Commuting - my first commute, my first crash

First let me start by saying, STUPID EFFIN ENGINEERS!

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I'll tell the story of what will likely be my last bike commute for a little while. I rolled out of bed at 7:35am, early for me, and a little early for traffic too. I got dressed to ride to work. That was uneventful. I packed my work clothes into my messenger bag. That, too, was uneventful. Then I went outside, hopped on my bike, and began my 2 mile journey into the city.

Down the street, into the park. Downhill but not a steep grade at all. Uneventful. Uphill into the adjacent community. Uneventful. A car passes. Uneventful. Left, then right, to head downhill into the city. Uh-oh... Brakes aren't working as well as I'd like. Hop off the bike, take out my trusty allen wrench, tighten the brake cables. Uneventful. Downhill around a curve past an office building on the outskirts of the city. Uneventful. Left. Uneventful. Slight downhill grade. I pick up speed to what I'd estimate is probably 20-25mph. Uh oh. There's something I don't expect. LARGE EFFIN GAP IN A ROAD EXPANSION JOINT. Of course, thank effin GOD it's before the steep downhill leading down toward the junction of a highway offramp and a city street. Road tire catches groove, turns abruptly 45 degrees to the left, bike follows front wheel (so far working as designed), rider, yours truly, does not. "***** ***** *****". Grit teeth and close lips for impact. I'm still amazed that at 20mph (we'll be conservative with the speed here) I was able to say ***** 3 times during the fall. Casualties: cuts on ankles, road rash on right front thigh, cut on right wrist, cut on left wrist, large abrasion on left forearm, road rash on right shoulder, cut on chin, cut and minorly swollen upper lip, cute Express t-shirt torn at the shoulder. Thank god for clearance otherwise I'd be really pissed. The bike looks ok. I walked it down the rest of the hill, checked the brakes, and the derailleur, straightened the brake lever that turned on the drops from the impact, and straightened the stem. The saddle looks to be the only casualty, as it got scraped and a little torn on the side. It was a cheap cushy velo one anyway, so I might as well replace it with something a little more ass-friendly. Maybe I'm just not an experienced enough rider to commute to work yet.

The only thing that's unclear at this point is whether my left arm is fractured. It's not obviously broken, but it is a tiny bit misshapen right near the large scrape where i believe my left arm took the brunt of the downward force. It could just be swollen from the blood rushing to the area to start fixing me, but the scrape still stings quite a bit and my leg is still bouncing up and down from the adrenaline rush, so it's too early to tell if that dull throbbing pain you get when you crack a bone in place is there or not.

For you Cincinnatians, the official score is Van Meeter Street bridge:1, John: 0. :mad:

Now my question is this. Why would you design a road expansion joint that is effectively a GIANT GROOVE that could probably even suck in a mountain bike tire instead of making it some sort of interlocking tooth thing with a little rubber in the middle like normal expansion joints are, or cover it with a plate or SOMETHING! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Anyway, I'm going to hang up the commuting hat for a while and stick to fitness riding. There's enough trails around here that I'm far less likely to spill on. Of course if I indeed did break my arm, I may be hanging up the cycling shoes for a while in general.

Yours,
Angry Ego-Bruised First Time Commuter

Aww come on if you didn't break your arm, give it another chance. Look at the bright side you'll probably never crash in the same spot again. Besides you wouldn't want to drive just two miles right?

Crossing expansion joints takes the same kinds of skills as railroad crossings and storm grates. Learn how to do it before you head out into traffic again. Sorry about your crash -- don't give up.

Aww come on if you didn't break your arm, give it another chance. Look at the bright side you'll probably never crash in the same spot again. Besides you wouldn't want to drive just two miles right?

+1.........These things happen and now you know what to watch for. Just yesterday I saw a guy on a bike crash because his front tire went into a railroad track. He was o.k. but mad at himself for not paying attention.

Update: I think I'm fine, as far as the arm goes. If it's fractured, it's just a hairline because I can still grip stuff in my left hand. It's just the persistent sting of the scrapes and cuts that are reminding me how badly bruised my ego is right now. I haven't fallen off a bike since i was 10. Then again I haven't ridden a bike since I was 12 up until 2 weeks ago.

Give the city a call about it. If the are appropriately scared of lawsuits they might fix it and you'll be helping out the next guy. If they don't listen and someone does kill themselves they'll be doubly negligent.

Give the city a call about it. If the are appropriately scared of lawsuits they might fix it and you'll be helping out the next guy. If they don't listen and someone does kill themselves they'll be doubly negligent.

It's not a terribly uncommon road joint... I'm just pissed that I fell, and I picked that road because it's very rarely used by cars. There are 3 other ways to get where that road takes you, and they're all faster because the speed limits are upwards of 40mph whereas this road is 25.

It sounds like you are relatively okay. That is good to hear going down at 20 mph. I would consider seeing a dr.

Just remember, stuff happens. It's how you deal with it that makes a difference. I try to learn from my wrecks and mistakes. I am too dang stubborn to quit.
Take a break and let the wounds heal. Then try again :)

Just about everyone I know (mountain bikers, roadies, recreational, commuters, etc) have crashed at one point. There are a few who have not. They seem to be far and few between.

