The problem with recoveries that aren’t speedy is that everyone forgets that you’re not recovered. Everyone including me.

My shoulder and neck still hurts. It’s boring. I can’t ride. I can’t swim. I can’t sleep properly. It hurts to hang out the washing. I can’t carry heavy bags. I can’t type for long periods. I can’t walk the damn dog.

Sometimes I forget that I hurt; sometimes I pretend I’m fine, but then it hurts again and I realise I’m not.

On November 16 I had an accident on the e-bike. I call it an ‘accident’ despite the fact it wasn’t my fault. Naturally, I am quite confident that the car did not intentionally try to kill me.

I was riding to work along Annerley Rd – using the on-road bike lanes – merrily cycling away minding my own business when a car pulled in front of me. The two lanes of bumper to bumper traffic had stopped to leave ‘courtesy’ space at an intersection. I didn’t stop. I didn’t need to. I wasn’t part of the jam. A car took advantage of the courtesy of the other cars, trusted it had a clear turning opportunity and went down the side street, heading straight for me. I slammed on the brakes to avoid being hit by the car, but instead hit the side/back of it. Luckily!

I jack knifed back off the car then fell onto the ground; onto my right side.

My head was the last thing to hit the ground. Oddly, the only clarity of thought I had was when my head hit the bitumen and I instantly thought ‘Thank god I’m wearing a helmet’. Although I do recall that, when I hit the car, I thought ‘I’m going to die’. Knowing me I probably also swore.

I was in shock and struggled to get up. Luckily I was around the corner from the Mater hospital so a lot of medical type people stopped. One woman had her arm around me and was repeatedly saying ‘I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!’. It was only later that I realised she was the one who had hit me. That was nice of her. Poor thing. I think she was in shock too.

After a lot of people asking if I was OK and me saying ‘I don’t know’ repeatedly, I was eventually bundled up off the ground and taken to the footpath. One woman insisted I drink water. That was odd. I ended up drinking it just to make her happy. One dude in a hospital uniform (nurse? doctor?) took my pulse and said I was OK. Being a fellow cyclist (my assumption was based on the fact he was wearing a helmet), he also checked out my bike and told me it was fine. That was a relief … ?

People told me I should go to the emergency ward of the hospital. Being that I had absolutely no idea what was going on (whatsoever) I simply did what I was told. A woman from the hospital and the woman who almost hit me walked me to the hospital. We did the phone number exchange thing. One woman gave me a ‘witness’ phone number. Eventually they left and the partner of the woman who almost hit me walked me the rest of the way to the emergency room. Once I was there I managed to convince him to leave. I was pretty upset and wanted to be left alone. As is my want.

I called my parents. The doctors called my workplace. I had a male nurse and a male doctor and they were pretty cool. They asked me some questions including ‘Who is the Prime Minister of Australia’. When I said ‘Bob Brown’ we all had a laugh and the Doc said that was ‘the best answer yet’.

I was there for a couple of hours and got xrays etc (from what I can remember). It’s all a bit of a blur. I didn’t feel any real pain until the next day. I just felt extremely weak.

My folks were amazing. I couldn’t look after myself so I stayed at their place for 4 nights. Did no work whatsoever. Mum told me to pretend like I was on a holiday. So I tried that. Pocket frogs helped.

The emergency ward doctor and the emergency ward physio both told me to make sure that I ‘get back on the bike’. I found that interesting. I am guessing it’s because heart disease is the biggest cause of death in Australia – not bicycle accidents.

I haven’t got back on the bike again yet. Firstly, my physio (who is absolutely fabulous) tells me it’s too soon and that I need to do my exercises. My exercises will help me get better. Secondly, I want to get the bike properly serviced before riding it again and I just don’t have the $ to prioritise for that right now. Ironically (given my stroke of bad luck with the bike), the bike seems fine.

In the meantime, 6-7 weeks later, my shoulder and my neck still hurt. I must try to remember that. And do my exercises.

Not riding the bike sucks. That’s why I haven’t written my blog. Without the cycling, I have been Ms Misery. Cycling changed my life for the better. Not cycling has been tough.

So to friends and family and work colleagues who ask me how I am or have noticed I’ve been a bit cranky lately, what I really mean to say is:

‘My shoulder and neck hurt and I’m pretty miserable without my e-bike, but apparently if I’m patient and do my exercises, I’ll be fine so please bare with me’.

Repeat. Remember. Recover.