Summer's Last Hurrah

Welcome back to DDublog! It seems like just a couple of weeks have passed since my last post, but I just looked at the date and realized it's been two months. Where did summer go?! Today is officially the last full day of summer. Tomorrow at 11:44 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time marks the Autumnal Equinox and the beginning of Fall.

Although I do lament the passing of summer, Fall is my favorite time of year in Colorado. September days are sunny and warm (great riding weather) and the nights are clear and cool (great sleeping weather). I went for a 35-mile ride yesterday followed by a hike up to Castle Rock with my daughters and our dog Casey. So I took full advantage of the final week of summer to spend as much time outside as possible!

[Above: Posing with cattle at a ranch along Hwy 105; At left: Shelby, Haley and Casey sitting under the Rock, Below: Me and Casey under the Rock]

One year ago yesterday I went for a hike up Castle Rock with my daughter and our puppy Casey. That afternoon I headed out for a short ride. A few minutes and less than two miles later I was lying on my back in the middle of an intersection with a broken collar bone. I didn't think my ride would be THAT short!

[At left: Shelby and Haley under the Rock (it's a BIG rock!)]

Yes, besides marking the end of summer, this weekend marks the one year anniversary of the day I was "right hooked" by a car as I went on a sunny Saturday afternoon ride. I celebrated by going out for a 35-mile ride. I didn't ride past the scene of the accident. Instead, I turned left on Coachline and headed towards Wolfensberger Road and Highway 105 on my normal route. Many times in the days to follow I asked myself why I went straight on Foothills Drive on that Saturday afternoon a year ago. "If only" and What if" were common thoughts.

Coincidentally, I received a check in the mail yesterday from Nationwide Insurance in payment of "property damage claims...arising out of an accident on September 22, 2007." In other words, Nationwide had a "change of heart" (after my lawyer threatened to file a suit) and admitted liability on behalf of their insured and agreed to settle my case without going to court. This all happened a while back but I've been waiting to actually receive a check before claiming victory. This check will help pay for the new bike I purchased back in March (my old bike was totaled in the accident). Of course, there's still the much larger issue of personal injury.

[Above: my new Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 along Tomah Road (with Coyote Ridge in the background)]

I have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon this week to check on the progress of healing from the surgery on March 18. The bone morphogenic protein seems to be doing it's job. I have a collar bone as thick as my femur! However, I'm still having issues with the nerve that runs from my right shoulder down my arm. While it's better than before the surgery, I still have constant tingling and occasional pain in my shoulder and along the entire length of my arm.

One year ago today I was sitting on my couch popping pain pills watching football. This morning I went for a 6-mile run before church then drove to Fox and Hound with Shelby to watch the Chiefs' inept attempt at ending their 11-game losing streak (a topic for another blog on another day). I couldn't have done either of those things one year ago. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but today I am thankful for my health, Nationwide's change of heart and the change of seasons.

Ride on!

Daren

Accident Saga Update

For those of you following my bike accident saga, I have a quick update. I recently met with my lawyer, Brad Tucker, and discussed my options. Basically, Allied/Nationwide Insurance has failed to accept liability even after the eyewitness account and forensic engineer's accident reconstruction report clearly indicate that their insured was 100% at fault. Not only have they failed to accept liability, they have failed to even give us the courtesy of responding to numerous letters from Brad. So, we were left with no option but to file suit against the driver.

Well, today I received a copy of a letter Brad sent to a woman who has apparently "taken over the file" from the former adjuster (not sure if she still works there, quit or was fired for incompetence, but in any event she is no longer in charge of my file). It seems the new adjuster has wisely asked for time to review the file before we file suit. As Brad said in his letter...

As we discussed, I am willing to wait a week in order to allow you an opportunity to review this file. If you will accept liability for purposes of our settlement negotiations, I will not file the lawsuit, but instead, work with you in an effort to reach a fair settlement of Daren’s claims.

If not, we will proceed with the lawsuit. Or, as Brad said more eloquently...

On the other hand, if you intend to maintain the liability denial, or if I do not hear from you, I will proceed with a lawsuit against your insured.

Hopefully cooler (wiser) heads will prevail and we can avoid a lawsuit. Stay tuned...

Daren

Takin' it to the Streets

It's been seven months and five days since I was hit by a car while riding my bike about a mile from my house. It was a beautiful September day. Haley and I went for a hike up Castle Rock with our puppy, Casey (at left). When we got home I decided to go for a short ride.

As I got to the intersection where I normally turn left on Coachline to head south, then west on Wolfensberger Road towards the mountains, I decided to go straight on Foothills Drive. I had never gone this way before. A few short minutes later I was lying on my back in the middle of the intersection of Foothills and Willow Run, wishing I had turned left on Coachline. I was fortunate to only suffer a broken collarbone, although recovering from that injury has turned out to be a much longer process than I first imagined.

Today, as I headed out on my first real ride since that day, I once again decided to go straight on Foothills.

I have to admit I got a little nervous as I approached the intersection of Foothills and Willow Run (at left). Heck, I was nervous all morning just thinking about getting back on my bike and riding up and down steep hills, avoiding the sand on the side of the road left from winter snowplows, and sharing the road with cars rather than riding in the safety of my own house on my CycleOps Fluid2 trainer.

I was a little shaky at first, but after coasting down the hill past the spot where I lay in the road that day, I knew I'd be fine. From there I decided to circle the neighborhood on Meadows Parkway and head west on Red Hawk towards Wolfensberger so I could test my legs on the steep climb up to Tessa Mesa (at left: the view from Tessa Mesa).

As I passed Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Station #154 it dawned on me that these were the guys who picked me up off the pavement that day and took me to Sky Ridge Hospital. So I stopped and rode up the wide driveway. Two guys were standing in the large station garage hosing down the floor. When they saw me they asked if I needed something. At this point I wasn't sure what I was doing there. But I spoke up and said, "Seven months ago somebody here scraped me off the pavement after I was hit by a car. Today is my first ride since that day. So I just stopped in to say thanks."

As we talked about what happened, the car turning in front of me, my broken collar bone, etc., one of the two guys said, "I remember you. I'm the guy who gave you the painkillers as we rode in the ambulance." For that I said a special thanks and asked the other guy if he'd take a picture of me and Adam by the ambulance. As I headed back out on the road, they shouted "watch out for cars!" Funny. I was glad I stopped.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. I made the climb up Wolfensberger, rode through the new Tessa Mesa development (at left: my new Cannondale Synapse atop Tessa Mesa), and headed back down, then up and over Coachline towards home. For good measure, I turned left on Foothills and rode past the intersection of Willows Run one more time. This time I stopped to take a picture. I think this will become a part of my regular route!

