Out of action

Pete Biggs

Hi friends at u.r.c,

Just to explain why I've been quiet for the last few days and why I might
not be posting much or at all on the group any more... well, for a while
at least.......

I had a road bike crash at 8pm on Monday and broke my hip. Annoying thing
is, it was just a silly little incident that I wouldn't have thought would
normally cause very much bother, but I was unlucky in how I fell or with
the condition of my bones (for my age, which is about half that of those
who have hip problems normally).

I'm vague on what happened precisely, but I was front-braking or turning
for a right turn into a side road from about 15 mph when the front wheel
suddenly skidded and slipped, causing the bike and me to fall over to the
right. My right hip and elbow absorbed the impact, preventing damage to
the rest of me and the bike. Nothing else hit the road or me. Elbow is
just grazed. Wheel might have skidded after I had already slowed to less
than 10 mph but it's difficult to remember when a crash happens to quickly
and the consequences become so much more important than the exact cause.

Not sure if I started to turn before/while/after braking but the slip was
totally unexpected as I think I've got away with that sort of thing and
worse before many times. The tarmac may have been greasy, though there
was no obvious sign of oil (nor gravel). The roads were dry and ice was
not a possibilty that mild evening. It was a shaper turn than usual (and
planned) as I was giving an exiting van extra room. Perhaps that was it
except I still would have expected more grip. The road surface certainly
could have been better.

Anyway, the good news is that I'm recovered enough to be back at home
typing this message already (Friday 5pm)! The badly broken hip was pinned
the next morning. 24 hours later I was walking with a frame, with little
pain; same with crutches after 24 more hours.

There is a chance that the blood supply to the head (ball) of the joint
won't be sufficient, meaning it would die and I would need a hip
replacement (requiring further replacements in future as they don't last
forever), but it's not a big chance as far as I know so far.

Still, it's going to be a long time before I can cycle again, if I want
want to. My enthusiam for all things cycling is naturally dented after
this realisation of just how vulnerable I am on a bike.

Cycling advice for you? The main stuff is basic so I'll be brief on each
point:

* Don't turn too sharply, don't lean too far.
* Don't use the front brake alone unless you are sure within reason that
the surface is good. (This is the trouble: you can never be sure). See
www.sheldonbrown.com.
* Don't brake and turn at the same time when you don't have to unless you
are highly skilled and are prepared to take some extra risk. (See
rec.bicycles.tech FAQ).
* Don't brake much harder than you need to just because you can or just
because it's fun, when approaching a turn, at least. (You might start to
turn before braking without realising).
* Don't overinflate tyres, especially the front. That doesn't necessarily
have anything to do with what recommended pressure is written on them; see
www.sheldonbrown.com).
* Do choose Barnet Hospital when Paramedics give you a choice including
it! Ok so this one may not be obvious :-) The treatment was excellent
(once past the waiting stage in A & E) and the staff are incredibly nice.

The less obvious point is on clipless pedals, and it's one I've made
before. I'm quite sure they have made me fall more awkwardly on a number
of occasions including this. Yes they may release (as you or bike
naturally twists) but that might happen too late if you subconciously try
to put a foot down or move your body to minimise injury.

I'm not sure I will ever use clipless pedals again despite them being one
of the very best cycling innovations for decades. They're great... until
you NEED to fall off, instantly. "Ordinary" pedals and pedals with
*loose* toe-straps are safer on balance, in my opinion, despite being less
secure when pedalling. (BTW, loose straps are better than nothing: they
still provide /some/ security and /some/ pulling-up).

Take care!

~Pete

Clive George

"Pete Biggs" <pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
news:30pc4jF30kga8U1@uni-berlin.de...

<ouch>

Have a big get well thought.

Take heart from "Not Responding" - I'm sure you'll mend. And of course it's
a perfect excuse for a trike!

cheers,
clive

Helen Deborah Vecht

Get well soon!

Glad to hear something positive about Barnet Hospital.

Hip fractures seem to have happened to quite a few male cyclists I know.

--
Helen D. Vecht: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk
Edgware.

Call me Bob

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 18:49:12 -0000, "Pete Biggs"
<pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote:


>I had a road bike crash at 8pm on Monday and broke my hip.

Oh no, Pete that's terrible news, very sorry to hear that. Get well
soon, chin up fella, all that sort of thing.

>Still, it's going to be a long time before I can cycle again, if I want
>want to. My enthusiam for all things cycling is naturally dented after
>this realisation of just how vulnerable I am on a bike.

Perfectly understandable under the circumstances. I hope though that
as you recover Pete you'll remember again all the joy cycling has
brought you, and pull on the shorts again

>I'm not sure I will ever use clipless pedals again despite them being one
>of the very best cycling innovations for decades. They're great... until
>you NEED to fall off, instantly. "Ordinary" pedals and pedals with
>*loose* toe-straps are safer on balance, in my opinion, despite being less
>secure when pedalling. (BTW, loose straps are better than nothing: they
>still provide /some/ security and /some/ pulling-up).


I'm not sure that not being clipped in would have made a lot of
difference? Again, it's understandable why you'd be feeling pretty
negative about this whole business, but was there really time to get a
leg out? Sounds like you went down in an instant and that's generally
my experience when my bike has gone from under me. One moment cycling
along perfectly happily, the next moment *WALLOP*, it's all tarmac
and chin.

