my crash and burn at PBP

[Peter Noris]

Well, this was a disappointment. After my best first half of the year since the 90s, I got sick for five weeks in July and August - except for the last ride before I got some gastro virus, I only rode 230 miles in 6 weeks as opposed to nearly a 1000 mile/month average.

Near Loudeac, some teenagers pointed one direction, then as I started to turn moved away from the directional arrow showing straight through. Thought I could recover, was wrong. slid into curb head first, and was not happy. Shortly thereafter at end of long downhill went into left turn with standing water I did not see (I expect already feeling impaired judgment from first impact) and went down hard. Still had plenty of time in hand, but was definitely concussed with back pain. Couldn't ride a straight line, and some good souls took me into their care and tried to get me to Loudeac. By this time my thinking was clearly clouded, and they (thank god) called an ambulance and pulled me from the event. Spent the night in Loudeac hospital and following week in hotel bed with concussion and some fairly nice pain pills. Not my best holiday.

Latest medical report now in U.S,, moderate concussion, mostly resolved, back pain still under investigation, but looking better.

Apologies to people I didn't recognize after crash, or who helped me and whose names I can't remember.

Note to self: next time don't taper for six weeks.

And 2011 will be more fun.

--
Peter

"Seeing the U.S.A. one brevet at a time"

Alabama, Colorado, Gainesville, Fl.,  Georgia, Massachusetts,  Mississippi,  New York, NW Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, British Columbia... more to come!

321-794-0500 cell
352-275-5888 home
Skype me at Peter.F.Noris

Yes, I know British Columbia is in Canada.

[Goonster]

Peter,

I was one of the riders who tried to assist you some six miles out of
Loudeac.

An English rider (Jim ?) had stopped and was asking others for help.
Despite his own severe fatigue, he had recognized that you were unsafe
to continue, and we were trying to figure out what to do. Your helmet
was broken, and your speech clearly slurred, but we were unsure how to
proceed.

After you had a very difficult time getting started, and almost veered
into an oncoming bus, we decided to proceed to the control and inform
a marshal.

Sorry about the unfortunate turn of events, but glad to hear you are
not more seriously hurt and that you made it home OK.

Bon Courage,

Goon Koch
New Jersey Randonneurs