Patient 3463583 - Part 1

I had my first bike accident today.  It was partly due to too many people and partly due to my own carelessness.   I honestly can't blame anyone else. I wasn't paying as much attention to the road as I should have been.

Riding down the Jones Beach bike path there are 3 bridges, the last of which is a drawbridge so that larger boats can pass along the waterways between Long Island and Jones Beach.  Because the bridge opens- and on this particular occasion had just closed- the bike path along it's edge is not one straight shot of asphalt.  The edges where the bridge comes together are serrated and covered in green-painted steel plates, with panels for different mechanics on either side.  Around these panels are 3/4 inch gaps- precarious for anyone on a road bike.

I normally do my best to avoid these spots, considering how dangerous they can be.  Today, with so many people on the path, and so many people barreling forward after the gates opening up- groups riding side-by-side, serious road riders passing recreational cyclists, children wobbling on unfamiliar bikes- I was forced to stick closer to the right side- and the dangerous panels- that I'm normally comfortable with.

And for good reason.

I don't remember what happened right before, if I was looking back, or just thought my wheel was somewhere it wasn't, but all of a sudden my front wheel was in the channel. It wasn't so much the wheel falling into the channel, as the channel coming to an abrupt end that caused my problems.

It couldn't have been more than a split second before I hit the ground, but I remember thinking that whatever happened next was going to hurt. Because it all happened so fast, I didn't even get my hands out to brace my fall, nor did I have time to unclip from my pedals.

I stopped the ground with my chin, and shortly after, my knees.

Immediately after that, despite his best efforts, my Partner in Crime, who was riding right behind me, ran over my left leg, and bailed out of his own bike in the process.  Luckily for both of us he was on his City bike, and not riding his Tri bike- in which case he would also have been clipped in.  It might have been two of us taking trips to the hospital for stitches, or worse.

By some miracle, both my shoes came unclipped from my pedals in the crash and I didn't lose consciousness. I remember coming up on my hands and knees and having blood pouring from my face onto my hand.  I hadn't yet established where exactly the blood was coming from but, the crash quite literally knocked the snot out of me, but it wasn't bloody and well, my nose didn't hurt so I assumed it wasn't the source of the blood.

I rolled onto my back, helmet still on, and was for a moment, just blood and pain.

I curled my knees into my chest, my hand to my chin- which, being the first part of my body to contact the ground, was split open and bleeding profusely. My Partner in Crime (and in Bike Crashes) rushed over and grabbed me.  I remember looking up at him and telling him to let me lie there and leave my helmet on.  He was panic stricken; I can only imagine how bad it must have been to see me go ass-over-teakettle face first into a steel plate on the ground.

As I lay there I started a 'self-diagnostic', seeing what was in pain, and what, if anything was broken. By this point a couple of people had already stopped.  One asked if we were OK and if he should call an ambulance.  I said yes, if only because I hadn't even had time to establish the extent of my injuries.  The second person to stop was a Bellmore EMT, asking if I wanted ice. Again, I assented, knowing my chin was definitely bleeding and my knees had taken a beating.

I have to admit that I'm amazed and very grateful that people stopped, not to mention that the people who did stop were amazingly helpful.  I lay there on the ground for quite some time, getting my bearings, establishing that nothing was broken.  The EMT who stopped asked the typical head-injury questions.

"What's your name?" Meghan
"What day is it?" Saturday... May 21st... Oh, wait, it's the Rapture!
"Who's the President?"  Obama... thank god it's not Bush.

I could push my feet down and pull them up, I could feel all my toes and all my fingers.

The next person to stop was a driver, who was also an EMT, this time from South Merrick.  He saw the commotion and stopped to see if he could help, which was fortuitous because at this point I was still lying on my back, bleeding profusely.  The first gentleman to stop, who had called the ambulance, had continued on his way, so though I knew there was someone coming, I wasn't sure when.

The South Merrick EMT pulled out a large medical kit, and more importantly gloves and clean gauze for my chin. Feeling somewhat steady, I sat up at this point, I had taken off my helmet and run my hand through my hair.  It came up covered in blood.

Though looking back I realize I had been laying on my back with my chin bleeding heavily- blood was bound to have dripped into my hair and down my arm- this was probably one of the scariest moments of the entire experience- seeing blood and not knowing where it had come from. The South Merrick EMT couldn't find a cut or anything on the back of my head, and I didn't feel dizzy, nauseated, or faint, so he, and I, didn't worry about it.