Of course, you (and perhaps your Doc) will know better than me, I
wasn't there, but I think you've just been miserably unlucky. You
could probably go down that way a hundred other times and not break
anything (except maybe into a fit of swearing).

We all take tumbles, on our bikes, playing other sports, at work, at
home, I don't think it's cycling that's done this Pete, just life.
You'll bounce back as strong as before.

Best wishes for speedy recovery, let us know how you doin' pal.


--


Email address is spam trapped, to reply directly remove the beverage.

bob watkinson

Pete this is an awful thing to have happened and I wish you well. Right now
I can imagine how you must feel toward cycling but I would say this. One
keep your bike clean and shiny, Two look at it occasionally, then who knows
one fine day come spring you may just feel the urge to go for a pootle.

Take care

Roos Eisma

Helen Deborah Vecht <helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk> writes:

>Get well soon!

>Glad to hear something positive about Barnet Hospital.

>Hip fractures seem to have happened to quite a few male cyclists I know.

And, FWIIW, I had a very similar fall at very low speed on an icy patch a
couple of years ago, and even withouth clipless pedals (normal platform) I
landed solidly on my hip. Just a big bruise in my case.

Hope everything mends soon!

Roos

Richard Goodman

"Pete Biggs" <pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
news:30pc4jF30kga8U1@uni-berlin.de...

<snip tale of accident>

Wow. Sorry to hear of your accident Pete and hope you get well soon. A
salutary lesson for us all to take care.

It sometimes does happen that trivial accidents have bigger consequences
than we would normally expect. I remember after my last motorcycle accident
going to the recovery place - I had to wait a while 'till the guy came back
having recovered another m'cycle where the rider had had to brake sharply,
locked the rear, fell off to to the side into the next lane and a passing
coach ran over his head. This was just an otherwise fairly mundane low
speed, in-town accident of kind that you might otherwise expect to get up
and walk away from, but of course that rider didn't. It did make me think,
and having just had another accident myself worse than my usual ones, I
never did get back on a motorcycle after that.

Still, that was what made me get into cycling - couldn't keep me off two
wheels for ever and I'm glad I did. I can understand how you feel at
the moment, but I hope it won't discourage you from coming back to it when
you're fit.

Best wishes

Rich

Gonzalez

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 18:49:12 -0000, "Pete Biggs"
<pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote:

>I had a road bike crash at 8pm on Monday and broke my hip.

Purely out of trollish interest, were you wearing a helmet?

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Kenneth Clements

"Pete Biggs" <pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
news:30pc4jF30kga8U1@uni-berlin.de...
> Hi friends at u.r.c,
>
> Just to explain why I've been quiet for the last few days and why I might
> not be posting much or at all on the group any more... well, for a while
> at least.......

Sorry to hear you bad news and I hope you make a speedy recovery. It's
obvious from your posts that you love your cycling but are very down a the
moment. I hope you get back on your bike and thanks for your help on the
technical queries that get posted, it would be a shame not to see your name
in the posts.

Ken Clements

Mark McN

Response to Pete Biggs:
> I had a road bike crash at 8pm on Monday
>

Ow. Owowowowowow. Very sorry to hear it. Get well soon - and do please
stick around!

--
Mark, UK.
We hope to hear him swear, we love to hear him squeak,
We like to see him biting fingers in his horny beak.

Paul

> "Pete Biggs" <pwrinkledgrape{remove_fruit}@biggs.tc> wrote in message
> news:30pc4jF30kga8U1@uni-berlin.de...
> > Hi friends at u.r.c,
> >
> > Just to explain why I've been quiet for the last few days and why I
might
> > not be posting much or at all on the group any more... well, for a while
> > at least.......
>

Sorry to hear about your accident Pete and wish you well for a speedy
recovery, and that you manage to get back on the bike soon.

Take care

Paul

Tony Raven

Pete Biggs wrote:
> Hi friends at u.r.c,
>
> Just to explain why I've been quiet for the last few days and why I might
> not be posting much or at all on the group any more... well, for a while
> at least.......
>

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and for whichever way you finally
decide to go with your life.

Keep well

Tony

JohnB

Pete Biggs wrote:

> Just to explain why I've been quiet for the last few days and why I might
> not be posting much or at all on the group any more... well, for a while
> at least.......
>
> I had a road bike crash at 8pm on Monday and broke my hip. Annoying thing
> is, it was just a silly little incident...

Awful. I hope you mend asap.
With all best wishes,

John B

Helen Deborah Vecht

Roos Eisma <roos@xs4all.nl>typed


> Helen Deborah Vecht <helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk> writes:

> >Get well soon!

> >Glad to hear something positive about Barnet Hospital.

> >Hip fractures seem to have happened to quite a few male cyclists I know.

> And, FWIIW, I had a very similar fall at very low speed on an icy patch a
> couple of years ago, and even withouth clipless pedals (normal platform) I
> landed solidly on my hip. Just a big bruise in my case.

> Hope everything mends soon!

> Roos

Actually, I've also landed heavily on a hip; hit an oblique ridge on a
tarmac farm track badly (midsummer, hot day, no ice or water). Resulting
bruising etc took three weeks to subside but nothing broke.

--
Helen D. Vecht: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk
Edgware.