Cycling crash report

At the top of Squaw Pass. Author near center in blue jersey.Yesterday, I visited my orthopedic surgeon. My left hip fracture is healing well. On September 26, cycling down Squaw Pass in Colorado, I flew off my bike at a curve landing hard enough to fracture my left hip. Looking back, the question is why? Was I not adequately prepared? Was something missing in my training? Did I push above my limits? Was it a fluke? 

After initial healing following implantation of a dynamic pin (no need for a joint replacement!), my first response was to review my training. Besides working out at the gym a couple of times per week, I cycled in town 50 to 60 miles per week.

In April, I cycled from Denver to Evergreen, a 1,560 ft. elevation gain. Then in July, I climbed Vail Pass, a 23-mile ride that began in Vail at 8,100 ft., rose to 10,600 ft. at the pass, and ended at Cooper Mountain. This was a great ride with just the right amount of intensity. 

My son in the Alpine valley at the top of Herman Gulch.In August, my oldest son and I climbed Mt. Bierstadt, a 14,000 ft peak on the front-range (Trip Report here)  and in September we hiked Herman Gulch.

Later that month was a cycling climb from Aspen to the Maroon Bells. It was beautiful day and road conditions were perfect for the 11-mile climb an elevation gain of 1,600 feet. The descent was quick and smooth.

That set the stage for my last climb of the summer; I joined a few friends and new acquaintances for a ride up Squaw Pass. It was another beautiful day and a strenuous climb (15 miles and 3,355 ft. elevation gain). Reaching the top was a tremendous feeling. A passerby who had stopped to take in the views, took our picture.

I knew the risk was mostly during the downhill. I suspect my guard had been lowered a bit by the ease of the Maroon Bells descent. Cycling down Squaw Pass, I doubt I went any faster than 29 mph, and that only briefly. When I hit the curve, I suspect I was going about 25 mph, max 27. As I neared the curve, two cars traveling upward blocked the view of the full curve. As I entered the curve and sensed it was sharper, I pulled on my brakes at that moment encountered roadside gravel. The front wheel shuddered violently back and forth and the bike folded from under me.  I landed heavily on my left hip, rolled, and took some abrasions. I was scooted off the roadside by the people gathering around me. 

The only place really hurting was my left hip. By lying on my side in a specific position, there was little pain. Turning just a little was another story. None of our cell phones seemed to work at this location. A motorist passing by was asked to call 911 as he got closer to Evergreen. When the rescue team arrived, a c-collar was applied; I was placed on a backboard and transported to a trauma center on the west side of Denver. The orthopeadic surgeon on call, a hip and knee specialist, repaired my left hip fracture that night and I was discharged home the third post-operative day.

So, what is the lesson? I believe my training overall was adequate. Did I miss something? I should have realized how variable road conditions could be and that road conditions are as important, if not more, than the grade of the descent. I should have considered the hazards more carefully. Did I push above my limits? I don’t think so.

Looking back, I wonder if this was more of a stochastic (random) rather than a deterministic event. In the past 2½ months or so I have heard from other cyclists, or friends of cyclists, about variable factors during a ride that can conspire to change fate. On the other hand, I also learned the tendency to shift body mass backward in this type of situation could have unloaded the front tire, thus causing loss of traction. Who knows?

Is cycling paleo? Well, we can talk about that later. Is there risk in cycling? Certainly. But, as Helen Keller said,

 Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Was climbing Squaw Pass a daring adventure? Well, maybe not. But it was certainly fun.

I thank everyone for his or her support, kindness, and best wishes throughout my recovery.