Crash in Rosslyn (not car related)

This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 7 months ago by mikoglaces.

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December 12, 2017 at 8:34 pm #919908

likeklocwork
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Hi friends,

I got in my first semi-serious crash last Thursday afternoon in Rosslyn (my fault). I hate commuting through Rosslyn because some roads lack bike lanes and taxis tend to idle in the bike lanes where they do exist. Anyway, I was gathering speed going downhill from Clarendon and wiped out in the bike lane at 19th St N & N Lynn St (in front of the Cosi). I don’t remember what happened, but I think I must have hit a rock/ grate, pinched a tire, then wiped out. I’m familiar with this route and not sure how I lost control, although I recognize that I was going too fast.

I wasn’t seriously hurt, but I did have a concussion, chip some teeth, sprain my hands, and have bad road rash on my face & hands (including a busted lip and double black eye). I was wearing a helmet, for reference! I slept and rested a lot over the weekend and am starting to heal and feel better, though I am worried I may need a root canal for one of my chipped teeth (the dentist wants me to wait a week to see if it dies or if the inflammation goes down).

Shoutout to the Good Samaritans who helped me and the EMTs who came to the scene. I ended up in the ER and was happy that nothing more serious happened, but it was a pretty scary incident. I’m still recovering but hoping to get back in the saddle in a few weeks, though I think I will be scared for a while. I need to fix my bike, too– my shifter cables are messed up and I have a flat tire (which possibly dented/ untrued the rim as well).

Just wanted to share. Be careful, ya’ll.
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December 12, 2017 at 9:43 pm #1079427

scoot
Participant

Sorry to hear that. Hope you recover quickly.

That’s a tough spot, especially due to those grates. They won’t eat even the skinniest of tires, but the traction can be unpredictable. I try to avoid ever riding directly on them, by either fully taking the lane (if traffic is uncongested), or else going around on the right when possible, but every day produces a different set of circumstances. Aside from slow and careful filtering through congestion, the bike lane on N Lynn is otherwise completely useless. Even when not blocked, it is too narrow and lies entirely within the door zone of the parking spots.

December 12, 2017 at 10:30 pm #1079428

likeklocwork
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@scoot 169550 wrote:

Sorry to hear that. Hope you recover quickly.

That’s a tough spot, especially due to those grates. They won’t eat even the skinniest of tires, but the traction can be unpredictable. I try to avoid ever riding directly on them, by either fully taking the lane (if traffic is uncongested), or else going around on the right when possible, but every day produces a different set of circumstances. Aside from slow and careful filtering through congestion, the bike lane on N Lynn is otherwise completely useless. Even when not blocked, it is too narrow and lies entirely within the door zone of the parking spots.

That makes sense, thanks for the suggestion! Maybe the flat happened before I got to the grates and then slid because of the grates? I don’t remember about 5 secs before the accident.

Alternatively, I may just start taking the Custis trail from Ballston to the Key Bridge instead of dealing with the bike lanes.

December 12, 2017 at 10:34 pm #1079429

jrenaut
Participant

@likeklocwork 169552 wrote:

Alternatively, I may just start taking the Custis trail from Ballston to the Key Bridge instead of dealing with the bike lanes.

You’re doing Freezing Saddles, right? You should definitely backtrack to 4MR to the MVT and take the 14th St Bridge in so you can do a lap at Hains Point before work.

Glad to hear the injuries weren’t too serious, but that sure sounds like it sucked. Heal up soon.

December 12, 2017 at 10:44 pm #1079432

Judd
Participant

@jrenaut 169553 wrote:

You’re doing Freezing Saddles, right? You should definitely backtrack to 4MR to the MVT and take the 14th St Bridge in so you can do a lap at Hains Point before work.

Glad to hear the injuries weren’t too serious, but that sure sounds like it sucked. Heal up soon.

I second this, but you should do 2 laps at Hains Point.

Hoping that you heal quickly.

December 12, 2017 at 11:50 pm #1079433

Steve O
Participant

If your description does not constitute “seriously hurt,” you are one badass.

That whole Lynn St. clusterf*** needs a complete re-do. A cyclist lost his leg to a Metrobus a few years ago on that block.

December 13, 2017 at 2:04 am #1079436

anomad
Participant

@likeklocwork 169544 wrote:

Hi friends,

I got in my first semi-serious crash last Thursday afternoon in Rosslyn (my fault). I hate commuting through Rosslyn because some roads lack bike lanes and taxis tend to idle in the bike lanes where they do exist. Anyway, I was gathering speed going downhill from Clarendon and wiped out in the bike lane at 19th St N & N Lynn St (in front of the Cosi). I don’t remember what happened, but I think I must have hit a rock/ grate, pinched a tire, then wiped out. I’m familiar with this route and not sure how I lost control, although I recognize that I was going too fast.

I wasn’t seriously hurt, but I did have a concussion, chip some teeth, sprain my hands, and have bad road rash on my face & hands (including a busted lip and double black eye). I was wearing a helmet, for reference! I slept and rested a lot over the weekend and am starting to heal and feel better, though I am worried I may need a root canal for one of my chipped teeth (the dentist wants me to wait a week to see if it dies or if the inflammation goes down).

Shoutout to the Good Samaritans who helped me and the EMTs who came to the scene. I ended up in the ER and was happy that nothing more serious happened, but it was a pretty scary incident. I’m still recovering but hoping to get back in the saddle in a few weeks, though I think I will be scared for a while. I need to fix my bike, too– my shifter cables are messed up and I have a flat tire (which possibly dented/ untrued the rim as well).

Just wanted to share. Be careful, ya’ll.

Hope you heal up ok dude. That reminds me of an epic face plant I did when I was young, back when helmets were optional. Scars remain 20 something years later to add to my rugged good looks (cough cough). If you need help fixing your bike let me know.

December 13, 2017 at 1:34 pm #1079444

huskerdont
Participant

Yeah, if that wasn’t serious, you are a real follower of Rule #5. I like your idea of just taking the Custis into Rosslyn. Just watch out for red light runners at both N. Oak and Ft. Meyer. Both are no turn on red, but people ignore that, and I’ve had scary close calls at both over the years. Heal up well, both physically and mentally.

December 15, 2017 at 8:08 pm #1079514

KLizotte
Participant

Whoa. I would call that a serious crash in my book. Hopefully all heals up quickly and well and that you don’t need any serious dental work. I don’t know that area so can’t offer any advice. Hopefully you will become a safer, better cyclist because of it. I now take wooden boardwalks very seriously after wiping out on one and breaking a bone.

December 20, 2017 at 6:11 pm #1079674

mikoglaces
Participant

@huskerdont 169571 wrote:

Yeah, if that wasn’t serious, you are a real follower of Rule #5. I like your idea of just taking the Custis into Rosslyn. Just watch out for red light runners at both N. Oak and Ft. Meyer. Both are no turn on red, but people ignore that, and I’ve had scary close calls at both over the years. Heal up well, both physically and mentally.

Worst crash I have been in was being hit at N. Oak by car slowly running the light making a right turn while I was coming into Rosslyn on the Custis. I ended up on the hood of the car. That was before they installed the new bike lights where they just had walk lights before. Didn’t seem like much of an improvement at the time to me but it seems that drivers behave better there now.
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