famous last words "Stay Upright"

In cycling we love to say "Stay Upright" as good luck for someone doing a big rise...well I obviously didn't listen....There we were having a few easy rides in the big hills, in Bright....(up amongst the Victorian mountains, one of which is Mt Hotham and is where the first picture was taken, from the car on the drive over) on my way to uni for a few days and on Day One (Easy 70km including two climbs) which was to precede Day Two of 110km...well I was doing my final descent down Tawonga Gap (Pic two is me at the Top of Tawonga Gap prior to said descent) and usually I lead the descents as I love to go fast, but Shane was leading and we were going slower and all I remember is instead of facing forward, my bike was sliding sideways at around 45kph - no memory after that (That is my version until I was in a car travelling to hospital with what I recognised as a broken collar bone...yes now I have a matching pair).

Shanes version ..... In the front going slower than Judith likes to travel down the hill, I heard a crash, finally slowed and ran back to her (couldn't get back that easy as Big Hill - Big Gear - Too Hard - Brain not functioning as Judith is laying there not moving)...run back......she is groaning, I feel terrible, color must be drained from my face. Shit she is on the middle of the road and there is traffic....Thank God the first two cars stop and two ladies help me......and we get her off the road a bit.....looks like she has a broken collar bone...and god knows what else, she has blood coming from her head somewhere and oh my god....I have lost ten years from my life (at least 12 months anyway).

To cut a long story short after four hours observation in hospital and getting home the final count is - Right collarbone broken, cuts on head, elbow side, and bruising on R side, R thigh, L leg, R elbow and feeling a bit bashed up with pain in Right ribs front and back. Felt a bit like I had been run over by a bus.

Now it is a week later and I feel ok.....my ribs still hurt a bit, collarbone is sore and cant lift arm although I do have a bit more movement than I thought and I can type this with two hands if I keep my elbow wedged into my side. I am also spewing as I had ridden up Tawonga on the back of Shanes wheel, he said to me, hang on but I will come back for you and he proceeded to give himself a real workout up Tawonga, and I hung on the whole way up I was so excited, I was breathing hard, but it was great and a real sign that my fitness is going well......the calm before the storm.....and for those that have been reading Cozy Beehive's big argument on whether helmets should be compulsory and it is a BIG READ, I am on the YES THEY SHOULD...picture of helmet to follow, but as far as mechanical things went.....clothing - Tops got cut off at hospital (Thanks Bright Hospital by the way), and Helmet (Damaged and a crack in the lining), Bike (Brake levers damaged ...BOTH OF THEM and some skin off the side of the seat...but Carbon Fibre Trek looks OK...getting it checked this week!).

Oh and I have a new theory....Lance broke his Collarbone and states that he will be ready for the tour...THE TOUR.....Robbie McEwan had a big crash this week and he thinks he will be ready for the Tour as well...so are you seeing the connection "BIG FALL"..."READY FOR THE TOUR" - it can only mean one thing...I am going to be riding the Tour De France...Woo Hoo..

Keep the Dream alive...will be on the spin bike next week...Training will resume, have had a week off and will have to get back on the indoor bike for now....will nee some indoor tips from Sarah ..... who rides on the indoor trainer a huge amount......