Until I hit the 28.71 mile point on today’s bike ride all was going well. At that point I rode south on the I-69/US59 frontage road. I wanted to stop at the Circle K/Valero store at Northpark Drive. Looking in my rear view mirror I saw a car coming up behind but not real close. Normally when I enter the driveway to the store I swing out and try to approach the 2″ high curb straight on but today I didn’t do that because of the approaching car. I went for a bunny hop to get the front wheel over the curb and when I came down the rear wheel didn’t follow but slide along the curb and down I went. Thank goodness for my helmet because my head bounced of the concrete. As I lay on the road I looked around to be sure no one was coming into the driveway. Two cars were stopped waiting to exit the driveway. Both drivers got out and came over to help me get up. After getting up I put the bar end plug back in the right sie bar end, straightened the Elemnt computer in its mount. I noticed the chain was off the front chain ring and walked about 200 yards to the store getting some paper towels at the pumps to dab on the elbow road rash. When I did that I saw and felt the hematoma on my right hip. I went inside the store to refill my water bottle and one of the clerks noticed the road rash on my knee which I missed. I told I crashed and she was sympathetic. Walking out side I went to the picnic tables on the west side of the store and sat down to survey the damage to me and the Canyon bike. After checking my phone for damage I looked at the elbow rash and knee. My head felt better now but my hip hurt. Looking at the bike I saw the rear derailleur looked bent. I went back to the pumps for paper towels so I could put the chain back on the front chainring. Then I tried to shift the right lever and  determined the chain would not move to a larger rear cog. A few minutes later I walked to the pumps getting ready to leave and one of the men there talked with about biking. I showed him the road rash on elbow and knee and we both said crashes happen. He wished me a blessed day and I rode off.

This was about 7 miles from home and I rode there slowly.

The ride started at 10:56 am as I began on the “Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood” route headed north. The weather was warm again and the wind was light. Weather during the ride.

Biking north I made good time and to add a couple of miles to the ride I went through Tavola and the road east of the railroad tracks to Woodbranch. Crossing I-69/US59 set me up for the ride south. Expecting the wind to slow me some I appreciated the wind breaks along the way. Looping through Valley Ranch got me out of the wind some times and when I returned to the frontage road I stayed on it until the crash. I built up my average speed to 14.2 mph and felt good. From there the ride changed and I finished at 2:01 pm with 35.58 miles rode. November stands at 160.92 miles, 200 miles away from my goal. The crash injury and bike damage will keep me off the bike for a few days.

When I got home I called Canyon Bikes USA to ask about a new derailleur hanger and bar tape. They are shipping replacements to me. Sean at Canyon expressed his concern about my crash. Photos of my injuries and the bent derailleur hanger. Update 11/8/2018: I added two photos of my cracked Catlike helmet. I ordered a replacement.

This is the first crash riding the Canyon Endurace CF SLX. Hopefully the last. I think my last crash was 4/18/2014 according to my SportTracks diary.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary