Awesome 3-day, 600-mile tour...

[Zwerski]

...until I went down 150 miles from home.

Leaving Paso Robles in central CA on Indian Springs Road, I took a curve too wide and hit loose shoulder dirt at about 15 MPH (guessing). I shoulder-checked the pavement, bike slid partially under a barbed wire fence. Sprang up, checked for collapsed collar bone - OK there.

Went to right the bike and my right shoulder was on fire. Helpless and leaking gas from the filler cap, I extracted the bike from under the fence and flagged down the only passing vehicle in the 45 minutes I was there.

A kindly ranching couple helped me get the bike upright and gather my gear to a shady spot. Waited about 20 minutes, resting, drinking water and taking two Advil. Laboriously put gear on and headed out.

150 miles on US 101 from San Miguel to San Jose with two stops for gas and text/phone updates to my wife on the bike and I was home.

Showered and changed and drove my truck a mile to the ER. X-rays show no breakage but torn cartilage and dislocated clavicle.

Tourmaster boots saved my right foot. Padded textile jacket saved my shoulder from rash and breakage. Kevlar jeans saved me from rash. DL650 handguards and gloves saved my hands. Helmet made minimal contact.

Right side contact points on the GS500E were front headlight fairing, BMX foot peg frame slider, foot peg, pipe and heavy duty stator cover.

Shoulder, along with rug burns and a world class thigh bruise are the extent of my injuries.

[Watcher]

Glad you are alright, good thing you are smart and wore all your gear!

Sounds like the damage to both you and the bike could have been much worse!



That sucks that the trip was cut so severely short, but good that it happened so close to home!  Imagine the same scenario 500 miles out!




Side note:  Using BMX pegs as frame sliders.  I quickly googled this but didn't really find anything.  Is this a decent alternative to the expensive polymer ones you can find?  Is it easy to modify and install?

[weedahoe]

Glad you are ok also

Now post some pics 

[BockinBboy]

Dislocated clavicle, eh?  Depending on which joint is dislocated... I'd rather break my clavicle.  I have dislocated mine at the sternum... so, sternoclavicular dislocation... its still deformed and half out and its been a full year later.   Can't lift much weight still either.  Hope you have better luck with yours, though.  It was decided that surgery could not correct mine, and the only thing I can do is continue to strengthen it through low stress workouts such as swimming.

- Bboy

[Zwerski]

Actually just got back from my doctor appointment. Shoulder is separated and warrants surgery. Far end of clavicle came off, cartilage torn.

[Watcher]

Ouch!


Keep us updated!




Just goes to show that even low speed crashes can be serious.

[Janx101]

  .... Ewww ... That's bad news dude! ... Sorry to hear it  ... Glad you got to walk away from a bingle though! ... 

Ask the surgeons for a "cool scar" ... Something like a lightning bolt perhaps? .... They tend to make neat boring ones 

[Zwerski]

I had surgery to re-attach my collar bone this morning and it went well. Over the last week, I've had several doctor visits, and an MRI. At first, I was determined to have surgery, then looked at the possibility of PT only, not realizing the severity of the injury. Turns out that I have a Grade 5 separation, where the AC and CC ligaments are completely torn and the collar bone is not attached to the rest of the shoulder at all. Only a Grade 6 separation is more severe, and that involves the collar bone being wedged under the rest of the shoulder. Docs could not believe that I was able to ride home with a Grade 5.

Anyway, 4-6 weeks in a sling, 6 weeks PT and I should be golden. I'm a teacher and school starts before I'll be able to return to normal work duties. That bums me out, but my shoulder should be 100% for the rest of my days after all this.

Lesson learned: PULL OVER to look at beautiful scenery on a ride instead of gawking while moving.

[Janx101]

Only a Grade 6 separation is more severe, and that involves the collar bone being wedged under the rest of the shoulder. Docs could not believe that I was able to ride home with a Grade 5.


Lesson learned: PULL OVER to look at beautiful scenery on a ride instead of gawking while moving.

hmmm... you might nearly earn an Aussie "I Did HTFU!!" badge for that ride home!

and yeah agree on the scenery thing... specially if its near a popular bikini beach!! 

[BockinBboy]

Coming from a similar injury to the opposite side of the clavicle, I'd have told you directly to get the surgery.  I WISH surgery could correct mine, but doctors tell me a surgery would have a measley 18% chance of working, AND would be much more severe it a successful repair was later injured.  I fear it will affect me the rest of my life even with my extended therapy.  I hope the surgery goes well for you, and make sure you do everything they tell you for PT.  Sacrificing a few weeks of your life will be well worth it for the rest of your life.

- Bboy