My Post Crash Concussion Experiences

From that moment on I currently have no memory of any riding or conversation or anything until I was at home getting ready for work around 7:50am, I think it was about 7am at this point in the ride.

Evidence suggests I had a crash, some new cuts and scrapes on my body, the shoulder of my jersey is covered in dirt. My hlemet has a large flat spot on the side, and the memory loss. Also Mikey and Al both said I had a crash.

There was some discussion of this and my thoughts of what it is like on mtb-oz the following day, I thought I would copy the email concerning this incident to a web page on the off chance other people would like to read about it.

To: mtb-oz@topica.com
From: Alan Vogt 
Subject: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 09:06:13 +1100

A tune is now running through my head after todays AM ride

"Someone crashed and it wasn't me, do dah do dah"

Crash sang it, Steve Hanley did it

Alan

Who still thinks hokey lights are hokey.

--
Alan
gadget@webone.com.au
Laps since Dickson Pool opened = 2234
KM since Dickson Pool opened = 111.7
Bring on the summer

To: mtb-oz@topica.com
From: michael carden 
Subject: RE: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 22:25:44 +0000

Alan Vogt wrote:
> A tune is now running through my head after todays AM ride
>
> "Someone crashed and it wasn't me, do dah do dah"
>
> Crash sang it, Steve Hanley did it
>

And Steve just called me to ask where the stack happened and how we got
from there to the car park.

Bye bye brain cells.

crash - doo dah, doo dah

Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 09:29:20 +1100
From: Steven Hanley 
To: mtb-oz@topica.com
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Reply-To: Steven Hanley 
User-Agent: Some Random Email Client
Organization: much sought in this hectic world

On Thu, Nov 28, 2002 at 09:06:13AM +1100, Alan Vogt wrote:
> A tune is now running through my head after todays AM ride
> 
> "Someone crashed and it wasn't me, do dah do dah"
> 
> Crash sang it, Steve Hanley did it
> 
> Alan
> 
> Who still thinks hokey lights are hokey.

Well yeah I remembered crashing. Even if I didnt the new scars to add to my
collection (stilly shiny red) are evidence that it happened. However due to
mild concussion (a lot of fun possibly) I have no memory of where I crashed
or the route we took after the crash back to deeks carpark.

I know we got back to deeks carpark as I rode home after that and Mikey, Al
and Pete (a person I met for the first time today) were no longer riding
with me.

So I spent the ride home trying to jog my memory and make sure I remembered
stuff. I think I have recollection of most things, only the above mentioned
items seem to be missing.

I rang Mikey and asked him so he told me where I crashed and the route we
took back to deeks.

I got home alright (though I was worried on the way home for a while that I
may be riding to the wrong place, like maybe we had moved).

Oh and for those interested,

Mikey did not de-flower Tight Tina on the ride, he will however be showing
tina's flowers to Jo.... 

        See You
            Steve

-- 
sjh@wibble.net http://wibble.net/~sjh
You are subtle as a window pane standing in my view
but I will wait for it to rain so that I can see you
   Anticipate - Ani

To: mtb-oz@topica.com
From: Alan Vogt 
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 09:30:14 +1100

Crash showed great restraint this morning by not deflowering Tight Tina.

Given Steve's obvious case of brain pause this morning, I decided to steal
his line.

Alan

Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 11:01:56 +1100
From: Steven Hanley 
To: mtb-oz@topica.com
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Reply-To: Steven Hanley 

On Thu, Nov 28, 2002 at 09:30:14AM +1100, Alan Vogt wrote:
> Crash showed great restraint this morning by not deflowering Tight Tina.

Well it is funny I remember pretty much everything leading up to the crash,
and thus I remember having that conversation with you after Mikey caught up
from dallying with tina. (as you see I used the line after all) However I
really dont have any memories of anything after the crash.

> Given Steve's obvious case of brain pause this morning, I decided to steal
> his line.

It really was most bizarre, intellectually I knew we didn pantball, slip and
slide, and headed down towards fairy glen, but I have no memories at all
after that. I dont remember riding back to deeks (I was surprised when Mikey
told me which way we went), I dont remember seeing you lot all hop in your
cars or saying goodbye or anything at deeks. I dont remember riding home. I
am about 80% sure I rode home the same way I rode out (through ANU, bike
tracks out over scrivner, across the horse crossing and fire roads up to
deeks) however I dont remember riding any of that on the way home.

This morning I commented to you it was a bit of a shame to pass the boatshed
so early on the way out as there was no attractive members of the oppossite
sex in rowing clothes to see as I rode past. I Do remember there was one
cleaning a boat down as I rode past on the way back, but that is all I
remember of the ride home.

About my first memories of this morning post crash are doing stuff in the
house preparing for work.

It was really weird, I was testing my brain out a bit during my ride home.
And often on the way home I was trying to remember what it was I had ridden
in on Sunday, I was pretty sure it wasnt the urban as that was too long ago.
I had the thought flitter through my head that Dave and Julie were involved
somewhow, but I couldnt for the life of me place it. It was not until I
rolled in my driveway I finally remembered it was the triple tri this
weekend.

Anyway, due to my crash at the start of the triple tri, and thee crash
today, I have a slightly bent handle bar (my bar end came of due to both
crashes), and I dont really think I should attempt to reattach my bar end.

