We started at 5:45 Saturday, September 11. It was 36 degrees. We were prepared and ready for a great ride.
On a ride of this distance you need a support vehicle to meet along the way to replenish your supplies. Driving our support was our cute daughter-in-law, Megan, and my good friend, DeAnn.
Dan and I were riding well. We felt strong (for us) and were having a very fun ride. After meeting Megan and DeAnn in Alpine, Wyoming (160 miles down) we took off to do the last leg of the journey, 46 miles. I told Dan that this was not a normal LOTOJA. We were feeling too good, too strong, and having way too much fun.
Through Snake River Canyon we were riding alone together anticipating a strong finish. We had hoped to finish under 12 hours but at the pace we were going we were set to finish at 11:15 hours. Although a racer would have been mortified by that time, we would have been thrilled.
At about mile 176 we were going on a slight down hill, probably at around 25 mph, and I was right behind Dan, drafting, when all of the sudden his front tire went wobble, wobble and he went down. He hit hard. I stopped my bike and ran back to my husband. His eyes were open but he was unresponsive.
I was terrified but with in a minute several people had stopped including a lady driving by who had just floated the Snake River. She was a paramedic. LOTOJA support people also stopped. A sheriff arrived quickly and started directing traffic.
Dan regained consciousness after a few minutes but was confused. Slowly, as we waited for the ambulance, which took an hour, his memory came back and by the time he was in the ambulance he was himself.
We went to the hospital in Jackson. They did lots of tests and X Rays. Aside from the fact that his left side was covered with road rash and abrasions, everything was okay except for very low blood pressure (66/27 at one point) and the fact that he had sustained a concussion and lost consciousness. They admitted him to the hospital for observation over night.
He is home now and on the mend. I expect him to fully recover.
Now, a couple of side stories.
While we were caring for Dan in Snake River Canyon there was a lot of confusion. Cars were going both directions, many slowing to view the accident. Cyclists were riding by having to curve out around the crash. At one point 3 riders were drafting together. One slowed at the accident, the other ran into him and they both fell on the 3rd rider. All 3 went down 5 feet from Dan's head! Luckily they weren't seriously injured and after about 10 minutes they were able to get back on their bikes and finish the race.
In the ER a rider came in with a big gash on his face. He'd been involved in a crash in Star Valley where he was riding in a big group. A girl in front of him went down. He fell over her and went down. Several of the other riders went down. When he sat up he said he needed his glasses. Someone handed him a pair. He said they were not his. They handed him another pair. Not his again. The third time they were his glasses :-) LOTOJA support helped him dress the wound on his head and then he went on to finish the race, riding about another 60 miles to the finish. He then went the the ER. They put 17 stitches in his head and admitted him to the hospital.
The ER was hectic with LOTOJA injuries. It gave me a lot more respect for the danger of the sport.
I later inspected Dan's bike and discovered a bulge in the front tire that must have stuck at the brake pads causing the front tire to wobble and forcing Dan to lose control. We need to figure out why that bulge occurred.
I thought this would be my last LOTOJA but now I'm not sure. We have the winter to decide if we want to do the training, and I guess, take the risk, again. I'll keep you posted. I'm just grateful Dan is going to be okay.
Only 30 more miles and we would have finished! Sigh.....
