Pretty bad fall with Phlox.

So those of you who have been following my journey would be aware that I upgraded Shade ( my old road bike) and got myself a custom-painted top of the line Polygon Helios A9x road bike whom I have very fondly christened Phlox. Phlox is a fast-growing climber ( plant) and back in victorian times, flowers were symbolic - with the Phlox flower representing a union of two souls - in this case that of my bike and me.

Anyhow, having gotten my hands on her on 11th May - I had taken her out for 2 long rides previously and was really pumped about the BBCh Classic Road Race slated for 26th May 2024. On the thursday prior, I took Phlox out for a recce on the route and had planned one demonic workout for the day to get me even more pumped for the race. Woke up, picked up Ankush and we both headed to the start point. Post that, we did our workout together and then started the ride. An hour into the ride and maybe just about one flyover away from the U-turn, a freak accident happened. I was riding on the tarmac when, by mistake, the tyre hit a reflector - being responsive as she is, Phlox jumped. As she jumped, I went into control mode and by instinct used my left hand to brake. I had not realised it yet, but the braking system was opposite to what I was used to with Shade - and in this case, the front wheel locked and since we were going at a pretty decent speed - the bike toppled and how! Next thing I knew was that I was down splayed on the road like a cockroach.

It took me a minute or two to comprehend what happened. Ankush was ahead of me, he took a u-turn and came back to the scene of crime asking me how I was on the floor. I told him - " I dont know, help me". The entire right side of my body was in searing pain and burning. I didn't know the extent of the damage yet. It took me a few tries before I could uncleat. Ankush - picked up the bike and put it on the side of the road. He came to get me. Meanwhile, I sat up and was still in the process of comprehending and assessing the situation. I saw a drop of blood on my shoe, "Where did the blood come from?" I asked him - he pointed to my elbow. Then I glanced at my shoulder - my jersey was ripped apart and that part was burning. I felt burning on my right thigh - I looked down and saw my bib was ripped there too, I glanced at my left knee and there was white flesh staring back at me.

" I'm pretty fucked - but I really hope nothing is broken" is what I thought to myself.

"I want water" - I asked Ankush - he grabbed a bottle. We had carb mix and electrolytes but no pure water. I gulped down the electrolytes. He helped me getup and moved me to the side where I collapsed with my back to the wall. I proceeded to lay limp as I gathered my thoughts.

"Grab my headphones please ( no! I was not listening to music) - Please get the car - I will wait for you here. "

He parked the bikes, crossed the road, jumped over the divider onto the other side of the road and within a couple of minutes hitched a ride on the truck in the direction of the car. Meanwhile, I sat there feeling the various parts of my body screaming for attention and figuring out how to tend to each one. I glanced at my right index finger and realised even that had a gash on it, - " oh man, every part of my body has been touched - kuch bhi nahi chhoda saale fall ne!!! Anyway, I took off my helmet. As I glanced at it - I was horrified - it had taken so much impact. Then I felt the pan in my top ribs at the back on the right - I was praying that they aren't broken. Thing with broken ribs is you cant do anything to them - they will heal when they heal - This too has been learnt the hard way - Long long back a horse had kicked me so hard that I had broken a couple ribs - it hurts like hell and even more when you laugh. So I used my left hand to unzip my jersey and took my HRM out and put it on the road next to me. I was feeling a bit funny so I got up and walked to the bikes, turned the garmin off and saved both our rides - then walked further away and threw up - all the reload came out. I walked up and down 5-6 times - throwing up each time I came back until there was nothing more coming out. I went back to where I was and sat down letting go of any physical tension in my body and leaning my back on the wall and letting my legs just be. I took my sunglasses and shoes off and then hurriedly put it back on as I realised that it would be no one but me who suffers the wrath of the heat.

I was wondering where Ankush was, but decided not to call him - he was already stressed - my call would cause further panic. I called home and informed mum that I had a fall but thankfully it was nothing major - this would ensure that she wouldnt be blindsided or panic when she sees me when I reach - it gives her time to process - and it would be great if she could keep the medical things I would need ready for when I come back. Over the years we all have gotten used to the SOP in case of injury - there have been many - I guess we are all pro bro!.