So I have to go buy a new handle bar today. I suppose I could try risers,   
however I dont want the height of the bike to change, so that would involve
dropping the stem a bit more or something. Maybe I will just get more of a  
bend in the new bars. Also I really dont like the michelin wildgripper as a
front tyre, fine on the back, but I lkike a more rounded profile on my front
tyre. (the Missile (or what is now days known as Kujo) DH are my faveroute
front tyre, but a bit heavy, have to find out if they are available slightly
lighter as my Kujo at home is almost worn out.) So might take the 
wildgripper off the front, save it til the one on the back wears out and buy
a new front tyre also.

I think I am okay now, though I still have no memories of of 50 odd minutes
of my life, it really is quite bizarre as I am pretty sure I was awake to
ride home.

Oh and yeah I have a rather large impression in the side of my helmet, it is
not cracked, however there is definitely a big flat spot. Someone has
already suggested to me today I should seriously consider a new helmet, if
only I could find one that fit me, Fahn small helmets in the shops these  
days.

        See You
            Steve

To: mtb-oz@topica.com
From: Alan Vogt 
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 11:31:59 +1100

Steve's brain recalls

> This morning I commented to you it was a bit of a shame to pass the boatshed

I suggest we start all our rides from there from now on...

> I think I am okay now, though I still have no memories of of 50 odd minutes
> of my life, 

Do you remember me being in front and almost buying it with a front wheel
slider, leaving the track and stopping before a tree - letting you pass to
do two whole corners before you stacked big?

And buy a new helmet - maybe your head will fit a MET, where Mikey's
mis-shapen scone did not.

Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 11:49:33 +1100
From: Steven Hanley 
To: mtb-oz@topica.com
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash

On Thu, Nov 28, 2002 at 11:31:59AM +1100, Alan Vogt wrote:
> Steve's brain recalls
> > This morning I commented to you it was a bit of a shame to pass the boatshed
> 
> I suggest we start all our rides from there from now on...

well the friday morning group mtb ride passes there at around 6:05-610 and
comes back around 7:45am which seems to often coincide with the start and
finish of groups of rowers, definitely a good addition to the morning. Also

But yeah it could be a plan.

> > I think I am okay now, though I still have no memories of of 50 odd minutes
> > of my life, 
> 
> Do you remember me being in front and almost buying it with a front wheel
> slider, leaving the track and stopping before a tree - letting you pass to
> do two whole corners before you stacked big?
> And buy a new helmet - maybe your head will fit a MET, where Mikey's
> mis-shapen scone did not.

I remember you doing the front wheel thingy, and I remember speeding up a
bit on the single track, I remember bunny hopping the log that has bean
eaten into by chain rings. Dont really have any memories after that until I
was at home (except the odd snippet)

Anyway I (on orders from my boss admittedly) booked into see a doctor across
the road from the office at the ANU health service at 12pm, then I will
probably go visit Mal or something to see about new bits.

Though I like my helmet so dont want ot have to throw it away until it looks
broken, though I suppose it can sit in the shed and collect spiders as a
spare.

Still wondering what mistake I made that caused the crash, and wondering if
it looked spectacular or not.

        See You
            Steve

To: mtb-oz@topica.com
From: Alan Vogt 
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 12:35:09 +1100

> Still wondering what mistake I made that caused the crash, and wondering if
> it looked spectacular or not.

You pushed the envelope a bit far. All I saw was dust, a pile of Hanley, and
some moaning.

Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 12:52:18 +1100
From: Steven Hanley 
To: mtb-oz@topica.com
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash

On Thu, Nov 28, 2002 at 12:35:09PM +1100, Alan Vogt wrote:
> > Still wondering what mistake I made that caused the crash, and wondering if
> > it looked spectacular or not.
> 
> You pushed the envelope a bit far. All I saw was dust, a pile of Hanley, and   
> some moaning.

I am wondering if I can blame my total dislike of the wildgripper as a front
tyre. I am not used to how it unhooks and moves compared to a more sensible
tyre (well one I am more used to I suppose I should say), so for the past
week I havee been trying it out on the front, I think I finally
decided tuesday night to just keep it for the back when I wear the
wildgripper on the back out and get a new front. I was going to put my Kujo   
DH back on last night but didnt have time due to spending time helping the
bilbys run a novie session of some sort (bike maintenence) and then spending
a while on dinner and going to bed around 10:30 so I would be able to wake
up at 5:10am to get out to deeks.  

Or then again maybe I cant blame it on the tyre, just on my gumby skills.

Doctor said I was fine, just make sure there were people around me for the next
24 hours or so to ensure any loss of fine motor control or slurring of
speech would not go un noticed. (gee I wonder if this can be used as a pick
up line.... )

        See You
            Steve

To: mtb-oz@topica.com
From: "tedium ." 
Subject: Re: MTB-OZ: Crash no crash
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 18:00:38 +1100

>From: Steven Hanley 
>I really dont have any memories of anything after the crash.
>...It really was most bizarre,

I'm hearing you loud and clear there.

I remember standing at the top of a chute on my snowboard, thinking "that
looks icey at the bottom where I need to do a heel-side turn".

I remember sitting at the top of the next lift, waiting for my friends to
get back after (apparently) I told them to do a couple of runs without me.

The time between is left as an exercise for the reader. I'm still
exercising it several years later. I don't remember a damn thing.

tim