Dry Mill Road

[ginacico]

Sunday 9/16 I was riding solo on Dry Mill Road when I was hit from behind. Several other cars had passed me without incident, but I never saw or heard this one coming.

My Salsa Vaya was totaled. I was thrown and landed in soft grass. After my visit to the ER we went back to the scene and combed the area for missing pieces. We marked the white line with a Sharpie anytime we found something, and paced out a roughly 40-foot debris trail.

Pictures of the damage (trigger warning for the squeamish): https://ginacico.smugmug.com/Bikes/Salsa-Vaya-Travel-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

The driver was cited with the 3-foot law, and a case is pending.

§ 46.2-839. Passing bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.

I know this road is popular for Loudoun County rides, and for good reason; it’s beautiful and smooth. But now I will cringe every time I see hooky rides or Strava tracks passing that spot.

Topic

[jabberwocky]

Damn, that really sucks. I live in downtown Leesburg so thats my neck of the woods, and I ride bits of Dry Mill fairly regularly. Its indeed a lovely road and popular with cyclists, but has the problem that a lot of Loudoun roads do: people driving really fast on roads with poor sitelines. If you don’t mind me asking, exactly where were you hit, and going what direction?

I really hope you weren’t too injured; the bike damage definitely shows a really serious impact. Bikes can be replaced, and with the driver at fault their insurance will hopefully be taking care of it.

[Starduster]

Gina, SO GLAD we do not have to deploy a Ghost Bike for you!

Sorry this happened…

[dbehrend]

I’m so sorry. Based on the photos and your description, it looks like a horrible collision. I hope you’re okay.

[ginacico]

@jabberwocky 181583 wrote:

If you don’t mind me asking, exactly where were you hit, and going what direction?

Eastbound into town, a little before the intersection at Woodburn Road.

Thanks, all.

[Rootchopper]

Sorry to hear this. Hope you’re okay.

[Sunyata]

Oh man. I had heard about this through the grapevine and was really glad to hear that you had a relatively soft landing. So sorry this happened to you and that your bike is totaled. (But yay new bike day?)

Hope that the bruises and stiffness have subsided. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help!

[huskerdont]

I had seen your Strava post on the subject and knew you were mostly okay, but looking at the pics, I have to say you must be one tough (and fortunate) cookie. Sorry about your beautiful bike, but glad you were not seriously hurt.

DE

[Subby]

I’m just glad your injuries weren’t catastrophic. I can’t believe that a-hole driver got off with just a 3 foot citation. They could have easily killed you.

[consularrider]

@ginacico 181592 wrote:

Eastbound into town, a little before the intersection at Woodburn Road.

Thanks, all.

So a flat section with good sight lines. Any indication the driver was on a cell phone?

Also, distressed to read about the crash (not accident), but am relieved that you were not more seriously injured. RIP sweet Vaya.

[PeteD]

Wow.

Words fail me. I had not realized the scope of it all until seeing these pictures. I am so happy you are ok.

[ginacico]

I still can’t understand how the bike took such a major hit, and somehow I didn’t. I’m grateful to be here. It doesn’t make any of what happened right, but I certainly wouldn’t trade the outcome.

The pictures are shocking, I hesitated even to post them. I really do look and feel a lot better than I should. Thanks again for all the good wishes.

As an antidote to that dark place I uploaded a big sappy gallery of Vaya leaning against stuff. New bike day, first snow ride, Arlington art, Climate Ride, coffeeneuring, touring, commuting, etc.

https://ginacico.smugmug.com/Bikes

[ginacico]

Also, the deputy sheriff who wrote the citation asked me to remind cyclists riding the W&OD in Loudoun County that they should stop at road crossings where there are stop signs.

I told him I’m all for it and promised to relay that message, if he reminds local drivers they’re not supposed to hit us. Fair is fair.

I might have sassed at the ER nurse who seemed concerned that my blood pressure was elevated, also. :rolleyes:

[mstone]

@ginacico 181674 wrote:

Also, the deputy sheriff who wrote the citation asked me to remind cyclists riding the W&OD in Loudoun County that they should stop at road crossings where there are stop signs.

😡

[Sunyata]

@ginacico 181674 wrote:

Also, the deputy sheriff who wrote the citation asked me to remind cyclists riding the W&OD in Loudoun County that they should stop at road crossings where there are stop signs.

WHAT THE FUCK. (Sorry for the language, but SERIOUSLY!?)

Does this deputy tell every person involved in a crash to remind other road users to follow the law? 😡

[huskerdont]

That’s insane. Yeah, before we send you off to the hospital because some asshat in a car couldn’t be bothered to not run over people, can I ask you to tell all the cyclists in the area to stop at the stop signs in some other place?

I’ve now had my quota of anger for the day, and it’s not even 9 a.m.

[Author]

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