Last Sunday (24/12/2006), I had the worst fall I have ever experienced while MTBiking.. Yes, I'm quite sure that others would have had it worst than me. Fractured bones, big bad open wounds, or even hospitalized. Thankfully I've not experienced any of those, touch wood !! But back to my story, it started out just like any other Sunday morning ride at FRIM. Parked there car -> Prep up the bike -> Meet up with other riders/frens -> Ride on... Though the ride started bit later than usual, nothing unusual. Also the fact that I've got only 3 hours of sleep the nite before; so what.. done rides with little sleep before.
So... started the ride, the pack actually splitted up into 2 groups. Some wanted to ride Rover trail, while we headed towards the Steroid junction, or I would like to call it, Steroid Valley. Lets see, CS lead the way.. followed by Andrew, Danny, Myself and then Keat. Dunno why I so semangat.. Just stick to the pace of the rider in front of me. Maybe cause I long time never ride. That Sunday I pushed myself bit more.. Try to follow the pace of the rider in front. So not surprising, once we reached the Steroid Valley, I was punctured OUT ! No more air.. We rested... and rested... had our usual TCSS session. Me still feeling very energetic, but still at the back of my mind, I keep telling myself to slow and not push myself too hard.
My 1st fall...
Happened when we were coming down from the "pondok"; located at the end of the Steroid Hill trail. Dunno what got into me... Started to pedal fast and head down 1st. Reaching the Junction, I saw 2 other riders (from the initial group) resting. My attention was so fixed on them that I didn't realise where I was going, next thing I know... Front wheel into the narrow ditch, me falling sideways and landing on my right shoulder. Also due to the reason that I wasn't able to unclip ler... It was quite a hard fall for me, felt as if my internal organs was shaken out of place. Either than that, it was just minor scars on my right forearm and knee..
--> Normal fall I guess, wasn't paying attention to where I was going.. Prepared my self to fall, thus able to land sideways. Something told me not to push on liow. But still the adrenalin keep pumping in my blood.
After rested there awhile, waiting for others to reach.. We started from the Steroid Junction and proceed to the Pond trail. Before starting the long descend, there is just that slight uphill pedal. HERE is where I made history... During the uphill climb, seeing CS already reaching the top.. I wanted to push myself and reach there fast. Wanted to ride max before changing to new TANK frame.. My mind was so focused on reaching the top fast, that I didn't pay attention to where I was going.
I think I was trying to overtake the rider in front, so went pedaled off the normal (smoother) line. Front wheel went into the ditch / longkang... Instead of telling myself to unclip, which I've not mastered it yet, I wanted to pedal on. Actually I didn't realised that my front wheel was already in the ditch. The next thing I know, I was falling down straight towards the handlebar. At this time, the front tyre + the handlebar was already 90degree to the bike frame. So I could see myself falling onto the tip of the handlebar... This is what I fell straight onto, direct hit to my solar plexus.. Knocked the air out of me !
Note: When I purchased the bar ends below, Jason of Maheez told me that 4X race bikes are to have these installed. To avoid the handlebar piercing through the chest, in case of accident. I've proven that it WORKED !
When I managed to get on my feet, somehow I managed to unclip - somehow lar, the 1st thing that ran through my mind was... Did the handlebar went THROUGH my chest ?! It was just a split second of relief, when I saw no blood on the handlebar ends. Cause the next heartbeat, the PAIN came.. To me referring it as pain - is an understatement ! What happened after that, is still quite blur for me.. I recall screaming my balls off ! IF I did not, I couldn't breathe. Gave out a few loud screams.. Could see people around me stunned ! Saw Keat ran towards me... Grab me from the back, kind of stretch me out. Then I fell to the ground... Everyone, well almost everyone (could see 1 guy like don't give a damn..)
What an experience... Down on the ground, could hear only voices.. CS, Andrew, Lau, Danny, who else can't make out cause vision blurred liow. Keat was there as my pillow, he also helped me checked if I broke my ribs - Thankfully NO ! It felt like eternity lying down there. You know how they that you could see your life flash you by.. That is BULLSHIT ! Cause all I could think of was the PAIN.. Nothing I ever felt before... If it was an open wound, can understand cause can see the oozing blood. BUT this was nothing ! Just the red and sore skin mark... Thankfully I got some fats to help absorb the impact. So scared that there'll be any internal injury.
