Valinda and I and son Aaron were doing a training ride this afternoon. I was on my old red 1972 or 73 Raleigh Competition, which I have grown immoderately fond of over the last few weeks, though it suffers from a rather schocky repaint job.
Aaron and I had just finished a short sprint, leaving Valinda back a ways. I told Aaron I was going to 180 and bring Valinda back up to us, checked behind and in front for "clear" and turned gently out, slowing, to come about. I had missed Valinda sprinting up to catch us on the outside and she hit me near the rear wheel axle. We both went down, rather slowly but inevitabley.
I was fine, no scrapes or anything, but as I tried to get up to check on Valinda I realized I was pinned to the bike. The left brake lever had punctured the skin on the back side of my left knee and was stuck in there 4 inches. I pulled it out and got the bikes off the road, while Aaron helped Valinda up. Some passing motorists took us to the emergency room.
Valinda seems to have pulled something in her right knee and is going to be off the bike for a week or so. My wound has been cleaned out and packed and I'll be on Keflex for a few days to avoid serious infection. I've got this odd red string now, dangling out the side of my knee ! The folks at the emergency room had never seen an injury like this one before. It kind of hurts, but I hope to be able to ride again soon. We will heal, and I will be more careful on future rides, and less prone to underestimate Valinda's sprinting speed !
I am really sad that the fork seems damaged on my Competition. I can re-align the drop-outs (Huret), but I fear the steerer tube is bent a bit at the top of the crown. I will search for a temporary replacement in my bunch of bike bits, but I wonder if either someone could sell me a suitable replacement (very early 70's Raleigh Competition with Huret ends and single eyelets) or maybe the fork could be repaired ?
The fork need to have quite a long 1" threaded steerer, since the bike fits me and so is at least a 24 1/2" Raleigh size. Has anyone kept the fork from a similar but crashed frame ? I really love the ride of this bike and will not feel like I have fully healed until I have healed it as well.
You know how I feel,
Glenn Jordan - Durham, NC