When I got home there was a letter in the mail from my lawyer, Brad Tucker. In it was a copy of the "forensic engineers" report on my accident, commissioned by Progressive Insurance (my car insurance agent). For those of you who haven't been following the saga, the car driver's insurance agency, Allied Nationwide, determined that I was 100% at fault for running into the side of her car after she turned right in front of me onto Willows Run after passing me on Foothills Drive (Progressive's investigation determined that the driver was 100% at fault). In the meantime, I have racked up tens of thousands of dollars in mdeical bills, forked out a couple thousand for a new bike and hired a lawyer to make sure I don't get shafted by the insurance companies!

So anyway, the forensic engineering firm, Alcorn and Associates, concluded (and I quote)...

• The bicyclist was traveling in the proper direction and on the shoulder as required at the time impact occured.


• There are no sight distance restrictions that would prevent the Dodge Intrepid driver from seeing the bicycle rider, monitoring his movement and making sure the turn could be made safely.


• The Dodge Intrepid driver, however, left her lane of travel and began to cross the should of the roadway the bicycle was using and ran into the bicycle.


• The Dodge driver failed to yield the right-of-way to the bicycle rider as she attempted to make a right turn across the bicycle's designated riding location on the roadway.


• Failure on the part of the Dodge Intrepid driver to exercise caution and due care by being attentive and properly monitoring the roadway for the bicycle rider and slowing and yielding the right-of-way, to allow the bicycle rider to continue in its designated space on the roadway and through the intersection is the cause of this accident.
  
• The bicycle rider did not contribute to the cause of this accident.

So Brad kindly sent the report to Allied Insurance with this cover letter:

I am providing to you for your review a copy of the April 18, 2008 report of Alcorn & Associates Forensic Engineers relative to their investigation into the above-referenced accident. I feel certain that you and your office are familiar with Alcorn & Associates, and their excellent reputation. As you will see, they have come to the exact conclusion that I have been presenting to you from the onset of my involvement. Specifically, it is their conclusion to a reasonable degree of engineering probability that your insured was 100% at fault for the collision that injured Mr. Williams.

I pass this along to you in an effort to give you one last chance to accept liability on behalf of [the driver], and preclude our initiation of a lawsuit against her.

Please let me know your position so that we can proceed accordingly.

So, will Allied accept the eyewitness account and engineering firm's conclusion that their driver was at fault...or will I be forced to initiate a lawsuit to prove what the law and common sense clearly dictate? Stay tuned to DDublog for the next episode of "As the Wheel Turns."

Daren

Ride the Rockies Training: Going Nowhere Fast

Since picking up my new bike on March 30 I have ridden almost 200 miles...and never left my house. Riding on my CycleOps Fluid2 trainer has been real and it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Actually, I think calling it "fun" is a stretch. But I am getting in some "miles in the saddle" which is important as I recover from my surgery and prepare for Ride the Rockies.

The reason I love cycling is getting on the road and going somewhere. With cycling you can ride for hours, travel more distance than running, and enjoy the scenery. I'm getting tired of riding in place and watching TV (or the clock). It's the same reason I don't enjoy running on a treadmill.

But riding on a trainer (and running on a treadmill) do have their place in a good training regimen. Apparently there is a saying that "an hour on the trainer is worth two on the road." I hope so, because I can't stand to ride for more than an hour-and-a-half at a time on the trainer.

The two main benefits of riding on a trainer are working on increasing cadence and improving pedal stroke technique. Studies suggest that pedaling faster (increasing cadence) is supposed to increase efficiency. this is because glycogen is depleted in fast-twitch muscle fibers at a quicker rate during slow, high-force pedaling. Lance Armstrong is widely credited with advancing the theory that pedaling at a higher cadence is more efficient, allowing him to ride faster, longer than anyone else (and he proved it for seven consecutive years on the Tour de France).

But pedaling faster isn't the only way to improve efficiency. Achieving the perfect pedal stroke increases power efficiency, allowing you to generate the same amount of power at a lower heart rate.

All of this may seem ridiculous to a casual rider, but when tackling Ride the Rockies (435 miles in six days over seven mountain passes!), you don't want to waste any energy. And it seems to be working. After 2 hours on the trainer (~4 hours on the road!), I have improved my average RPMs from 91 to 99 and my speed from around 13 to over 17 mph.

Bottomline, RTR08 is less than two months away and I want to be ready to have the best ride ever. That means I need to lose about 10 more pounds, ride about 500 more miles (prefereably on the road) and, oh yeah, get clearance from my doctor to ride! Stay tuned...

Daren

Awareness Test

This awesome video was sent to me by my good friend Adam from San Diego. Don't worry, it's totally clean and guaranteed not to send you into an epileptic seizure. Can you pass the awareness test? I failed. Play it...then leave a comment letting me know how you did.

Bionic Collarbone

I had a follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon this past Friday and he took this X-ray of my new collarbone. This shot is a lot clearer than the one they gave me the day of the surgery. Pretty wild, eh? Looks like simple hardware you could buy at Home Depot but I'm sure it cost a lot more. OK, so I may not be the Six Million Dollar Man, but Dr. Loucks did tell me that the bone graft putty (Deminerilized Bone Matrix) alone cost $5,000 for one tube!

I thought it would be interesting to compare this X-ray to one taken before the surgery...

As you can see, the pieces of bone definitely line up better than before. Dr. Loucks says it won't ever be perfectly symmetrical, but the big bump on my right shoulder (caused by the broken bone sticking up) is gone. More importantly, it no longer moves around! What I had before surgery was a "fibrous non-union" that basically acted like a joint. I could actually make it move up and down...kind of cool for grossing people out, but not great for everyday functionality!

The best news from my follow-up appointment was that I could ditch the sling and start using my right arm again (oh yea, and taking showers!). It already feels better than it did several weeks after the initial break, but regaining full range of motion in my right shoulder is going to take some time -- and physical therapy (two times a week for six weeks).

I had my first PT session yesterday. Nick, my therapist, put me through some basic stretching exercises to start loosening up the muscles in my shoulder. Not too painful, but I get the sense it's going to get worse before it gets better. As they say...no pain, no gain.

Daren

Happy Easter from the Couch Potato

Were you expecting the Easter Bunny? What you see is what I've been doing for the past 5 days -- sitting on the couch, remote in my left hand, painkillers, cough drops and a glass of water within reach on the end table. If it weren't for March Madness (Go Jayhawks!), I think I'd have gone mad by now!

My collarbone surgery seems to be healing fine. My biggest issues since the surgery have been side effects related to the hydrocodone painkiller (a.k.a. Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, etc.) my doctor prescribed and a chest cold that set in the day before the surgery.