After sitting for a bit, I felt much better, though the bleeding hadn't stopped.  I took off my road shoes, since I have a hard enough time walking in them when I haven't just been thrown from my bike and stood up.  At this point I felt OK enough to joke with my rescuers, and try to put a plan together for getting me to the hospital and the bikes home.

Then the drama started.  I had already told both EMT's my name, I'm assuming as part of their head-injury checklist.  Then the State Troopers- 2 of them- showed up asking the same information all over again.  One of them was the first to make the joke about stopping the road with my face.  Then came a Wantagh EMT, solo, who eventually took my Partner in Crime and both bikes back to my house.  I'm pretty sure he asked me the same questions- name, birthday, age- all over again as well.  Then the ambulance from Harbor House, with 3 more EMTs (or EMT's in training, I'm not sure about one of them).

I was scurried off into the ambulance before I knew what was happening.  I had the foresight to grab my cell phone and license, but not much else.  I left my Partner in Crime to handle the details of getting home, getting the bikes home, and getting himself to the hospital. Thanking everyone as I left with a wave doesn't even come close to the gratitude that they deserve.

Stay tuned for the (not-so) thrilling conclusion of Meghan's Accidental Adventure.

Ride

I know I'm a little late in posting it, but May is National Bike Month (Bike League).

But I'm right on time to say that this week, May 16-20th, is Bike to Work Week.  Too bad Mother Nature's not cooperating here in New York. Granted, even if she was, I have to admit I wouldn't be biking to work this week- 9 miles is a bit ambitious for me, especially without some form of all-over industrial strength anti-perspirant.

Either way, it's Bike Month and gas is 4.25/gallon. You should be riding somewhere.  Transporation Alternatives (TA) has a great listing of the Bike Month events (Calendar) going on in NYC.

The Hunt

Isn't there someone with an open position for a bibliophile-yogi-crafter-cyclist-foodie-geek?

I find jobs to apply to, jobs that I'm qualified for, that I just can't see myself ever being passionate about.  I will always find it difficult to be passionate about a job that requires button-down shirts and high heels.  I will always find it difficult to be passionate about a job that involves regularly ringing phones and cubicles.  I will always find it difficult to be passionate about a job that keeps me at a desk, staring at a computer screen for 40 hours a week.

I kind of feel like my job hunt is more like Duck Hunt.  Every time I send out a resume without getting a hit (whether or not I was really interested in the position) that obnoxious dog pops up and starts laughing at me.   

 

How can you turn your passions into your profession? How can you monetize an interest without it becoming a job?  Where does one even find the opportunity to make the attempt?  

I guess I just want to know how to find that perfect job and once I've found it how to land it. Is that so much to ask?

 

 

Steel is Real

2 weeks of rain hasn't left me with much time to spend outside working on Akemi.  I've managed a few hours here and there but no major leaps forward.  This is in part because my attitude towards this project has changed. 

Initially, I was looking for a 'beater' city bike.  Something functional, inexpensive (nee cheap), and sturdy, to be left locked up outside the Old Beer Garden or the Brooklyn Brewery.  I laid out my plan- tires/tubes, grip tape, quick tune-up, u-lock, done.  After a few hours working on her though, and noting considerable potential for cosmetic improvements, I realized that I didn't have a beater bike on my hands, I've got a gorgeous vintage bicycle. 

So my quick fix has turned into a labor of love. 

Akemi's Pedals- straight off the bike

Old.  Good as new.

It took me an hour and a half of chrome polish, degreaser, soap, water, and a toothbrush to get both pedals to something resembling clean.  There's still some grit trapped in the right pedal, which will probably require a bit more time to clear out.  It's amazing how well the grease held up over 35 years- despite the grit and dirt it trapped between the bearings.  The plastic reflectors- on the bike as a whole- are surprisingly in perfect condition. 

I'm at the point now that I need a nice day, several hours, and the buffing head on my Dremel tool to tackle the rust on the wheels.  This weekend is already spoken for though since I'll be spending Saturday at the New Amsterdam Bike Show.  Hopefully it won't give me too many 'good' ideas.

This year for me, is about experiences, about doing something worthwhile.  Finding what drives me, where I'm going, and enjoying myself along the way. 


Lately cycling has taken on a bigger role in my life.  From training for a century ride, to an ever-widening circle of 2-wheel-devoted friends, to gas prices hovering at 4 dollars a gallon, bikes matter more now than ever before.  

