While in Vienna, VA, I returned to Church Street, to check things out.
The first store that caught my attention with a display of bikes outside was Bikes@Vienna.
A friendly salesperson spotted me, as a possible prospect and approached me. He went on to describe the bikes I was looking at, and insisted that I sit on a Recumbent Bike.
I obliged and sat down. He explained how one has more power riding this type of bike than a traditional one, and countered everyone of my objections.
He then coaxed me to get over and sit on another bike. I did not see the point, since I made it clear that I am not interested in buying these particular bikes. I proceeded to follow his suggestion to sit on the second bike. As I got off the 1st one, my shin hit a sharp part that holds the gears and controls the pedaling. I think it is called a crank-set.
At first, I exclaimed: "Oh, no. I just bumped the bike..." I noticed that my leg felt wet and liquid was running down my shin. That is a weird sensation if you have never experienced it. I was about to continue participating in his demonstration, when I noticed a red spot on my dressy slacks.
I lifted the fabric and my reaction was calm, but concerned to see that much blood. I could not believe how fast the blood runs out from a bump! The salesperson offered a band-aid!
I thought that was incredulously funny. It showed that he did not really pay attention, or he was nervous. I asked for paper towels, instead. He gave them to me, and at that point one of the employees suggested using the first aid kit.
A female employee offered me a chair. She used her 1st aid kit to clean, bandage the bruises and stop the bleeding. Once this was done, The employees commented that this has happened to them numerous times.
Prior to leaving, I stated that it is not a good thing to have a part on a bike that can cut and injur a user that easily. Whoever designed those bikes needs to correct this problem.
Someone mentioned checking on my Tetenus shots' history and making sure I get one at the nearst clinic to which they directed me.
I found the clinic two blocks away. Dr. Mermelstein and his staff at INOVA Urgent Care did a great job.
Now, you know why I am certainly not going to buy a Recumbent Bike. If I got a few cuts just by getting up from the seat, and the employees report injuries, can you imagine how unsafe it could become in a collision? Unless these bikes have a protection over the crankset they are hazerdous. I am surprised that nothing has been done to correct this.
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