I don't like hydrocodone at all. In fact, I stopped taking it on Friday after I woke up from a nap so disoriented I didn't know where I was (didn't recognize my own family room) or what I was doing (sitting on the couch watching basketball, of course). It took about 30 minutes to break out of this mental fog and sort things out in my brain. And the dreams I had while sleeping in a hydrocodone haze were extremely active, vivid, and sometimes disturbing. I often woke up in a cold sweat with my heart racing. I'd rather suffer through pain than go insane taking hydrocodone!

I suppose everyone reacts to different painkillers diferently, but I would never recommend hydrocodone to a friend. I much preferred the hydromorphone (dilaudid) I took after breaking my collarbone in September. It relieved the pain with little to no side effects.

I've also found that it is no fun to be sick at the same time you are recovering from surgery. What felt like a minor sore throat the night before my surgery has turned into a full blown chest cold. I'm not sure if my cold/cough was made worse by the anethesia I received during surgery. Apparently there is little concern about receiving anesthesia if you have a cold. I mentioned it to my doctor and he said that as long as I wasn't running a fever, I'd be fine. But I can tell you that having a chest cold has not made recovery very pleasant...coughing spasms don't feel great when you have a large incision in your upper chest area!

I know, I sound like a whiner. I'll admit that I'm a big baby when I get sick. I want my mom to be there to make everything feel better. But Leslie has been there for me -- bringing me tapioca pudding*, cottage cheese*, an occasional bowl of chicken soup (can't believe I publicly admitted eating fowl!) and even scrambled eggs* and toast for dinner one night. She does a great job of filling in for mom (just don't tell her I said so!). I'm sure I've been a real treat to be around...whining by day and wheezing by night. Thanks, Les!

Daren

*By the way, it may be best to avoid dairy products and eggs when taking most painkillers...at least be sure to add some fiber into your diet for good measure :)

Installing New Hardware

Gone are the days of clearing airport security without setting off the metal detector...or are they? Apparently not all surgical hardware sets off those machines, but it's hard for me to believe that the titanium plate and seven screws pictured above wouldn't sound the alarm! Regardless, I'm just happy to get the surgery over and start the long road to recovery...again.

The surgery went very smoothly, from my perspective. After donning a lovely dressing gown and blue hat, Dr. Craig Loucks autographed my right collarbone (a new protocol to prevent surgery on the wrong body part -- you can make out the "CL" in the photo at left), the anesthesiologist gave me a "three glasses of wine" cocktail (administered through the IV in my arm) and the nurse wheeled me off to the operating room.

I barely remember moving from the gurney to the operating table. Next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery (at left) feeling no pain (and no nausea!).

Apparently the surgery went well from Dr. Loucks viewpoint, as well, except for a 30 minute delay while waiting for the Fedex guy to deliver the bone graft material!

But even with that delay I headed home with my shiny new titanium collarbone about 5 hours after arriving at the hospital.

I've spent the past seven hours parked on my couch dozing on and off. So far the pain and discomfort has been considerably less than what I experienced after the initial break. I hope that holds true when I crawl into bed tonight!

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers. Keep sending positive vibes my way. I'm hoping for a speedy recovery and looking forward to picking up my new bike later this month and getting back the road again to begin training for Ride the Rockies!

Daren

Under the Knife

I know it sounds weak, but I'm actually starting to get a little nervous about going "under the knife" next week. It's just that I've never been put under nor had anyone cut into my skin with a knife. Don't get me wrong. I've been unconscious several times and cut into many times (with a door, window, hanging light fixture, chain link fence, rocks, a rear view mirror and even a knife)...but never on purpose.

Probably the closest I've come to being cut open with a surgeon's knife is when I worked in the meat department of Pence's IGA in Ottawa, Kansas, during college at Ottawa University. It was my first job in the meat business, foreshadowing a career that led me to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. My job was to come in every afternoon and clean up the "cutting room" after the meat cutters had gone home. After washing all the knives and cutting boards in big sinks filled with a mixture of bleach and water, I would lay them out to dry.

On this particular day one of the knives (the largest one, of course) slipped from my hand and dropped straight down (point down, of course) slicing through the top of my boot, top of my foot, bottom of my foot, and bottom of my boot before hitting the concrete floor (at least it was sterile!). After pulling off my boot I learned what they mean when they say, "bleeding like a stuck pig."

Blood was spurting with every beat of my heart as I hobbled to the house phone, picked it up and announced to the entire store that I needed immediate help in the meat department. If I'd been thinking, I would have said, "Clean up on aisle 911," or something clever like that. But it worked nonetheless and it seemed like everyone working in the store came to my aid (something in my voice must have communicated the urgency!).

After being wheeled out of the store on a produce cart holding my foot as high above my heart as possible, I was transported to Ransom Memorial Hospital (affectionately known to students as "Rancid Memorial") where I received stitches in the top -- and bottom -- of my left foot. Somehow the knife had managed to slice cleanly through my foot without hitting either bone or tendon. I was lucky.

But I digress...

I had a pre-op appointment with Dr. Craig Loucks at Peak Orthopedics this afternoon. He went over plans for the surgery, which include cutting me open (we've been over that), putting the pieces of my collarbone back in place with a titanium plate and pins, and filling in the fracture with Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) to stimulate the formation of new bone at the site of the fracture. As Dr. Loucks described it, BMP is like silly putty with bone cells in it. Pretty cool stuff.

If all goes well I'll be riding on my new bike (on a stationary trainer) by mid-April and back out on the road by my 44th birthday (May 15). Wish me luck...or keep me in your prayers. Whatever works for you. I'll take the good vibes!

Daren

On a (Broken) Wing and a Prayer

The deadline for entering the lottery for Ride the Rockies 2008 came and went this past Friday. After much waffling, flip-flopping and good old procrastination, I found myself driving home from Manhattan, Kansas, Friday afternoon, having done nothing to get my entry form filled out and sent in. So I resigned myself to bagging it for this year. Probably no way I could recover from my collarbone surgery on March 18 and still get ready by June 15.

Things had seemed to be falling in to place...one of the guys I met on Ride the Rockies last year had offered to lend my his old bike to train on until Allied/Nationwide insurance company ponies up for a new one (thanks, Mark!) . But then Mark got sent overseas on a new job assignment and needed to take his old bike with him to train on. And Allied/Nationwide is still refusing my claim.

So there I was on I-70 in the middle of nowhere having failed to get registered...and then Kris called! Kris is the leader of Team DFL, the team I have ridden with for the past two years after meeting Kris on my first Ride the Rockies in 2005. Kris and Patty (Team DFL's faithful domestique), were on the way to turn in the team envelope and wanted to know if I still wanted in (up to 10 riders can register in a single envelope). So, on a (broken) wing and a prayer, I said YES!