I love my Specialized road bike.  She's pretty. light, and fast, everything I want her to be.  With the edition of Light Action Speedplay Pedals and cycling shoes, she's all I could ask for in an entry-level road bike. She's great for starting at Point A and riding a loop (whether it be 5 miles or 40, or more) and coming right back to A again.  She's not exactly suited to going from Point A to Point B and being locked up to a pole for a few hours.

This is where my pack-rat family, a bit of elbow grease, the very helpful people at the bike store, and the internet come in. 

In my house we almost never throw anything out.  We're not dirty, nor are we by nature messy, but we keep stuff.  Every set of Legos I ever owned?  In their original boxes in the basement.  Father's Day cards I gave my Dad when I was 6?  In his nightstand.  China from both my grandmothers?  In the basement.  You get the idea.  If it a.) Might be worth something (we plan to sell it), or b.) Might be needed some day or c.) Has sentimental value, we keep it.    

Well, sometimes we do find a use for some of the stuff we hold on to.  In this case, a 35 year old Panasonic Sport Deluxe road bike.

Meet Akemi:

 

She's a little rough around the edges right now but with a little elbow grease and some TLC she'll be perfect.

By Brute Force, if necessary.

In 2010 I set 10 goals for myself.  I failed -miserably- on most of them.  Which is understandable since most of them were wildly unrealistic.  This year, I'm keeping my ambitions more reasonable- job search, workout, find life/work/love balance.

I want a new job, a fast century ride, and free time filled new experiences.

So far, so good.

Winter 2011

Glitter and Glue

Skipping over Thanksgiving and moving right onto Christmas-

I'm not religious. Big surprise there, but I enjoy holidays that combine eating, drinking, and crafting with friends and [my very small] family.  I especially enjoy what happens when I combine my friends, a room full of craft supplies and spiked cider.

I want to thank everyone who came out, made ornaments, drank cider and watched movies full of glitter and Tom Cruise thighs.  Sure, I could have a 'normal' Christmas tree, but I much prefer mine, decorated with zombie santas, flying spaghetti monster homages, DNA, and enough glitter for a beauty pageant.

pdn PHOTOPLUS

This weekend was pdn's expo at the Jacob Javitz Center. There were a couple hundred exhibitor booths, spanning the range of photo products from Canon and Nikon to Lowepro,  Epson,  Ilford, and Zeiss.

Leica was there.  Theirs were the only spokespeople in suits. And the only cameras behind glass.  Of course.

Sony set up a half-pipe in the convention center and had 3 or 4 BMX riders doing (small) tricks all day.

Nikon's models were the only ones who managed not to look bored all day long.  Even the BMX riders seemed particularly apathetic to being in the spotlight.

Hoodman had a giant inflatable Hoodloupe that took up their entire exhibition space.  It had to be 15 feet high.

I have never seen so many amateur camera nerds in one place.  I have also never bumped into so many cameras and lenses.  Tight spaces plus expensive lenses equals a bad idea.


Even though I was mesmerized by it, I don't need or even have use for a 4k Steadicam mount, I did see a few products I'm really interested in actually picking up in the near future.

• Spider Holster - Possibly the most ingenious new idea for carrying an SLR.  They're coming out with a lighter weight plastic model they've dubbed the 'Black Widow' for smaller- think Canon Rebel- DSLR's and point-and-shoots.  They also get bonus points for being Ithacans.  
• Another 'why didn't anyone think of that before' was the SteadePod.  It helps turn you into your own tripod.  Very minimalist, and certainly small enough to fit in any camera bag, it was a very cool little invention. I'm not sure how durable it'd be, but it's cheap enough that it wouldn't break the bank to replace.
• Lensbaby.  Want.  I don't think there's much more that needs to be said about this product.  It's amazing and wonderful and has a lens and optic combination for every personality type. (I'd love to have The Composer myself)
• Digital Silver Gelatin Prints! Amazing, beautiful, archival digital prints.
• Wacom's Intuos 4.  I spent a while watching demos of the Intuos 4.  It' a really powerful little (or not so little) tablet. Plus, more importantly, You can rotate the tablet 180° for either right- or left-hand use of the hotkeys!

All-in-all it was a really interesting day. Definitely worth the time spent there.  I'm excited to make use of my new G12 and start taking some photos again.

Halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone!