Watch Out That Traffic Drum Valve Cap
Independent Journey, 2024
In the summer of 2024, I was riding with a local cycling group along the trails in Pittsburgh. As we crossed a steep downhill street, my friend ahead of me slighly knocked a traffic drum in the middle of the road. I thought I could do the same without issue, but apparently, wrong move. The drum swung into my front wheel dramatically. Bang! Down I went, hitting the pavement head first.
The next thing I knew, paramedics were fitting me with a cervical collar, preparing me for a trip to the ER. It was as though I’d woken from the deepest sleep, disoriented, but thankfully still remembering who I was. Several MRIs and X-rays later, I was lucky to find that my body was mostly fine, aside from some abrasions. On the less so good side, we found out I had an intraparenchymal hematoma (internal brain bleeding).
Thanks to my overall good physic, the bleeding didn’t develop any further. I was discharged later next day. I made a pretty solid recovery, by my second CT scan a month later, my brain had healed, though there was some minor permanent damage. Luckily, the injury was fortunately offset from critical areas which has no affect on my intelligence nor motor coordination.
While I gradually returned to bike commuting, the accident lingered in my mind. Every time I replayed the event, staring at my nearly cracked helmet, I felt a need to regain control. So, I decided to create something tangible — a souvenir to commemorate this wild chapter and remind my future self to stay cautious.
“Watch Out That Traffic Drum” Valve Cap is a Presta valve cap inspired by the exact traffic drum I hit. It features a multi-color 3D-printed body with an embedded thread. The pieces were packaged and gifted to cyclist friends who witnessed, supported, and encouraged along this journey.