November 9-11, 2001, we rode the Wilmington NC Tandem Rally with ten tandem teams, team ages ranging from a low of 66 to our high of 131, plus one single bike. Saturday’s ride was 77 miles, first headed west to cross the Cape Fear River, then south on US-421 along the west bank of the river to Southport. With such a long paceline, we were an impressive sight flying down the road. We had lunch on the outside veranda of Fish Tales restaurant with a beautiful view overlooking the marina. After lunch, we took the ferry across the mouth of the river to Fort Fisher, then headed north on River Road along the east bank of the river. The weather could not have been more perfect – a cloudless blue sky, light wind, and temperature in the mid-70’s.
On River Road, we fell behind the front fast group but didn't wait for the trailing slow group leaving us riding alone. We missed a turn unknown to us and, about five miles off the route, came upon a railroad track crossing. The local riders know this to be a dangerous crossing as the tracks cross at an extreme acute angle with the danger of getting a wheel caught in a groove. I slowed and adjusted course to cross as perpendicularly as I could but the tracks are heavily used, shiny and slippery, and the front tire slid on the rail and we were down. Nasty!
Falling nearly identically on our right sides, we both hit the right sides of our matching Giro Ventoux RL helmets on the pavement shattering them, were knocked unconscious, and scraped up roadrash galore. Apparently, someone saw the crash or us lying on the roadway and called 911. We were EMSed to New Hanover Regional Medical Center emergency and don't know if we travelled in the same EMS or two separate vehicles. I recovered consciousness very slowly, my memory gap is from 3:45 PM to after 6:00, and my first recollection was trying to piece together where I was, how I got there, where was Jeanne, and what condition was she in. I conversed with a doctor, he told me this later, but have no recollection of it so I was running on autopilot.
Meanwhile, the leading and trailing groups arrived at the host's home. Until dark, they all assumed that we had simply missed a turn, would eventually find our way back or call for directions, and jumped in the hot tub. Finally realizing something was amiss, the hostess called the police. The dispatcher explained that we had been picked from the roadway and were at NHRMT emergency with "minor" injuries. Two of the team captains got out of the hot tub and came to emergency to fetch us. After many X-rays of shoulders, spines, hands, hips, and a head CAT scan each, NHRMC released us saying nothing fractured.
The following Monday, still in much pain, we struggled to get into our car, drive to Durham, and were seen at a Duke University Medical Center clinic. After more lower torso X-rays, the orthopaedic physician informed us that we both had fractured our pelvises. He thinks it's even worse than the X-rays show, possibly more than one pelvic fracture each and, at the least, stressed sacroiliac joints. 5-6 weeks on crutches/walker, no weight bearing, no riding.
Our tandem doesn't appear to be in bad shape, just twisted at some collared adjustments and some scrapes. I'm sure I'll ride again and Jeanne is talking like she'll sit in the stoker's saddle but it's enough to make any stoker lose confidence when the pilot makes an error as bad as this one. I'll not make less of this than it is: pilot error crossing RR tracks.
This was Jeanne's first opportunity to "field test" a Giro helmet but, I must confess, this is the third time a Giro helmet has saved my bacon and the second time I was knocked unconscious. Love your helmets!
Ed and Jeanne Downing
Raleigh NC