Today I had my first epic fail. I am not sure how it happened, I can't really remember. I was travelling over Rochester Bridge at about 15mph, using bike lane (good traction and flat) I remember a split second of panic and then nothing until I woke up (10 mins later) surrounded by members of the public and a large man's hands holding my head really quite tightly!! I think I passed out another couple of times before the ambulance arrived, I vaguely remember trying to get up and being told not to and shouting at someone who tried to take my stilts off. (Ambulance took me to hospital....without blues and twos)
So, after a glorious trip to medway A&E, blurred, whirlpool vision, vomiting, headache like an epic hangover, x-rays, CT scans and a really sharp needle in my right buttock, I am sat here trying to write this email with only my left hand having given myself a jolly good dose of concussion, pulled the skin off the knuckles on both my hands, fractured my right elbow (luckily not in a cast), cracked 2-3 ribs (doctors weren't completely sure) and grown a second forehead (see below)!!
I was however wearing Knees, Wrists and Elbow pads. Had I not, I would have smashed my elbow, smashed my knees, (cracked knee pads), and judging by how sore writing this post is, broken my wrists. I just wish I had been wearing a helmet too.
A word of advice for anyone reading this post, keen to start this amazing sport. Use body armour, I can promise you, it is worth the extra few pounds it costs to kit yourself out. There is nothing as wonderful as the freedom these stilts provide, but do it safely!!
Wylo