[Above (from left): Patty, me and Kris pose in front of Mt. Massive on the last day of the 2005 Ride the Rockies)

After registering I decided I'd better start working on getting a new bike. And while looking at the new '08 Cannondale models online I decided that I was just going to have to go ahead and bite the bullet and buy a bike, not knowing how the insurance claim is going to turn out. Let's face it, I'm not going to let this debacle keep me from getting back on a bike. It's been over five months already. Enough is enough!

I chose a new Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 (triple) with Shimano Ultegra components and Mavic Aksium Race wheels. Check it out (at left)!. Isn't she a beauty? I placed an order through Treads in Parker, CO (my local bike shop). My new ride is supposed to arrive in late March (new bike models are different than cars, which start hitting dealers lots several months before the actual model year). No hurry. I'm not going to be able to get on it before then anyway.

My plan is to get a CycleOps indoor trainer and start spinning my wheels three to four weeks after my surgery (mid-April). I figure I can put in 500 miles on the trainer from April 15 to May 15. By then, hopefully, I'll be able to take it to the streets and put in another 500 miles before June 15.

I really happy I went ahead and bought a new bike. It was like a huge weight off my shoulders. No more waiting. I now know when I'll be "on the road again"!

Daren

Inspiration

Regular readers of DDublog may remember my post on October 9, "An Exercise in Empathy," about my friend Eldon Roush. Eldon was in a serious bike accident in Kansas City last April that left him paralyzed from the waist down. At the time, doctors gave him a 2% chance of ever walking again.

Well, I am happy to report that Eldon is walking again (with the aid of a walker)! Eldon's story is part miracle and many parts hard work and determination. He is an inspiration to everyone who knows him and has followed his story. Here is part of the story, as told by his daughter, Emma...

My Dad had to stay in the hospital for a very long time. I didn’t get to see him very often - Maybe once a week. My Dad was very sad because he thought he would never get out of the hospital. When I came in the hospital door I was his sunshine. I brightened up his day. The only reason my Dad kept on believing was because I was his encouragement. He was determined he would travel to all my gymnastics meets. My Dad never ever gave up. He was also my encouragement in gymnastics. I was trying my hardest at gym. I wanted to impress my mom and Dad. I still am trying my hardest.
He finally got out of the hospital. A few months later, one day he was getting into the car, and he called my mom and me over. My Dad had figured out that he could move a muscle. We were so excited. At therapy he started working on moving his legs. After about two months of working he finally took his first few steps. That was the best day of my life. Now my Dad is walking around the house with a walker and he is driving. Now my Dad’s goal came true. My Dad will be able to travel to Texas, Chicago, and Arizona with me and my family. This is a life lesson to everybody. If you keep on believing, you can do anything. My Dad never gave up and neither did my family. My Dad’s latest progress is that he walked forty feet with a cane. We are so proud of him.

Makes my silly collarbone break seem, well, silly.

With Eldon's inspiration, and the support of my friends and family, I have decided to sign up for Ride the Rockies 2008! My collarbone surgery has been scheduled for the morning of March 20. That gives me one month to train prior to surgery, three weeks of recovery, one month on a stationary bike and then, hopefully, one month on the road.

Of course, that means I have to find a bike to ride by May 15 (my 44th birthday!). There has been good progress on my claim against Allied/Nationwide Insurance. My own insurance company, Progressive, has gone to bat for me and is working with my lawyer to resolve the case without going to court. We're thinking that with the eyewitness account we can get Allied to accept liability and settle, which is the best hope I have for getting a new bike before May.

In the meantime I am running to keep in shape. I'm planning to do a run to the top of Denver's tallest building (at right) on February 24 called "Run the Republic" to benefit the American Lung Association (sorry, Les, I forgot to mention this to you!). Sounds like a leg...and lung burner. Wish me luck!
It's been a bit cold and snowy to run in Denver this week, but I hope to get in some good runs in Phoenix and Austin in the days ahead (temps in the 60s!).

Daren

Eyewitness Account

OK, so this freaked me out. I just received a transcript of the account of my bike accident from woman who witnessed the entire thing in her rear view mirror. Reading it was like an out-of-body experience.

The fact is that I don't really remember what happened from the point of impact until I was lying on my back in the middle of the road with people standing over me. Whether I blacked out, freaked out or blocked it out, I don't remember flying over the hood of the car. But apparently I did. I had already come to this conclusion after visiting the accident site. No way I hit the car where I did and landed where I did without flying over at the hood.

The eyewitness account confirms it. But before I share her account, allow me to recap the details in this case...

1) I was riding downhill in the bike lane on a residential street in my neighborhood
2) Two cars passed on my left and the trailing car turned right in front of me onto a side street
3) I locked up my wheels but was unable to stop
4) The ensuing collision left me lying an my back in the middle of the road (see above)
5) When I opened my eyes there was a woman standing over me telling me not to move, she had called 911
6) Another woman appeared and told me she "saw the whole thing" and would stay to give her report to the police (I now know her name is Paige)
7) I was taken to Sky Ridge Medical Center by ambulance with a badly broken right collar bone
8) The week after the accident I went to the police station and got a copy of the police report (left)
9) The police report didn't include any information about an eyewitness or offer any indication of fault (the driver wasn't cited)
10) I called Officer Friendly of the Castle Rock Police department to ask why and he informed me that I was lucky he didn't cite me
11) I expressed my befuddlement given that I was riding in a bike lane and she turned in front of me
12) Officer Friendly informed me that the "bike lane ended at the intersection" (wrong) and that once the car passed me it became my obligation to yield to her (wrong again)
13) When I asked about the eyewitness, Officer Friendly said he spoke to a woman who didn't see anything that added to his investigation (i.e. didn't support his conclusion) so he didn't include her statement in his report
14) I was eventually contacted by an agent of the insurance company for the driver (Allied/Nationwide) and they took my statement
15) I contacted my insurance company (Progressive) and they took my statement
16) Allied/Nationwide called to tell me they had determined I was at fault because Officer Friendly told them the lane I was in wasn't a bicycle lane after all (wrong times three) and they were making a claim against me for damage to their insured's car
17) I hired a lawyer (not just any lawyer, but the preeminent expert in Colorado cycling law, Brad Tucker)
18) Progressive called to tell me they had completed their investigation and determined the driver of the car was at fault and they would be disputing Allied's claim against me (and by the way, they had taken a statement from an eyewitness that totally verified my version of events)
19) Brad (my lawyer) fired off a brilliantly-worded letter to Allied/Nationwide explaining why their conclusion was erroneous and how Officer Friendly "has led you astray with respect to the rules of the road as they relate to this collision"
20) Brad sent a copy of the relevant statute to Allied/Nationwide further clarifying why their conclusion was erroneous
21) Brad obtained a copy of the eyewitness' statement from Progressive and e-mailed it to me

...and that brings us up to date.

