Took a tumble

[ChezCheese:)]

So we've been over in the French Pyrénées for 3 months at a time now. I got my BH all in working order and was out for a ride exploring. Meandering the country roads here is terrific, and as a rule French drivers are very respectful around cyclists. No issues. Anyhow, day before yesterday I got the end of a hamlet not far from where we live, and the road turned into a two rut farm track. Decided to turn around, carefully because of mud and slope. But the tires began to slip on the side of the rut and braking just made it skid, so I got dumped. Unfortunately my right wrist took the brunt of the fall. Next day at emergency, xray showed a hairline fracture. 2 in fact. So now I'm in a cast for 6 weeks. No riding, no driving, not much cooking. First tumble I have taken on a bike in 60 years! Glad I wasn't going fast at all. Could've been a lot worse. On the plus side, it only cost €95 (off the rack, noninsured retail price) and I'm also absolved of washing dishes for 6 weeks .

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Very sad to hear of your misfortune, Chez! Get on well!

(A little advice from a person who crashed hundreds of times - myself. Whenever you are to spill, stay with the bike. Hands on the grips, feet on the pedals. Try to rotate your body to fall onto your back provided there is time to act. In case you wear a helmet, chances are you would come from the fall unscathed! The bike would take most of the impact!)

 

[il Munduato]

Since I ride pretty aggressively and have had very few accidents, especially those I didn't see coming ... I wonder if it's a good idea to take the advice of someone who has crashed hundreds of times

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Since I ride pretty aggressively and have had very few accidents, especially those I didn't see coming ...

You miss the experience. A single accident and we'll hear no more from you.

I wonder if it's a good idea to take the advice of someone who has crashed hundreds of time

And survived in a perfect shape.

 

[il Munduato]

You miss the experience. A single accident and we'll hear no more from you.


And survived in a perfect shape.

But still hasn't learned how to avoid them.. Got it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

But still hasn't learned how to avoid them.. Got it.

An accident is something no-one can predict. Like Chez, who never tumbled in 60 years until that happened with a bad effect...
I think she tried to support herself with a hand.

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Exactly. My mother broke her tooth and sprained her wrist just stepping off a curb in Amsterdam just crossing the street. Somebody else I know broke her wrist slipping on the stairs. Stuff happens, sudden gusts of gravity are an everyday occurence.

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Very sad to hear of your misfortune, Chez! Get on well!

(A little advice from a person who crashed hundreds of times - myself. Whenever you are to spill, stay with the bike. Hands on the grips, feet on the pedals. Try to rotate your body to fall onto your back provided there is time to act. In case you wear a helmet, chances are you would come from the fall unscathed! The bike would take most of the impact!)

I did in fact remember your advice, but falling on a bike is a new experience for me. I'll do better next time . And OF COURSE I was wearing a helmet!

 

[Tom@WashDC]

Whenever you are to spill, stay with the bike. Hands on the grips, feet on the pedals.

I agree wholeheartedly Stefan. I've taken some nasty spills, always kept my hands on the grips, feet on the pedals. The pedals and grips always took all of the force of the fall. Bent a few handlebars and cranks. I am sure I would have severly damaged my limbs in each fall had they not been securley fixed to the bike.

 

[il Munduato]

An accident is something no-one can predict. Like Chez, who never tumbled in 60 years until that happened with a bad effect...
I think she tried to support herself with a hand.

Yes and no... Sometimes you put yourself in precarious situations and full well know that a crash is possible. A true accident you don't see coming and is harder to defend.
That said... Hundreds of accidents and you are definitely doing something wrong or just oblivious.
All accidents are different and knowing what to do and having the time and foresight of what to do requires training. That's purposely putting the bike and yourself beyond it's limits. Your advice is good for some instances, but I wouldn't say all.

 

[il Munduato]

I agree wholeheartedly Stefan. I've taken some nasty spills, always kept my hands on the grips, feet on the pedals. The pedals and grips always took all of the force of the fall. Bent a few handlebars and cranks. I am sure I would have severly damaged my limbs in each fall had they not been securley fixed to the bike.

Depends on the speed and terrain but tuck and roll can be a better choice... don't try to break your fall with your hands or face.

 

[il Munduato]

I did in fact remember your advice, but falling on a bike is a new experience for me. I'll do better next time . And OF COURSE I was wearing a helmet!

So see knowing something and being able to implement it without purposely training isn't much help. Allowing hundreds of accidents to occur isn't something I would recommend to anyone other than Stefan
I can't tell you how many drops I avoided by putting a leg down and pivoting back to balance that would have ended much worse if I stayed on the pedals.

 

[Tars Tarkas]

So we've been over in the French Pyrénées for 3 months at a time now. I got my BH all in working order and was out for a ride exploring. Meandering the country roads here is terrific, and as a rule French drivers are very respectful around cyclists. No issues. Anyhow, day before yesterday I got the end of a hamlet not far from where we live, and the road turned into a two rut farm track. Decided to turn around, carefully because of mud and slope. But the tires began to slip on the side of the rut and braking just made it skid, so I got dumped. Unfortunately my right wrist took the brunt of the fall. Next day at emergency, xray showed a hairline fracture. 2 in fact. So now I'm in a cast for 6 weeks. No riding, no driving, not much cooking. First tumble I have taken on a bike in 60 years! Glad I wasn't going fast at all. Could've been a lot worse. On the plus side, it only cost €95 (off the rack, noninsured retail price) and I'm also absolved of washing dishes for 6 weeks .

Sorry to hear about your injury! There are worse places to not have to wash dishes for six weeks though!

As for Stefan's advice, it may be okay, but with his hundreds of falls disclaimer it really comes across as the Black Knight explaining how to win a sword fight. Tis but a scratch

TT

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Tars, I could not have avoided those crashes. With so many kilometres a year, riding all year long and in so different terrain type, also at night, crashes are hard to avoid. Like, you have an OTB on an e-MTB because your buddy had an idea to take some action movie and suddenly stopped in front of you. Violent (necessary) braking, active suspension, 203 mm brakes and you are sent flying! Or, a little puddle on a fire-road, the rear wheel slips, and you are thrown with full force aside. Or, a twig entangling your handlebar on a singletrack. Or, a woman stepping into your riding path on the Boulevards during a hot summer. Each of this situations means a crash. Try to support yourself with a hand, and the hand/arm is broken or your fingers get injured. Expect a cracked shoulder. Try to support yourself with your leg... It might end up badly.

During my 46,000 km ridden since 2013, of which I think most of was made since 2019 on e-bikes, I only had three a little more serious injuries, and none prevented me from riding. I think it is a fair statistics. The best is when you've just spilled, you get up, no ache, and you mumble 'not again!'

Currently, I am on a 64 week riding streak. No week without a ride, even abroad.

 

[il Munduato]

I knew I had seen Stefan elsewhere!

 

[Tars Tarkas]

We"ll call it a draw.

 

[JGcycle]

Sorry to hear about your accident--wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

So now I'm in a cast for 6 weeks. No riding, no driving, not much cooking.

Seems like someone would have invented a mountain-biking cast by now. Getting out of dishwashing is a pretty good consolation prize, but hope you're riding again soon!

 

[Nvreloader]

They don't make air bags for cycles? lol
Glad you are OK.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

They don't make air bags for cycles?

Maybe we could adapt the techology NASA used to land Spirit and Opportunity on Mars.

You'd have to be careful not to overinflate. If you bounced to a stop too far from the bike, someone might make off with it while you were scrambling to get back.
;^}

NASA engineers didn't figure on that many bounces, but both landings were successful nonetheless.