Wiesia - Crash, Bang, Knackered Shoulder

For me this season had a very exciting start with the team finishing so well at the Tour Series. I came out of the series feeling super motivated and couldn't wait to get back to my favouite discipline, the track. Having Rebecca back racing at Herne Hill was a huge bonus and it felt like the good old times. Unfortunately my season did not really progress from there, a crash at Wednesday night track league took me down as well as 15 other riders  and left me with a busted shoulder and still off the bike as I write this post.

I remember the whole crash clearly, it was the A & B 20k scratch race, the pace had started to pick up and I was at the back of a huge field. I remember cursing at myself for being at the back of the bunch as I knew it was only a matter of time before the likes of Symon Lewis and Iain Cook would attack to break the field up, so I moved up to about half way up the pack and then CARNAGE! It felt like I was in a game of lemmings, there were riders going down and everywhere and I was trying to pick a safe line, I thought I was clear and then someone came down just in front of me and I hit the deck – boo hoo! This is actually my first big crash since I have been racing, so more recently the thought had started to creep in my head that it was only a matter of time, I do feel lucky to have managed to go five years with no serious crashes.

The Outcome of crash was a grade IV  acromioclavicular joint separation, according to the docs I met – I did a very good job at separating my collar bone from my shoulder. Normally you can just rest and the shoulder will come back together, but as I had done such a good job I needed surgery to put it back. Good old waiting list on the NHS meant a 10 day wait before the operation, which was interesting as being a freelancer I had to attempted to go straight back to work, which wasn't my brightest idea! The operation went very well and I was home the next day.

Yeah crashing and busting my shoulder was rubbish, but the timing of it was perfect – right at the start of the tour! My recovery involved eating lots of cheese, drinking lots of wine and watching the Tour high on prescription painkillers. Vive la Tour! 

V rocking her sling at the RideLondon GP

For the first time in a long time it has made me stop and reflect. I have had the chance to read tons of books as now I am faced with an hour commute on the train to work rather than a 45 min bike ride and it has given me time to catch up with mates and generally get back on top of everything not cycling related. 

All clouds have a silver lining they say.

Unfortunately recovery from this injury is slow going and I have prob another month before I can be back riding again, but I am out of the sling and my mobility is starting to come back. I have been able to keep my legs turning by doing the occasional Sufferfest and I can still just about fit in my jeans, so to be honest it is not all that bad!