First let me start by saying, STUPID EFFIN ENGINEERS!

Hey I resemble that comment!

that would be a shame if you quit commuting to work just because of that little accident, you have a great commute distance and plenty of summer left. Road hazards like that are why I commute on my MTB but just get used to the bunny hops and the rock dodges, you'll get a lot better at avoiding them. No one's an expert the first time they try something.
If you stop now, you'll lose all the benefits of the lesson you just learned this morning!

The distance is nice. I'll grant you that. However, the roads that I could take to get to work all have downhills with obstacles (meaning buckled road that hasn't been shaved, or expansion joints, or 45mph (read 70mph) speed limits. I think I need to get better at biking downhills on non-automobile-travelled pavement before I attempt this again. Or maybe I'll just keep taking the same route and just walking my bike past that tricky spot and down the hill.

Also, the road expansion joint would've swallowed your MTB tire too. It's big.

Sorry to hear about your mishap. I hope it doesn't become permanently discouraging.

Road rash can become annoying after a day or two. See if you can find some of those moist, porous bandaids that work like a second skin. Or just do a search for "road rash" for tons of advice.

Sounds like you tried to do too much, too fast, too soon. Getting safe and comfortable with bike commuting actually takes a few weeks. When you're mended, you might want to do the route at leisure on the weekend a few times. Find the hazards to avoid and the good lines to take.

You will prevail. :)

Also, the road expansion joint would've swallowed your MTB tire too. It's big.

Hey I believe you, but that's what bunny hops are for.

Hey I resemble that comment!

Um I think he meant civil engineers, not Mechanical engineers...

Meh... I caught a joint between the gutter and asphalt a couple months ago... was when I was just starting commuting, and a motorist passed me a little close on the left... I tried to move over more, and didn't see the crack between the asphalt and concrete coming up. I ended up on the other side of the sidewalk, and ALL the cars stopped to make sure I was all right. The first lady thought she hit me!

After assuring them I was ok, I smiled at the first lady, and said "Now you know why we try not to ride in or right next to the gutter."

Then I gingerly rode the rest of the way in to work... ended up being only 5 minutes late (I'd called my boss, told him I'd crashed and was gonna be late)

I think I took two days off, before I couldn't stand waiting any more and started riding it again!

In the end, I was ok, the bike was fine, and 3 or 4 motorists got a little lesson in why they shouldn't crowd a cyclist, and where a cyclist is 'supposed' to be on the road. All in all I'd say it turned out to be a fairly good experience. (And no... I don't move over any more, even when the cars buzz me)

Like the others said, take the time to really learn your route, and take it easy... two miles is nothing on a bike, but you don't want to be trying to learn the route on a morning that you woke up late, are in a hurry, and tired because you didn't sleep well!

Heal fast and get back out there!

That truly sucks. I'm rooting for ya.

One thing I hate is suprises on the bike. I've taken some nasty spills because of suprises. Now, I inspect new routes before I try them... :(

Hey I believe you, but that's what bunny hops are for.

Speaking of which I think I did my first bunny hop the other day. I cut through a parking lot - my first and last time though that lot. I saw a little 4 inch wide drain across the path I was travelling. Looked just like the one in my driveway with slots perpendicular to my travel so I paid no mind. As I got up on it, I discover that the slots in the grate ran parallel to me not perpendicular as I expected. I had only enough time to pull up on the front wheel and jump. I'm not sure if the back wheel came up or if I just got lucky but it worked.

Edit: I ride a 20-inch wheeled folder so that 4-incher is a significant hazard.

Yep, grooves can be a pain. The narrower the tire the worse it gets. I once had a motorcycle with chopperesque front end. The thing would dance all over the place when I'd hit grooved pavement. SOmewhat unnerving. Oh yeah, watch out for sand and pea gravel in the corners.

While reading my first guess was somewhere in the Mt Adams area. But I'm not sure which is the Van Meter Street bridge is. Near the Nixon or Mixon or Dixon building perhaps. I've probably ridden that spot (not regular route), but don't remember expansion joints. Lots of cement spills that have hardened into permanent obsticles... yeah cementsicles. Anyways, I'll try and make it over there and look for the blood spots.

Anyways, don't give up with out a fight. Uh, make that without two fights. Try Gilbert into the city, part has been repaved recently, although the last bike lane section I don't think has ever been cleaned. Gilbert woulod be good for a high speed ride. Or maybe the pedestrian bridge near the bus station. Don't try Monastary, way too steep.

While reading my first guess was somewhere in the Mt Adams area. But I'm not sure which is the Van Meter Street bridge is. Near the Nixon or Mixon or Dixon building perhaps. I've probably ridden that spot (not regular route), but don't remember expansion joints. Lots of cement spills that have hardened into permanent obsticles... yeah cementsicles. Anyways, I'll try and make it over there and look for the blood spots.

