Lessons Learned - Be Prepared!

It's been way too long since the last post... sorry about that. But, the only thing I really want to talk about is bike safety and I've been so worked up since the bike accident I probably would have lost my composure all together if I had decided to write about it before now.
If you've decided to ride a bike, you are assuming a bit of risk... period. Just like riding a motorcycle. It is legal to ride a bicycle, and there are laws that protect our rights as cyclists. However, 65% of all americans eat approximately three meals a week behind the wheel of a car while talking on the cell phone and driving with their knees (Don't research that statistic... I just made it up, but you get my point). People don't pay attention while they drive. I don't consider myself any different. If anything, this accident has made me aware of how fortunate I am as a driver to have gone so long without any serious incidents. I drive at least 3hrs a day for work and understand how easy it is to get comfortable while driving. Have you ever gone through a signal and not realized it was yellow... or worse... RED until you were already in the intersection. We've all been there. The scary thing about this realization is the fact that if you were to change any one of a few variables in the situations we face each and every day while driving... in the blink of an eye you could find yourself responsible for taking someones life, or even your own. Riding a bike comes with it's share of risks. The fact that most drivers are not looking for cyclists is the most important thing to understand. That way you don't go putting yourself in situations that make you vulnerable. The second most important thing to understand is that the motorists that do see you are not usually 'happy' to see you. You are usually going to be taking up "their" space in the road... going under the speed limit... or causing them to miss the next light because of your slow start and clipping in. So don't go doing anything that ticks them off even more. Just because nobody else is coming doesn't mean it's OK to roll through a red light. Traffic laws are there to protect us, so don't abuse them and give anybody reason to hate cyclists even more.
If you're being safe, smart, and courteous then you've done the best that you can do. Still... even if you have done all that (as is my case) people will still fail to see you, and may drive their cars into you. At that point, you just need to be prepared. Here are a few things that you need to know that will help you out.

1. Have good insurance. Most insurance carriers do not provide cycling insurance. However, a good unsurance company will cover the replacement of a bicycle under a homeowners policy at the cost of your deductible. This is usually not worth the hassle unless you just bought the bike of your dreams... like I did =(. Hopefully you will not have to use your insurance at all, assuming the wreck is not your fault, the drivers auto insurance should at minimum cover the price that you paid for all damaged equipment. If replacement cost ended up being more than what you paid, like mine did, don't hold your breath.
2. Call the cops. No matter how big, or small, the accident may have been. If there is any sort of bodily injury or damage to property the authorities should be notified and a report should be filled out. If you decide to file a claim with that motorist's insurance, even a day later, and there is no police report on file, the insurance will smell blood and end up claiming it was your fault and deny the claim... like mine did.
3. Write stuff down. If there are any witnesses, get names and phone numbers and ask them if they saw what happened. You might need to get ahold of some of those people later if the driver that hit you tries to claim that they didn't actually hit you... and say "it was the guy behind me that hit you"... like mine did.... =(.
4. Identify yourself. You need to get on the internet right now and buy a RoadID. This is a wristband that has your name and address and emergency contact information. You can customize these bracelets (or anklets) to carry even the most specific information... such as blood type. If you are rendered unable to speak for yourself, the RoadID will speak for you.
Nobody does an ironman, half, olympic, or even a sprint distance triathlon without doing a bit of training and preparation. Don't let your preparation fall short. Prepare for the unexpected. Protect the most valuable asset you have in this life... you. God has given you a great life, and other people don't always do the right thing. These tips will help you hold them accountable, and help you get the treatment you need if you find yourself in this situation.

And wear your stupid helmets people... geez, They're not that hot and uncomfortable!

Real men shave their legs

I should be writing a race review of the Sylvan Beach triathlon last weekend. Instead... bicycle safety. Last friday night, I headed out for a medium intensity brick workout. I had planned a fast paced 12-mile bike before a transition to a med paced 5 mile run. I didn't quite make it to the run. At mile 10 of the bike I approached an intersection, checked to make sure that it was clear, and then accelerated to make it through quickly. Little did I know, coming the opposite direction, a lady made the decision to try and beat out a yellow light. She made a quick left turn and managed to put herself directly in the path of my bike before I even knew what was going on. The most dangerous aspect of training for a triathlon is riding in the aero position. I need to spend a lot of time in the aero bars to simply get used to it. This is my first tri bike, and with a back surgery just 6 months ago, it is taking lots of practice and adjustments in spacing to find out how to be the most comfortable. The dangerous part about the aeros is your ability to react. When training, you don't have the benefit of a closed course like on race day, and when a driver gets careless your hands are nowhere near your breaks. By the time I saw the car, I knew I was going to hit it. Naturally, I swerved anyway, and was able to minimize the damage (namely staying alive). Instead of a direct impact with the side of her vehicle, my handlebars suffered the biggest punishment when they plunged into her tail-light. This wrenched my front fork, ripped the front tire off the wheel, and threw me over the back of the car into the middle of the intersection. So instead of the car stopping me in my tracks I was able to slowly decelerate on the pavement... hehe. But seriously, this was probably the main contributing factor for me walking away with zero broken bones. Instead, all of my clothing was ripped up pretty good, I separated my shoulder, got some pretty decent whiplash, plenty of road-rash, and a great little knot on the head. The helmet definitely saved my life, the tri-shorts and top absolutely minimized the amount of road rash, the gloves kept my hands from getting chewed up, and the fact that I had just shaved my arms, legs, shoulders... and well, just about everything, saved me loads of discomfort after the fact. When you have a particularly hairy disposition, such as myself, road rash is a fearsome enemy in the immediate days and weeks, post crash. Wound care is miserable when the adhesive tape is pulling out hundreds of hairs each time you change a bandage. And as the wound dries out and scabs start to form, you know your on the road to recovery. The funny thing about wounds.... the scabs seem to shrink as they heal, and this pulls out even more hair. So, you're fighting the hair pulling battle literally with every step, bend, lunge, and turn. So, If you're going to ride your bike, by all means... gear up, stay alert, and go to your bathroom right now and shave.