So, without any further ado, here is the transcript of the eyewitness' statement:

(Line ringing.)

A: Hello.

Q: Hi. I was trying to reach Paige (inaudible).

A: This is her.

Q: Hi Paige. This is Josh (inaudible) calling with Progressive Insurance.

A: Uh huh.

Q: I was calling about an accident that you witnessed on September the 22nd.

A: Okay.

Q: If you remember that where the bicy-

A: Yeah.

Q: Bicyclist was hit?

A: Yep absolutely.

Q: Okay yeah I just show that you were a witness.

A: (Inaudible).

Q: I’m actually-we’re the insurance company for the bicyclist. I just wanted to see if I can get a brief statement about what you saw?

A: Oh yeah. Absolutely. No I’m-I was hoping that you guys would call. I wasn’t quite sure um-

Q: Yeah.

A: You know I never obtained a copy of the police report or anything but I was hoping, number one that he, the bicyclist was okay and-

Q: He is doing fine. He’s recovered. He-he had a-had a little hospital stint I guess but uh yeah he just had a broken collarbone I think.

A: Oh see. That’s-that’s exactly what I thought might’ve happened.

Q: Yeah but he’s doing okay.

A: Oh good.

Q: Um we’re just trying to get everything taken care of. I guess kinda-kinda backtracking on it. So um what-can you just let me know what uh you know what you witnessed in the accident?

A: Absolutely. Absolutely. Do you need to take a statement or you just need to-

Q: That’s what I’m doing right now. Um we do record our calls for quality assurance if that’s okay.

A: Oh okay. Alright. Um so yeah so let’s see. Let me kinda start from the beginning here. And you’ve already stated the date, which is good, because I can’t remember you know without looking at a calendar.

Q: It was the 22nd of September.

A: So I was in the neighborhood of the Meadows, which is in Castle Rock. And I’m there often because we have friends that live there and we were on our way to a friend’s house. Um my-with my daughters and myself. And um on one of the main thoroughfares there in the neighborhood it’s a two lane road um which is divided by a double you know yellow lane.

Q: Right.

A: And so forth. And then on either side is they have um a bicycle lane. You know that’s clearly designated with white lane. You know with the white line. And then obviously the sidewalk.

Q: Okay.

A: So I was travelling um kind of northwest and um excuse me one second. (Baby crying in background.)

Q: Oh sure. Take your time.

A: And um so I was you know just going down and it is still considered a residential area even though it’s a you know a well travelled road and it was I-I don’t-I’m not sure. I think the speed limit’s probably 35 or so.

Q: Okay.

A: And um excuse me one second.

Q: Sure.

A: Sweetie, this is an insurance company for that bicycle accident. Can you? Thanks. Okay. Sorry about that. (Inaudible) some peace and quiet here. So anyway um so yeah I was travelling about-it’s you know kind of northwest and I passed this cyclist and always I do cuz there’s so many cyclists in that area um I always kinda move over you know more in the middle and there was no traffic coming opposite direction. So um just to always to make sure to give them space.

Q: Right.

A: You know even though he was in his designated lane. And you have to forgive me because right off the top of my head I can’t recall the names of the street but uh-

Q: That’s okay. We just you know just kinda want a general you know about what happened.

A: Oh okay. Sure.

Q: It doesn’t have to be so detailed uh-

A: Oh okay. Sure. So anyway okay so I passed the cyclist and um you know just obviously noted that he was there and everything and then um I continued straight past him and um I just happened to glance up in my rear view mirror. I’m not exactly sure why-why but I did. And I saw a car coming in-in my same direction also about northwest and-and um however, she was behind me obviously.

Q: Uh hum.

A: And I noticed that she was attempting to make a right hand turn onto a side street. And I also noticed, I mean this was obviously just instantaneously this all kinda came together that she was-the bicyclist at that time who was still in the bike lane um was approaching the same area where she was making her right hand turn and it just occurred to me right away that, “Oh my God. She’s gonna hit this cyclist. She is not gonna stop for him. She is not gonna yield for him as she’s making her right hand turn.” And then it was no sooner than that happened, again it was just seconds, then she committed to her turn. Made her turn and they hit. He went up flying up over the vehicle and I remember just gasping you know I was just in shock that number one this lady in the vehicle didn’t even stop for him but also that oh my God. You know this guy just flew off his bike. He was just hit by a car.

Q: Did it look like she saw him at all? Try to slow down (inaudible)?

A: There’s no way she-she could not have seen him because she-she-again, they were going the same direction. So they were parallel.

Q: Right.

A: So she passed him. She passed him and then continued on and then had to slow down to make her right hand turn. And he was continuing straight. And so she clearly did not even you know stop for him as he was continuing straight in his bike lane. And the point of impact on her vehicle was her right fender.

Q: Right.

A: Um so it wasn’t like it was the back of the vehicle. You know where she was so far into the turn that he could’ve stopped.

Q: Okay.

A: In fact, he-it looked like he attempted to stop but knew that, “Oh my God. This lady is turning right in front of me. There’s no way I can stop.” And cuz his tire started to wobble a little bit and then it was just boom. They hit and he went flying up over the bicycle and landed in the middle of the street.

Q: Okay. Did you see if she had her turn signal on?

A: I did not see at the time of the accident if she had her turn signal on. However, when I turned around and went back to make sure that he was okay-

Q: Uh hum.

A: And stay there um I do remember her turn signal being on.

Q: Okay. Okay. And that’s really I mean the same kind of story I guess that uh that you know these-the driver for the vehicle and our insured have. So-

A: Yeah.

Q: At this point in time we’re just uh we’re just trying to decide you know which coverage is gonna apply. Hers or ours so I-

A: Sure. Well if I could-if I could add something-

Q: Sure.

A: You know to this just because well first of all she lives right there in that neighborhood.

Q: Uh hum.

A: Because as she was making her right hand turn, again it was onto a residential street. Then if you were to take your immediate left there’s a corner house that the back yard backs up right to where the accident occurred.

Q: Uh hum.

A: And it was obviously very loud and a lot of commotion and so forth. Well the reason why I know that that’s where she lives is because her husband comes running out of the back door in the back yard and proceeds to obviously see what’s going on but then uh make sure you know to direct traffic and so forth.

Q: Right.

A: And just from me not even living in that neighborhood but being there so often I know that there are so many cyclists you know in that neighborhood.

Q: Right.

A: And so for her to live there, she to-in my opinion anyway, she should know that you know there’s cyclists around all the time and be aware of uh the fact that you know she has to proceed with caution you know.