From there on.. I was the longest walk ever ! And the hardest as well.. I couldn't move much of my whole torso. Slight movement give a shrieking pain. You never know how important a single muscle is, until you injured it. The whole walk, I was having a battle in my head.. Whether I should give up MTBiking, give up the clipless. Oh yeah, remembered Danny asking me, if I wanna sell off my clipless...
Another drama unfolds...
Managed to walk super slowly to the pond area.. On the right side of it, there is a gate + guard house. Think CS and Danny reached the guard house 1st, being polite.. We asked for permission, so that we can exit there. But then no, that cranky grumpy old guard.. Didn't wanna allow us to go out. Kept insisting that we can't enter / exit through that gate. We have to exit from where we came in from. Saying that, we weren't allowed to ride through the pond, at all ! Keat got furious, went upto the guard and started to SHOUT ! I was pacing slowly along from the back. Didn't wanna bother about what was happening.. Look.. that guard also dong wann. The gate was already OPENED, and he alone wanna go against the 3 of them young and abled guys ? What more on and on, explained to him that got a injured guy.. He still don't understand. Sad man.. Guess if he was any smarter, he wouldn't be sitting there. I just don't bother, took my time and walked out the gate. BUT of course, before we left, 3 of them made peace with him.. I could see Keat shaking his hand and giving him a pat on the shoulder. The End...
Not quite yet, this is post from me... Where got short story wann...
Waited by the side of the road.. Danny and Keat headed to get the car. Waited there with CS. The pain wasn't that bad liow, by then I could smile and joke. But still couldn't laugh or move much.. Tried to recalled what happened.. Man, I wished I could cry, so at least it might relief the pain abit. Oh yeah, thanks to Lau (I think) for the Panadol... I had to be, literally, carried in and out of the car.. Went to the clinic right after dropping CS back home.
Doctor see also puzzled, how come the scar was horizontal.. When the bar end actually hit me direct on the solar plexus. Laid on the examination bed, Dr. started to press press.. Here pain or not, there leh ? here leh ? Hmmmm... Looks like nothing serious. Since the stomach/tummy/belly part still feel soft. He said, there there was any internal injury, it would have swollen and hurt like there is no tomorrow. Also it any fractured to the ribs, I wouldn't be able to walk.. So he gave me, pain killer & muscle relaxation pills. For sure.. the muscle relaxation pills - worked BEST ! Not only that it gave me good sleep, but then reading text, I was seeing double vision. Takes awhile for my eyes to focus..
Well... So practically for Xmas eve and Xmas day, I was high on pain killer and muscle relaxation pills. It was only bad that Sunday, couldn't even get myself up from my bed. Again had to be carried up.. Felt like a vegetable, waist up.. Once I was sleeping down, I couldn't even lift up my head. Had to drink from a straw... Quite honestly, that night was the best sleep I had in a very long while.
Woke up on Xmas day, even could go Mid Valley and jalan-jalan.. Had some stuffs to checkout and petty stuffs to buy. Even had banana leaf rice for lunch @ Sri Paandi, PJ. So guess everything was OK, just the muscle and skin still bit sore. Haven't get back my full torso movement or strength. Now my right shoulder also bit sore, from the 1st fall... In fact, this morning went to another Doctor, for a 2nd opinion. But both also said that same thing, nothing serious, just skin deep damage.. Thank God ! Considering the pain I went through, ask them how loud I was screaming.
Now to end it, moral of the story is...
1. Please look where you are going. Pay attention to the trail and not the destination..
2. Ride at your own pace. Don't try to outdo others and end up in the ditch. This is NOT a race..
3. Never NEVER never... ride ALONE.
4. Be thankful, you have friends... Thank you guys.. especially to CS and Danny, who called/sms to check on me. Keat who took care of me.. Of course, my mom also..
5. NO.. I'm not gonna be selling off my bike or the clipless pedals ! Quote from Batman Begins, "Why do we fall ? So that we learn how to pick ourselves up.." Something like that.. In fact, I've sent my bike to P.Maheez for a full service (front wheel bit bengkok) and to be built onto the TANK frame ! Now it is in the good hands of Jason Tan..
One last bit... Gonna be taking a long break from riding. Doctor asked to let the muscle heal fully, don't over-stressed it. Afraid that might tear the muscle. Well.. As soon as I can overcome the phobia.. Like starting to cycle, all over again...
~ The End ~ for real...
~::NK the wOOfer::~
