Bike Crash in the Hills
On Tuesday, a bike group set off for a ride in the hills east of Gilroy. The starting point was the Mendoza Ranch parking lot, and the ride leader, Kris, offered a carpool. The group began their journey by heading up the scenic Gilroy Hot Springs road.
Unfortunately, the trip took a turn for the worse on the way back. At the junction of Gilroy Hot Springs road and Canada road, the author of the story lost control on some gravel and had a nasty fall. Consciousness was regained after five minutes, apparently with the help of concerned bystanders.
Given the location of the incident, the firefighters from the nearby CalFire station promptly arrived on the scene. Paramedics assessed the situation, ensured the injured individual was coherent, and attended to their wounds. The injured person was carefully placed on a backboard, a cervical collar was fitted, and they were transferred onto an ambulance gurney. San Jose Regional Medical Center, the closest trauma center, was the destination of this medical transport.
The medical center conducted a CAT scan, which thankfully showed no signs of serious head trauma. The injured person did sustain a more severe facial laceration, which was glued together. Other minor injuries were present, such as scrapes on the hands and a few miscellaneous abrasions. Fortunately, they were deemed relatively minor and only required consistent cleaning and care. The instructions given were to avoid activities like cycling or any contact sports for several days and to follow up with the primary care physician.
Reflecting on this incident, several important lessons were learned:
- It is essential to choose rides that are suitable for the skill level and road conditions.
- Thin-tired road bikes, like the Sirrus, should only be used on smooth roads.
- Bikes with fatter tires, like the Vado, are better suited for uneven surfaces.
- Considering that crash risks can increase with longer periods of cycling, it is wise to assess the time spent on the road.
While accidents can happen unexpectedly, taking precautionary measures can help minimize the risks. As for the author of this tale, they are now on the road to recovery with only a mild headache and some abrasions. All’s well that ends well!
