A lapse of reason...

If you are in a paceline don't stop suddenly or there will be a pileup with road rash and broken bones.

The Old Howard 100 started out uneventful enough until mile 14 and a guy didn't think of those behind him when he decided to stop for a reflector that popped off his bike. We behind couldn't react as fast as he could stop thus plowing into each other. Eight us. I was the last running over and breaking this girl's wrist.

I did the classic endo landing on my head and shoulder. Sitting in the road dazed I determined I did not break my collarbone and decided to ride on a little further. At least to the first rest stop I said. I was hurting pretty good by the time I got to the rest stop.

Adrenallin had kicked in so I said I'll ride to the next stop. Well, I missed the second but made the 3rd, 4th and 5th. At the 5th there was only 7 miles to go for the 70 mile loop back to the start. I mashed it out.

We were served spaghetti post ride and after eating my friend the doctor said you need to go to my clinic and get checked out. I did.

Ribs numbers 1 and 2 snapped under compression by my shoulder bones. Three days later and I'm sore as hell.

The guy who stopped got his reflector.

I guess we all do stupid things sometimes without thinking in a momentary lapse of reason.