There are so many questions I would want to know, but the bottom
line is he needs to seek out medical help.

1 was he wearing a helmet and was it cracked after the fall did he
having any bruising around his head neck or on his body outside of
hands. wearing a helmet only reduces the incidence & severity of
head inj.
2. How fast was he going and what type of surface did he hit
3. Was he cleated in or rat traps or just regular pedals
4. Did he go to the hospital or see a dr. after the insult.
5. How old is he
6. What kind of medical HX does he have?
7. How heavy is he.
8. Was he accelerating decelerating or keeping a constant speed.



> When one has an 'over-the-handlebars' kind of accident, how does
one most typically end up in terms of body position, particularly
with regard to one's hands?


It depends on how much energy was being used. If you had a lot of
energy you could have bi-lat femur fx from your legs hitting the
handle bars if you went over. he could have his arms out stretched
and try and brace the fall or tucked in or slide the bike as you can
see there are as many ways to fall that depend on kinetics and other
factors.


> I need to know this, as I was last week in a bicycle accident
where I lost consciousness, and due to 'retro-amnesia,' I do not
recall what happened.

By retro you mean you can not remember events leading up to the
accident? or do you mean Anterograde which is cant remember the
events after the insult.

> Some people speculate that I lost consciousness before I lost
control of the

This is worrisome, could have been syncope , and really needs to
have a full physical w/ an ekg, blood sugar the works.


> bike, because when I was found, my hands were not in front of me,
and the backs of the hands were mainly scraped by contact with the
pavement.

I would not be that worried about whether it was the front or back
of your hands.

The obvious alternative scenario to expect is that I clamped too
hard on the front brakes and went over the handlebars. However, if
I do not recall the accident at all (I am missing about two hours
of recollection due to a concussion).

> I shall very much appreciate any information based on your
experience or knowledge, or if you can refer me to any good source
for such information. I am healing well, and will soon be back on a
bicycle, but it is important to know if I am more need in riding
lessons or need to be aware of a potentially dangerous physical
condition.
>
> Sincerely, Mike Otten, Scarsdale, New York

My advice go to your DR. and get checked out