By Justin Moran
As some of you may already be aware I was involved in a crash during a Wompatuck training race late last month. I’ve been told by many race veterans that it was the most serious crash they have ever witnessed.
In my mind, I was doing all the right things that evening. Moving around the pack a little. Not spending too much time at the back, even though I was not in race shape. Not following the same wheel the whole time, etc. We were 17 laps into a 25 lap race and I felt pretty good considering my current fitness level.
The strongest racer I know made an inadvertent error that caused him to hit the deck pretty hard. The racer behind him made a move to avoid the crash, then I was collected by his rear wheel which I was overlapping at the time. There is no-one to blame for what happened, this was just a freak accident. The day after the crash I was sitting in the hospital bed thinking that I surely could have avoided what had happened. I blamed myself for about 12 hours. Luckily Nick Stevens was just ahead of us and had a camera on his bike pointing backward. I still have not seen the footage, but from everyone tells me I had no chance avoiding going down. The manner and violence with which I went down were up to the inertia gods at that point.
I suffered four broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken hand, a broken collarbone and a severe concussion. My head hit the pavement hard, very hard. This is the first concussion I’ve ever had my life and I certainly underestimated its lasting effects. I spent four nights in the hospital under heavy medication and fantastic care at South Shore Hospital. I have since had a surgery on my hand and need one more on my collarbone.
Brain insurance policy
Back up to the end of last season. I decided that I wanted to buy a new helmet because my current one was at least five years old and had been through a lot. Somewhere along the way, I read an article about how much helmets deteriorate in the elements and through normal use. The article suggested that helmets be replaced at least every five years. I ended up buying the same one, a Lazer Genesis from Landry‘s.
I don’t know too much about helmet technology but what I can tell you is, it did its job. My face suffered a couple scratches but my teeth are intact and my nose is still straight.
Cracks in my helmet
I write this quick note to you all in the hopes that this may remind you to replace older helmets and make sure your current one fits correctly and has not been compromised. I am confident that my helmet not only saved me from further injury but essentially saved my life.