Merge
July 30th
Yesterday Ruby and I had an early morning date. I thought we’d cruise up through Ahwatukee for an hour or so, getting in some hills and giving me ample time to catch up on podcasts. (I also needed to shake off two nights of shenanigans not conducive to tri training. I swear the best way to get over a hangover is a long, hard workout. Or greasy food.)
The first hour was perfect; the weather was warm, but not abusive. The hills were tough, but conquerable. I was feeling strong and glad I’d gotten up to see the sunrise while pedaling like a madwoman.
It wasn’t until I made the final turn heading home that things went awry. I had already biked 30 miles and my shoulder and neck were starting to ache. Instead of looking up, I looked down at my knees, glancing up every now and then to provide my back with some relief. Dumb move.
I didn’t see the large, orange metal merge sign until it was too late. I was about two feet in front of it, going 19 miles per hour, when I barreled into the sign and went flying out of the bike lane into traffic.
Thankfully, there wasn’t a car there to run over me. I hit my head on the asphalt, the sign came toppling down on me and my legs, of course, were still stuck in my pedals. When I finally sat up straight and realized what had just happened, I noticed I was bleeding. And my head really hurt.
A man who was driving behind me stopped and ran over to see if I was okay. The police were called and it quickly became an embarrassing scene I wanted to escape. I told them I was fine and I didn’t need paramedics, but, “Could you just help me get my chain back on my bike?”
My hands were cut and bloody, but I got the chain back on, got back on the bike and thanked everyone who had stopped. It wasn’t until I got about a mile away that I realized my bike took a serious hit too. Poor Ruby needs new handlebars. And I need a new helmet. And to pay more attention. It is going to hurt to spend another $200 on tri gear this month.
However, the irony of crashing into a merge sign? Priceless.
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- Clutz McGee, Journal, Triathlon
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Ouch! But don’t let this little “bump” set you back…you are my fitness inspiration and I need you and your tri-training updates to keep me heading to the gym!
Put some ice on your owwies and pop some Aleve and get some rest…you really deserve it!
Ditto everyone’s comments! Thank goodness for helmets. One of my best friends had a bad incident with rollerblades, a hill and no helmet. Eight years later she is still getting her teeth fixed. That looks very painful but you are working towards a goal and that’s something to be proud of!
I’m so glad you are ok and there were no cars in your way!Hope your scrapes (and your pride 
) are better soon my friend.
Oh, I feel your pain. Thankfully you were wearing a helmet and not hurt any worse than you were. How bad did the ground look after the accident? Much damage?:)
Ow!!!
I am glad it was only metal and a little skin scrapes!!!
Hope you feel better.
Oh ouchie! Are you sure you’re okay, cause that looks way hurty! My stepmom had a bad bike wreck in Colorado several years ago and she still doesn’t ride her bike. So cool that you’re going to keep on bikin!
Oh Kelli–I hurt just looking at you! Take good care of yourself!!!
I am not sure that that is what merge means? might be different in the US?
oh you poor thing, lots of Arnica for the healing and if only somebody had got it on YouTube you would famous to! 
you be careful.
NN2R
OUCH! So glad your guardian angel was flying nearby to divert any oncoming cars!
That just goes to prove “sport ist mord!”.
I’m so glad you’re OK, as bad as your injuries look, it sounds like you’re very lucky not to have ended up in hospital (are you sure that finger isn’t broken though?) And looking on the bright side, your cuts and grazes match you nail polish beautifully! I hope you feel better soon xxx
Look at all of these comments! Talk about being loved.
I hope you heal soon and I also hope Ruby does too.
P.S. The cards arrived today. I LOVE ‘EM! Thank you SO much.
Whoa, that’s a tough spill! I’m glad you’re OK and that Ruby’s not too bad off. Here’s to a speedy recovery.
Poor you.. hope the injuries heal quickly to you, and to ruby.
Hey Kelli-
Long time reader, first time responder. OUCH! Are you sure you shouldn’t get that finger looked at?
Dang! Is there some kind of bad juju going around? This morning I crashed my bike too! Except my little accident is rather more embarrassing… I was walking the bike. Backwards. I still ended up on the ground somehow, sprawled *over* the bike, but with a gouge in my ankle *and* knee. How the heck did that happen? All I know is that I am gonna have one huge bruise on my back side tomorrow. Luckily I had my helmet on already too, because I did hit my head on the ground! (And gagh, I think I’m going to have to walk home today, because already I am stiff.)
Oh MY!!! I’m so sorry….I hope you heal quickly. My husband ran full speed once (head down in a tucked position)(on his mountain bike) into a parked car on the side of the road. Hi bike sustained really minor damage and he was remarkably unscathed as well – a little banged and a little bruised, but like you it really could have been much worse. A lady in a pickup let him load himself and his bike into the back of her truck and drove him back into town.
Gosh!
I’d say you have been awfully lucky…
Get well soon, girls!!
oh no! your poor battered body. and how is ruby? besides the handlebars and chain coming off? sounds like she made it through a bit better than you did.
ouch, ouch, ouch.
oh kelli, so sorry to hear about this.
take care of yourself.
rest.
hugs,
jessica
Oh! are you better?
Did you want to merge into the merge sign???
GAH! I am glad you are okay now! How scary. Take care of yourself.
Oweeeeeee! That looks sore! I hope you’re feeling better now!
You poor thing! Group hug for Kelly!
HUGS……!
ACK! I’ve been remiss in reading your blog and just now saw this post — you poor thing! I’m so, so, so glad it wasn’t any worse than it was, though. Healing thoughts are coming your way all the way from Iowa.
You poor girl. How embarrassing to crash into the ‘merge’ sing, then call the cops.
Hope you and Ruby are ok and your purse isn’t too strained.
My Dad (69) is in a bike club. Riding around the 50km on a weekend. Mad bikeriders. (See one of my previous posts)
My sister “used” to do triathlons and I was an avid spectator.
ouch! hope you are all well – i haven’t checked in on your blog for some time and discovered this. you poor sausage! i am doing a 210km ride in melbourne, australia tomorrow called ‘Round the Bay in a Day’…
Hallo! Es hat sich doch gezeigt, dass die 301 Umleitung einer minus-31 Domain nichts bringt weil die Seite auf die umgeleitet wird auch auf Platz 31 landet. Wenn nun jemand seine -31 Domain auf meine Domain umleiten wurde um mich als Konkurrenten zu argern, gabe es fur mich keine Moglichkeit diese Manipulation herauszufinden. Ich wurde ratseln was ich falsch gemacht hatte und dabei ist es nur ein Trick der Konkurrenz. Edit: Ich habe die Frage vergessen! Gibt es doch eine Moglichkeit herauszufinden ob jemand seine Domain auf meine umgeleitet hat?
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