water. The bike tires sunk in and my body took the brunt of the impact on the side of the road.

What a way to start the year. The worst part was a friend had just passed me in his truck and witnessed the whole thing in his rear view mirror. At least I was able to finish the ride.

My arm came out the worst. The crank arm on the bike is scraped a little as is the left seat stay as shown in the photos - so the Gitane held up well.

verktyg

Scot sorry to hear about the bike... Crying or Very sad

The first thing any REAL cyclist does after a spill is:

1. check the bike

2. look around to make sure no one saw you spill

3. check to see how much damage you did to yourself and your bike clothes, not necessarily in that order! Laughing

If things don't happen in that sequence, you know you're in deep doodoo! Confused

scozim

#3 had to wait until I got home an hour later. I was layered up with the clothes and there wasn't a lot of daylight left.

But, the other two happened pretty much in that order.

sandranian · Site Admin

You will heal. The bike? Not so much!

smilingroadrunner

Scott, You've got the right idea, I'm glad you and your bike are OK !!!

Save the bike, Chrash the body. Wink

Last time I tried this in 2005 it was a right clavicle fracture, 15 years earlier it was a right fractured pelvis. Rolling Eyes

But the Gitane was unscathed in the 2005 chrash and the Paramount suffered minor handlebar end and rear quick release abrasions in 1990. Very Happy

Lots of Road Rash from many similiar chrashes in my years on the road and in local races, but these were the worse to date. Usually my fault being too agressive in a R hand turn and loosing contact with the front or rear tire and sliding out.

I am amazed from my clavicle injury experience ---the rides that Lance did last season with his orthopedic hardware---in the short recovery time before he was racing at the professional level again---he had to have a high pain threshold---or tolerance. Shocked

On another line of thought----I was really hoping to get lucky with the early 70's Gitane Track Standard that sold yesterday----but Too Rich for my wishes. Sad

I could not find any information about that Bike ---sure looks like it would have been in the early 70's catalogs. Mexico, Kilo, but never have seen anything about "Track Standard"

Did one of our Forum members acquire this ??? rare Gitane

I Like Steel !!!!!
___________________

C.A.
Salina, Ks.

smilingroadrunner

Gitane Track Standard----Not in the 70's catalog, but there it is in the 60's--- A $70 entry level track bike in the 1960's. Sometimes I speak w/o thinking---this time I post w/o researching. Embarassed

Anyhow, it sure would have looked nice next to my blue '70 TdeF.

Nice to finally get outside for the 3rd time this new year. I swear it's been a long 2&1/2 months of Grey, Foggy, snowy, wet, ugly winter season
weather----too many boring evenings on the rollers---nice to be on the road today.

C.A.
Salina, Ks.

verktyg

C.A.

We always kept one or two Track Standards at our shop. We'd take them out for a spin when business was slow or we were bored.

Every year about this time we'd sell them to some hard core racers for early Spring training.

Long about August (when the racing season was over and they were broke) they'd sell them back to us! Laughing

In the early 70s Track Standards sold for $69.00 new!

In the mid 70s there was a guy who rode around Albuquerque all the time on a Peugeot track bike.

In reality it was an all Campy/Reynolds Gitane Professional Super Pista track bike. It had been painted all white with Peugeot PX-10 decals! Shocked

Gtane

Sorry to hear the story Scott and all the best for a speedy recovery.

Well done with your bike handling skills to minimise damage, those crosswinds can be very difficult to negotiate, and great that you were in good enough shape to finish the ride.

Tim

scozim

The only good thing I guess is I missed the big rocks and stayed out of the water.

Took the bike out for 25 miles this morning and all is fine with it although the arm is pretty sore in the aero position.

sandranian · Site Admin

Ouch. That is some ditch to roll into. Glad you are back on the bike!