As I put the phone away, I saw two men walking towards me with very worried looks on their faces. I dont know Kannada and honestly had no energy to explain - As I zipped up my jersey, I said 3 things - fall, brother coming, water. They didn't have water but one man stood next to me holding guard, while the other flagged down vehicles until one handed over a 500ml bottle of water. He gave me the bottle, I drank some, washed my elbow with some and poured the remaining over my head. They stood there for a while, until they felt I would be ok and then, after wishing me well, they walked away. I looked at my watch and wanted to look towards the right to look for the jeep but it hurt too much so I continued looking straight ahead. The way that you speak to yourself matters so much - not just in sport, not just in races but also, in life - I wanted to get out of my clothes into something comfortable, I wanted shade, I was wishing I hadn't come out to ride, I was asking myself - Why? also, how come 2 falls in the matter of 8 weeks - what the hell! I truly learnt the meaning of patience - Was not in the mood of phone or doing anything so i just lay there looking at the road. No other choice but to wait - he will come when he comes, I will get medical aid when I will - thankfully he was with me otherwise it would have been a completely different ball-game had I been alone - help would have taken so much longer. So, be grateful you are ok, and just bear with it. The worst is over - the healing has begun - all those eosinophils, platelets and leucocytes - unko apna kaam karne do - isi din ke liye paal ke rakha hai. Things will take the time that they take - there is no other option but to hang in there and bear with it - moreover, fretting and frowning is just going to make it worse. As much as could have been controlled - has been - the rest is out of control so now watch the story unfold.

These were the thoughts in my head when a van passed by - the co-driver had looked very worriedly at me and I had shown him a thumbs up and his head turned to continue looking at me as the van moved ahead. The van stopped. It reversed. He came out running - I told him I was ok - brother is on his way to get me. But this man was also super resolute - Ab main nikla hoon , toh help karke hi jaunga - full on Crime Master GoGo vibes. I asked him for water - he didnt have any - then, very self-motivated he went to get first-aid kit - looked through the entire van and realised there wasnt one. Finally he emerged with a plastic and some scotch tape - he walked towards me with the driver in-tow as assistant and together they setup a make-shift shade for me. When I told him he didnt need to do this - he said, " Madame, Main aapko aise chodke nahi jaa sakta hoon". He had just about finished setting up this shade when Ankush reached .He thanked the gentleman and came to get me. I had gotten up, taken the shade off ( to stop littering and also because this had been such a lovely gesture and I had seen a glimpse of humanity in my time of need) and made my way to the car - He had turned on the A/C and I couldnt wait for some respite from the sun and the burning of the wounds. I asked him to help me get out of my jersey and sat inside. He put the bikes in the car. Another vehicle had stopped ahead. They wanted to ask us for some directions. We gave them directions - there was a Naga baba in that car and he asked us to come out to take his blessings - I was in a torn bib and a sports bra so decided to stay in while Ankush head towards him. When he came back he told me I had competition cos Naga baba was fully nangu-pangu and in all that he had liked Ankush's sutros so much he had even tried to grab them from him.

We both laughed and then he told me that he got 3 back-to-back rides to the car - first the truck, then a 2 wheeler and finally an SUV who went out of his way by about 8Kms one way to drop him.

We came back and first big issue was getting out of the sports bra - get into something comfortable - then was washing the wounds with water and then cleaning with alcohol as an anti-septic. Therafter applying betadene and then neosprin powder. I still couldn't figure out how I had fallen As luck would have it, my period started too. " Just my luck, All blood loss has to happen on the same day" - I thought to myself. Then got Ankush to check the bike - thankfully not one scratch on the frame - the hoods and bar tape is another story and there was a slight allignment issue - but thankfully that can be fixed easily. I sent the pics to Venky Sir. He called to check on me and asked me if the fall was because of the discs. I requested Ankush to check the cabling and finally we were able to figure out how I fell. A lesson learnt the hard way, just like the falls due to cleats. Finally I had gone for my braking lessons this morning. Oh man!!! And then how those hunger pangs kicked in - oof!!! The rest of the day went in resting & recovering - as will be the next few days. Ankush took Phlox to Wheelsports so that she can be looked at as well .

A few things to keep in mind in times like this ( also can be considered life lessons) :

1. Have a plan of action - people to call and steps to follow in case of an emergency

2. Do not panic - take a few minutes to assess the situation - respond, do not react.

3. Shitty things happen in the most inconvenient times to the best of us - learn to take it in your stride.

4. Control the controllables - let go of things beyond your control

5. Patience - after a certain point you just have to wait to see the results. All you can do is put in the effort and then give it time.

6. Check the cabling - its easier to change the cabling than it is to change instinct.

7. Keep a medical kit handy ( have scissors for times when you may have to cut a jersey, bibs or bra) and also, we have found another use for Car-o-bar!!!!

Hope you enjoyed the experience more than I hated it. Hope you learned from my mistakes so you don't have learn from them the hard way. I'm feeling better today and it will only improve from hereon forward. The worst is over with. And I am definitely going to be back on the saddle once I am better.