Q: Right.

A: So that’s my feeling. I just couldn’t believe cuz there was no way she-she should not have seen him.

Q: Well let’s just say you know I completely agree with you. Uh we just need to get all the information we can get-

A: Right.

Q: Before we make a decision. I can’t say so much as for-for the other insurance company. So that’s kinda why we’re-

A: Oh yeah. Absolutely.

Q: Trying to back out-back up all our information. So-

A: No absolutely. And-and I-I know how it all works and um you know I’m-I’m really happy that you guys called and-and I’m definitely-you know I was definitely very concerned for the cyclist and I’m glad to hear that he is okay and re-recovering but um-

Q: Yeah he’s doing perfectly fine. Just got off the phone with him and uh yeah I’ll-I’ll let him know you were concerned. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that but uh-

A: Yeah absolutely. Please do. Please do.

Q: Okay. Well again, I really appreciate it. That’s uh really what I needed from you.

A: Okay. And I’m sorry. What was your name again?

Q: (Inaudible). My name is Josh with Progressive. Did you want my phone number in case anything comes up or you have any questions?

A: Um no I think I’ll be good.

Q: Alright. Okay.

A: Alright.

Q: Well again, I appreciate your time.

A: Thanks Josh.

Q: Thanks.

A: Take care.

Q: Bye.

A: Bye.

Wow. All I can say is I agree with everything in this transcript except I am not "doing perfectly fine." On my last visit to my orthopedic surgeon I learned that my collar bone is not healing...at least not as it should be. It's coming up on four months since the accident and I haven't been on a bike since. I don't have a bike to ride and am not sure I could if I did.

On Sunday, Feb. 3 the route for Ride the Rockies will be announced in the Denver Post and registration will be open. Should I register? Will I be able to train? Will I have a bike to train on? This is killing me.

Daren

Can I Get a Witness?

On September 22, as I was lying on my back on the pavement at the intersection of Foothills and Willow Run Drives, a woman standing over me said, "I saw the whole thing and will stay here to give a report to the police." My assumption at the time was that she was telling me that she knew the driver of the car was at fault in the collision that left me lying on my back in the middle of the intersection.

But when I asked Officer Friendly of the Castle Rock Police Department about the witness, he told me that he talked to a woman at the scene but "she didn't see anything." Turns out he was wrong.

Imagine my surprise when my insurance company, Progressive, called to tell me they had completed their investigation into the accident and they disagreed with the conclusion of the drivers insurance company (that it was my fault). In fact, they had talked to a woman who corroborated my account of the accident. Apparently the woman who I had seen standing over me was not an angel I imagined in my pain-induced state...she was a witness!

My lawyer was also pleasantly surprised to learn that there was a witness in my case. After I told him about my call from Progressive, he sent a letter to the claims rep handling my case, asking for a transcript of the witness' statement, saying...

"We are pleased that you are in agreement with our contention that Allied’s insured [the driver] bears the liability for this accident. I am hopeful that a more experienced and knowledgeable set of eyes will look at this file soon so that they do not force your insured [me] into expensive and time-consuming litigation over what would otherwise be a fairly simple claim."

My lawyer also sent a letter to the Allied Insurance representative...

"It is my understanding that your preliminary investigation has led you to the conclusion that your insured [the driver] was not at fault for the above-referenced collision. I will be providing you with additional information and authority as to why that conclusion is erroneous. I devote a substantial amount of my practice to the representation of cyclists who fall victim to auto accidents. It appears that the investigating officer has led you astray with respect to the rules of the road as they relate to this collision."

I love my lawyer.

"Our goal will be to resolve this matter with you without the need for litigation. If, however, you are entrenched in your liability denial, please let me know so that we may proceed accordingly."

Stay tuned to DDublog for more developments on my case...

Daren

Whose Fault Is It Anyway??

When a bike is traveling in a bike lane on the right hand side of the street gets passed by a car which then turns right in front of the cyclist, creating a collision, whose fault is it? The driver of the car or the cyclist?

When stated so simply the answer seems so simple: the driver of the car violated the cyclist's right-of-way. And it really is that simple...until law enforcement's bias against cyclists gets in the way.

This type of accident, where a cyclist gets "right-turned," is very common. Unfortunately, it is also very common for the police to blame the cyclist by claiming that it is our obligation to yield to the car. As ludicrous as that sounds, I actually bought into that argument -- the one espoused by Officer Friendly of the Castle Rock Police Department in our conversation the week after my accident -- until a faithful DDublog reader (thanks, Terrance!) passed along a link to a column in VeloNews called "Legally Speaking with Bob Mionske: A Fatal Bias?" It is a must read for every cyclist who shares the road with our four-wheeled friends.

Bob Mionske is a former Olympic cyclist (1988 and 1992) and winner of the 1990 national championship race who became a lawyer after retiring from racing in 1993. Bob is also the author of "Bicycling and the Law: Your Rights as a Cyclist." Anyway, after reading Bob's column, especially the story of Siobhan Doyle, a 31-year-old Portland, Oregon, cyclist who got "right-turned" in an accident eerily similar to mine, I began to question Officer Friendly's interpretation of the law.

In the Siobhan Doyle incident, the Portland police also failed to issue a citation to the driver. When asked why, the Police Bureau spokesman said, "Determining fault at a collision is a function of an investigation. The Police Bureau will respond to any collision but unless there are trauma injuries our only role is to help with traffic control, confirm that there is not a crime involved in the collision (Reckless Driving, DUII, etc.) and confirm that all motorists have a valid drivers license and insurance. We will also help those involved fill out an exchange form so they can resolve their differences through their insurance companies."

Ah. Insurance companies. Those unbiased purveyors of justice. Guess what the insurance company representing the driver of the car that turned in front of me "resolved" on my behalf? Allied Insurance a Nationwide® company On Your Side® actually had the nerve to claim that I was the "majority involved" party. In other words, I was more than 51 percent at fault when their insured made a right turn across the bike path I was traveling in, violating my right-of-way. In Colorado that means they pay nothing. Whose side are they on? The driver's, obviously.

So I guess my insurance company will pay my medical bills, buy me a new bike and...wait a minute! First of all, I wasn't driving a car, so which insurance company covers my expenses? Auto? Life? Homeowners? Believe it or not, my auto insurance will cover medical bills up to $5,000 under my "Med Pay" coverage. But when it comes to the damage to my bike, I'm up the proverbial creek. Besides, I AM NOT AT FAULT!

So how did Allied decide I was the "majority involved?" Well, they called Officer Friendly of the Castle Rock Police Department and he shared the same misinformed opinions with them that he shared with me...and even came up with a few new ones!

