Bent crashes, your experience?

Originally Posted by CCM_Evox

Today, I was riding in the rain that was supposed to be the aftermath of Ernesto up here in Ottawa, Canada. The streets and bikepaths were wet and I started down a long turning descent, down the side of a hill, but still on the bikepath. I remember thinking that there was no one else on the trail so I would just let my old ReBike 707 coast down the asphalt bike path. When I got up to 15 kph, the back wheel slid out from under me and the bike spilled me onto the pavement. My left elbow and knee made contact with the asphalt and at the same time, the left pedal also dug into the ground. The sudden ground pressure on the pedal swung the crank around forcefully and the right pedal stung the back of my right ankle with a painful blow. Apparently, this was not enough torture because my body and the bike continued to scrape along the pavement as I continued downhill for another agonizing 3 seconds or so. That may not seem long to someone reading this post but close your eyes and count three steamboats while thinking of my predicament. When I finally came to a halt, I lay like a heap on the ground under most of my bike. When I gained enough strength to dislodge myself and stand, I inspected my injuries. Fortunately, I suffered roadrash only on my left knee, and I had a nasty gash behind my right ankle. My elbow will be purple tomorrow but I was otherwise unharmed. The worst injury, by far, was to my pride by having to phone home and have my wife rescue me with the car and bike rack. She patched up my scrapes but I think I will be stiff tomorrow when I discover the full extent of my wounds. The bike is fine; those ReBikes are definitely made of tough (heavy) steel. I'm lucky the old clunker doesn't go much faster or I would have been worse for sure. After a crash like that, I always try to remember if I turned too sharp, or touched the brakes, or hit a patch of gravel, but I didn't. I will put the blame for this crash on my over-inflated tires because I just recently mounted a 100 PSI tire on the rear so there would have been very little traction on that tire. I will drop the pressure to 70-80 PSI next time it rains and see if I have better luck.

Originally Posted by Gramps94804

Well, I'll try to make it short. I switched from DF's to an Easy Racer TE in September '03. One year later almost to the day, I had my first serious fall (couple of other tip-overs at 0-3mph . On my regular commute bike path at 7 am not paying attention to anything but my speedometer, I came around a blind 90 degree corner to encounter a couple jogging. Had only enough time to lay the bike down. Right foot came off the pedal instinctively, sticky sole sneakers caught first and I and the bike did a piroette around the toe.

Total dislocation of the ankle, broke the Tibia and the Fibula (small compound). Looked bad whilst I cell phoned 911. But after 4 months in a no-weight-bearing cast, I was back on the trail. At age 62 I think I have recovered as fast as can be expected. Will be doing the "Trail of the Couer d'Alenes" and two other bike only paved trails out of Spokane to the Montana border as my first "post-retirement" activity.

"Foot-suck" is the term for this typical recumbent injury. So the lesson I learned includes getting clipless (they really are "clips") shoes to hold my foot on the pedal in case of a highspeed fall--I hope . I also try to concentrate much more on the path or street ahead of me rather on how fast I happen to be going...

I still will trade my injury for a head over tea-kettle type fall from a DF. Good luck.

Gramps

Originally Posted by crazybob

Very new to cycling but got the bug and after my first tune-up on a bent, knew that this was the only way to fly.

Crash happened on my first organized ride. Using a borrowed bike, to close to the guy in front who looked over his left shoulder at 15 +/-. He drifted left and tagged my front wheel and into the ditch I go. So quick I barely recall what happened.

However all the advice on clipless seems true. Big scrape on my right shoe but my feet stayed in the clips till the worst was over. Also a bit of fabric lost on the edge of the seat and that was all the evidence for the bike.

A true oweee on my right knee and assorted scrapes & road rash on my right arm and hand. (Great reason to get gloves) An impressive bruise in my right hip and, now being more than ever convinced that helmets are worth everything one could imagine 'cause mine shattered to uselessness. A sure trip to the ER if I was not wearing one.

But, picked up, dusted off and finished the ride.

Seems less distance to fall and the thing to do is let the equipment take the worst of the crash. Sure there will be damage but not as much as falling off/over an upright. And do you ever get used to the tiny seats?

Lessons: 1. Don't try to suck wind with other inexperienced riders. 2. Helmets are a necessity and work if you wear one. 3. Let the equipment do what it is supposed to do.

Originally Posted by NORECUMYET

... For the second time this week I hit a good sized bump in the road that made my feet slip off the pedals. When you're going 25 MPH having your feet and legs flail around is quite disconcerting.

Originally Posted by blazingpedals

Slow learner, huh?

Originally Posted by sebowyer

Sorry to hear about your spill - sounds like you got off lightly, although the bike might look a little the worse for it. Out of interest, were you wearing SPDs and, if so, were they clipped in?

Originally Posted by singlespeedemon

I had my first spill this morning at 5:30 am on a two-lane raod prepped for new asphalt. As it happened, I was blinding by oncoming car headlamps, hit a manhole cover (due to regrading it sticks up at least 1 inch), faltted my front and then hit a patch of gravel and wiped out on my left side.


Damage Report:

Bike:

1. Scuffed Stem
2. Scuffed Left Crank and Pedal
3. Scuffed Brake Levers

Me:

1. Left Knee
2. Back of left ankle
3. Right Elbow

I think my bike took the worst of it.