Last Saturday, the Cranky’s crew took 11 younger riders on an overnight, BMX trip to the A-Town skatepark in Atascadero. This trip is one part boy scout adventure (we have a fire pit and BBQ), one part church lock-in (once you get there, you can’t leave), and one part adventure camp (the lights and radio are left on all night for total shredding). These trips are awesome, and most kids will probably never forget them! Well, I (Jim C.) managed to slip my hand off a grip in the middle of a wall-ride transfer about 3 hours into the session, and I had to be taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. (I had a torn abdominal muscle, and if I hadn’t had bar ends on my handlebars, my intestines would’ve probably been all over the park…) First off, I wanna thank all the other chaperones and the folks from A-Town. You guys helped to keep the trip going well and smoothed out my transition from coordinator to patient. Next, I wanna thank everyone that has reached out to me with support and caring words: the community’s response has been truly overwhelming, and I appreciate it.
The response from the cycling community caught me completely off-guard. Before I was out of the hospital, Jake Vantiger, master artist/designer/BMX guru from Sidekick Creative and 805 Ink, had put together a logo to help raise awareness and money (see sidebar, and thanks Yoli). Next, I found out that the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition had put together an Injured Cyclist Fund to help pay for expenses. (While in the hospital, I found out that my insurance wasn’t covering me at the event.) Throughout the week, I have been surprised by other donations (TimTanium t-Shirt sales, facebook posts for the fund from around the country, etc.); however, today I was blown away by the “Support Jim C” t-shirts that Pete Albrecht put together this week! (You can see local celebrities Sean Morr and Arwin rockin’ the shirts at the start of the Cruiser Run in the photo above.) Once again, thank you all for your support and generosity – it means more to me than you cold ever know. I’m recuperating right now, but I hope to be back on the bike and riding with you in the near future.