Remember when Officer Friendly told me that the bike lane I was traveling in ended at the intersection and began again on the other side? [At left: the intersection where the crash occured showing the bike lane in question]. Well, according to Jennifer Seldom* at Allied, he is now saying that the bike lane isn't a bike lane at all, even though it is clearly marked as a bike lane on the police report he himself filed! Apparently Officer Friendly told Jennifer that the five-foot wide "bicycle lane" shown on his report is actually just an "extension of the road."
*name changed to protect me from lawsuits

NOT TRUE, says my lawyer. That's right, I have a lawyer. After reading "Fatal Bias" I e-mailed Bob Mionski and he got right back to me and suggested that I consult with someone who actually knows the LAW regarding cars and bike "interaction" in Colorado and he referred me to Brad Tucker, a cat. 3 road racer and pro attorney in Colorado. Brad is the founder of ColoBikeLaw.com, a site dedicated to informing and advancing the rights of all cyclists, especially in Colorado.

Like a good neighbor, Brad Tucker is truly on my side. Finally, I think I'm in good hands!

Stay tuned for updates as the case unfolds. In the meantime, please remember to Share the Road!

Daren

Getting Back in Shape

I ran yesterday for the first time since my bike accident on September 22. It was painful. Not so much for my collar bone as for my legs and lungs! Based on my time -- 33 minutes to run 3.1 miles -- taking a seven-week hiatus was deterimental to my health! I'm out of shape...but I'm back in training.

For the time being I have to be content with running. I went in for my follow-up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon last Friday and he said my collar bone appears to be healing, but X-rays at this stage aren't able to really see the "new" bone. He pushed on it and said it is moving as one, which tells him it is healing, but he doesn't want me to get on a bike for at least another six weeks after he sees me again and X-rays confirm the bone has healed.

But bike riding is really a moot point right now. I don't have a bike to ride. The dented aluminum frame of my trusty Cannondale Road Warrior has been deemed "unsafe at any speed." The Black Pearl, as some of my cyclist friends dubbed it, is out of commission. That bike has taken me many places -- seven MS150s, three Ride the Rockies, and one four-day, 400-mile trip across Missouri...more than 10,000 miles in all. It has been a great companion, never interrupting me during the hundreds of hours of think time on all those rides (except for an occasional flat tire or minor adjustment). It was my first road bike and I will always remember it (you never forget your first).

I have started looking at new bikes but am not anxious to part with the $2,000-$3,000 it will take to replace it. I was holding out some hope that the car driver's insurance company would reimburse me for the damage to my bike, but it looks like I'm going to have to fight them for it. But that's a long story for another day and I'm so frustrated with her insurance company and Officer Friendly of the Castle Rock Police Department right now that I can't talk about it without getting angry. Suffice it to say that I have retained legal counsel to represent me -- a bike riding lawyer who is passionate about cycling and protecting the rights of cyclists in Colorado.

Stay tuned for more on the unfolding saga of "Whose Fault is it Anyway?"

Daren

Life is Good

It's Sunday, November 11 at 12:11 a.m. and life is good.

I had my six-week follow-up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on Friday and it appears that my collar bone is healing nicely. I can start running again but not riding yet. But that's a moot point because I don't have a bike to ride. More on that situation later...

The Kansas Jayhawks football team beat Oklahoma State 43-28 tonight to move to 10-0 -- on the same day THE top-ranked Ohio State University football team lost. KU could be ranked #1 this week...in football. Unheard of.

Tomorrow the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in a matchup of mediocre teams who could make the playoffs by winning the mediocre AFC West this year. As a Chiefs fan living in Denver, this is a big game. Bragging rights hang in the balance. And I've gone so far as to host a watch party and invite several Donkey's fans (as well as some fellow Chiefs supporters and neutral parties who will pull for the Chiefs after they taste the slow-smoked beef brisket, pulled pork and Colorado Sausage Company brats I am serving up!).

Time to check on the brisket. Life is good.

Daren

On the Road Again

Yes, after just three weeks of recovery I am back on the road again. No, not on my bike (I wish). Just back on the business travel road. It has been an eventful return to life on the road featuring prime beef, tornadoes and charbroiled oysters!

After a three-day trip to Columbia, Missouri, I am now in New Orleans for the 2008 National Beef Ambassador competition. But first stop was cousin Wiley's new bachelor pad in Clayton, MO. Determined to experience the semi-urban lifestyle, Wig and I walked to the local Straub's market to pick up some USDA prime beef ribeye steaks. Back at VC's flat we met up with KL and enjoyed a glass or two of fine California wine while grilling the ribeyes to a perfect medium rare and watching the Colorado Rockies sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The next morning I drove to Columbia, MO, for a series of trainings at the Missouri Beef Industry Council -- and a series of severe storms that brought tornadoes across Missouri. Fortunately the tornadoes bypassed Columbia, but I woke up the next morning with an ear ache that led to a trip to an urgent care facility today in Kenner, LA. Yes, Louisiana.

After leaving Columbia yesterday afternoon I caught a flight from St. Louis to New Orleans. Somewhere in route, my ear ache turned into an ear infection. So I had to go to an urgent care facility today -- my second trip to an "emergency room" in the past four weeks. But this time it wasn't in an ambulance!

I can't remember the last time I had an ear infection. I actually wonder if it is related to my bicycle accident. Seriously. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I have only been able to sleep on my left side. The infection is in my left ear, which has spent the past three -- almost four -- weeks pressed against my pillow for 6-8 hours every night!

Whatever the cause, it's not fun to be sick in a strange town. It took three hours to find a doctor to look in my ear, tell me it looked "nasty," give me a shot of steroids and prescribe antibiotics. But with the help of the Louisana Cattlewomen I made it to the urgent care factility, saw the doctor, and got my prescriptions in time to enjoy a dinner of charbroiled oysters at Drago's in Metarie.

So here I am tonight. Sitting in my hotel room, drugged up, stuffed full of oysters and ready to get home to my family, unpack the suitcase and enjoy the rest of the weekend sitting on the couch watching football with a broken collarbone, infected ear and grateful heart. Hey, at least I'm here, experiencing the ups and downs, joys and sorrows and aches and pains of life!

Daren

An Exercise in Empathy

If you ever get to feeling too comfortable in life, try wearing an immobilizing sling on your good arm for a week (you can borrow mine when I'm done with it!). It's a great exercise in empathy. Consider the millions of people living with disabilities for their entire lives. We live in a two-handed, walking upright world of sight and sound. Losing any one of those abilities requires you to adapt in a big way. I'm thankful my disability is temporary.

Over two weeks have passed since I collided with a car and broke my right collar bone. I believe my body's natural healing process is working as intended. I can tell because I no longer feel the sensation of the broken bones rubbing together, catching, popping loose, etc. The broken area seems to have stabilized. The initial pain has moderated to discomfort. No longer a pain in my shoulder, the break is now more just a pain in the butt!

Every little task is tougher -- shaving, brushing my teeth, putting in and taking out my contacts, buttoning my shirt, grilling steaks, typing on a computer (ever tried hitting "control/alt/delete" with one hand?). I'm getting pretty good at doing all these things left-handed, but I'm sure it will go back to being the lazy limb once my right is functional again. Sleeping is still difficult, since I can only lay in one position comfortably. But I'm even getting used to that.

Not being able to drive is the biggest inconvenience. I hate being dependent on Leslie to drive me around. One side benefit, though, is commuting together. We're saving gas money and spending more time together. We should keep this going after I'm able to drive again, but probably won't because she won't let me listen to my radio station and I take up the space where she keeps her "stuff." Major issues ;)

Every time I feel like complaining I think about my friend Eldon Roush, a Cat 3 cyclist who was in a serious accident during a race this past April 28 near Lawrence, Kansas, breaking his C5 and C6 vertebrae. The doctors say the odds are that Eldon will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, but he is determined to beat those odds. Leslie and I went to school with Eldon at Ottawa University, where he played on the OU Braves football team. We reconnected when we moved to KC 10 years ago and as I got into cycling and triathlons, Eldon always encouraged me and would invite me to ride with him, even though it meant he'd have to slack off considerably in order to avoid leaving me in the dust! And now Eldon encourages me and so many other people who are following his road to recovery.

To read more about Eldon's inspirational story, log on to http://www.carepages.com/, complete a short, free registration process, and enter the Carepage name "eldonroush." You will be inspired by Eldon's faith, determination and positive attitude. Here is the most recent entry from his CarePage:

26 September 26, 2007 at 07:48 PM CDT
Sometimes I feel like Job, the bible character. It seems like so many things have been taken from me in order to test whether or not I still believe in God. So much of my life was built around the ability to walk. I loved the outdoors; everything outdoors and this was taken from me. Other things, too numerous to mention have also gone wrong since that April morning, yet, so many things have been given to me in return. Friends, family, and people I do not even know have willingly given us money, remodeled our house and offered up their prayers. The weekend of September 8th was yet another example. A charity ride held in conjunction with the Tour of Missouri (pro bicycle race) was held to raise money for me to cover medical expenses. The initial estimate was that about 100 – 200 riders would attend. That Sunday, over 600 riders showed up – what a truly amazing and overwhelming sight. That Tuesday, the first stage of the race held on the Plaza, Janet and I arrived on the Plaza to find a huge banner that said, “The Tour of Missouri Supports Eldon Roush”. Again, this was a humbling honor and a testament to God’s power. Truly, like Job, what was taken from me has been rewarded back to me thrice.

I would write more updates, but I feel that since the progress happens more slowly now that I would be wasting everyone’s time. Every week, though, I am able to look back at the prior week and see that progress has been made. Every therapy session we work on standing and walking in the parallel bars. I have gotten to the point where I can stand without any assistance from the therapist (my hands are on the bars, though) work on balance. We then take steps. My ability to stay up is good, but I am still having a really hard time lifting my foot up enough to move it forward. When I can lift it up or the therapist lifts it up for me, then I am able to kick it forward. When we are not working on standing, then we work on core strength. I do things like crawling and then standing in a kneel position. All of this is so very hard. If you want more updates or other stories from me on a more frequent basis, then let me know with your feedback. By the way, last Saturday, I was able to get on my riding mower and mow the yard. What a great feeling to do something for a change. Never give up, never stop trying.

Keep the faith, Eldon. We are all pulling for you!

Daren

Share the Road...Please!

One week ago I was sitting in the emergency room at Sky Ridge Medical Center. I'm glad I'm not there this afternoon, but I must say I'd much rather be out riding my bike than sitting at my computer posting this on my blog! The pain is now mostly discomfort and the frustration is setting in. Five more weeks to go before I can run again and several months before I can get back on a bike. By then the new Share the Road license plates should be available, reminding drivers to watch out for cyclists. Maybe this will prevent accidents like the one that put me out of commission. If you are a cyclist in Colorado or are a driver who supports the rights of cyclists to share the road with four-wheeled vehicles, you can support the cause by ordering a Share the Road license plate today. Click here for more information.

The Colorado Department of Transportation has joined the effort with the "Share the Road. Don't be a Road Hog." campaign, offering these tips for motorists:

* Focus on driving. Avoid using cell phones and other personal devices while driving.
* Keep your eye on cyclists and pedestrians. They have a right to use all the roads in Colorado unless expressly prohibited.
* Keep track of them in your rear and side mirrors.
* Slow down.


I especially appreciate the "Keep track of them in your rear and side mirrors." In my case that would have prevented the collision, I'd still be riding, and a certain silver Dodge Intrepid would still have a side mirror to keep track of cyclists!

Share the Road....please.

Daren

The Missing Pieces

Ever since my accident last Saturday I have been trying to fill in the missing pieces. What exactly happened after I collided with the car? (I don't remember anything between the initial impact and lying on my back in the middle of the road). My first stop in this investigation was the Castle Rock Police Department, where I picked up a copy of the official State of Colorado Traffic Accident Report. Unfortunately, the report didn't reveal much of anything. In fact, it left out some critical information. For example, the "artist's rendering" of the accident ended at the moment of impact. This bugged me so much that I took it upon myself to fill in the missing pieces: my bruised and broken body lying in the middle of the road and my bike lying in the grass on the far side of the intersection (see below).Whatever happened to the eyewitness who stood over me and promised to hang around to tell the police what she saw? Officer Friendly explained that she didn't really have anything to add, so he didn't take her statement. This was obviously an open and shut case of a 215lb. cyclist failing to yield to a 2,000+ lb. car. I'd still like to talk to her. Maybe she can shed some light on how my bike got the mysterious dent in the top tube that looks like it might have been caused by my own body landing on it. Was I separated from my bike on impact with the car or did we fly through the air together and come crashing to the pavement like some sort of X Games routine gone horribly wrong?

Speaking of missing pieces, what happened to the rest of my collar bone? I can see it in the X-ray, but when I look in the mirror it looks like it was stolen from my body by aliens straight from Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Hmmm. Maybe that's what happened between impact with the car and impact with the ground. Maybe aliens caught me in mid air, removed part my collar bone, and placed me back on the pavement flat on my back. Maybe they accidentally warped the aluminum frame of my bike while beaming us up into their flying saucer. And maybe the eyewitness was an alien who hung around just to make sure nobody else saw what really happened.

Or maybe I hit my head on the pavement harder than I thought :)

Daren