Anyways, don't give up with out a fight. Uh, make that without two fights. Try Gilbert into the city, part has been repaved recently, although the last bike lane section I don't think has ever been cleaned. Gilbert woulod be good for a high speed ride. Or maybe the pedestrian bridge near the bus station. Don't try Monastary, way too steep.

Spot on, unkchunk. I always call it Van Meter because I didn't realize that Monastery actually crosses Van Meter at the top of the hill near Columbia Pkwy. Once I came into Mt. Adams from the park, I took Wareham St. down to Van Meter (behind the Hixson building), Van Meter over to Monastery, and then tried to go down Monastery to 3rd. WHAM. I ate sidewalk. There's probably not much blood there, but I presume you probably know the expansion joint of which I speak.

So anyway, here was my logic for going that way. I was hesitant to go down Gilbert from the park because it's a very long slope, not too much of a grade, but I'm not confident riding at high speed since I just started riding a bike again 2 weeks ago after not having ridden for 10 years. Eden Park Dr. has a slope worse than Monastery and crosses an offramp from I-71. Elsinore is nice and flat, but it would take me over to Reading, which has a 35mph speed limit and goes past a pretty sketchy area. That left me with Van Meter/Monastery, which clearly ended badly. I may actually ride through Mt. Adams again tomorrow and stop at the corner of Van Meter and Monastery and just walk it down the rest of that hill. It's not terribly far, maybe 1/10 of a mile.

I also realized that I still need to bike home today so I'll probably plan out a route involving 5th street and avoiding the 7th st. viaduct, unless you can recommend a good route that isn't too steep upward for a beginner.

I'm assuming you are somewhere close to Eden Park, so yeah, unkchunk is right on the money. Gilbert is a smooth ride right into downtown. I'd take Elsinore to Reading. Reading isn't that bad right there. I see cyclists commuting there all the time. I live just up Prospect/Liberty Hill, so I ride through there a lot. Don't go off into 13th street, though. It wouldn't be bad in the morning, but in the afternoon I wouldn't ride there. Another route would be to take Reading and turn left onto Liberty and go down Sycamore or Walnut if you don't feel comfortable with the Pendleton area.

unkchunk: Van Meter St. is here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Van+Meter+st+cincinnati+oh&ie=UTF8&ll=39.107869,-84.499691&spn=0.008958,0.02341&om=1

I've had two bike crashes in my adult life. One was almost exactly as you described. It was during the first weeks of owning a hybrid bike with 1.5" tires, and I had been using a thick-tired mountain bike before that, which could have easily taken the groove. The price of the lesson was cheap: I was more embarrassed than injured that time.

For my second bike crash, I got road rash on my knee and shin. Ohmygod, I had no idea skin could seep that much liquid. It was fascinating, disgusting, and voluminous for several days. Bog monster snot factory. Listen to geog_dash about the absorbent bandages. The seeping starts a day or two after the injury.

Best of luck with your recovery. Don't let it get you down -- you've only been riding 2 weeks, you'll be surprised at how fast your skills and hazard-deflection improve.

Sorry to hear about you crash. At least you went down in style. I fell over at a light yesterday with one foot clipped in and the other one on the ground. Now that will bruise your ego.

First let me start by saying, STUPID EFFIN ENGINEERS!

More likely "STUPID EFFIN CITY!". The huge gap is probabably due to the city a.) cheaping out on the type of expansion joint when the bridge was built in the first place and/or b.) bad mantinence to let it get that bad. Railroad tracks can suck a tire in just as easliy. Watch yourself out there.

Um I think he meant civil engineers, not Mechanical engineers...

A civil engineer probably would've designed it right. I wouldn't have, regardless of whether I'm a civil or mechanical engineer.

First let me start by saying, STUPID EFFIN ENGINEERS!

Hey, driving trains is harder than you think!

jmatxu, ahhhh (a scream type "ahhhh", not an indecision type "ahhhh")... I hope you made it back up. My route is on Eastern Ave along the river into the city and therefore really flat. Your's is just a few stone throws away and crazily steap. I can't think of any alternatives. Everything is going to be steap. Too bad they took down the incline. There are some pedestrian stairways, but carrying a bike with a messed up arm sucks. There are only a few ways down on the river side and those go right into route 50, which sucks.

On Van Meeter, near the green arrow on manual overide's map there is a little cement shack which I think is an elevator door to the retaining wall below, which is slowly collapsing. That sucks, you only have a block to go, but the problem is that it's two or three blocks strait down too.

I can understand not wanting to try Gilbert because the last part is more like a freeway than a road and the bike lane is full of debris there. Maybe try it on a week end when traffic is light to get used to it. It's not as steap as all the other routes. If you can get to the Hixon Schmixon building there is a pedestrian bridge and stairs that comes out near the bus station. That might be the best way because you're down and on the other side of 71. The bad part is you're then in the parking area labrinth of hell.

How about getting to the old Rookwood pottery and go to the end of Celestial at Hill St where there is an Islamic architectural style house. Near there are steps to a pedestrian walkway which eventually comes out at 5th street near some globish eaglely type sculpture thing. I don't think it's on any map and it isn't used much, but the walkway is there. It's got a little bridge over 50 and a whole lot of steps.

I can see why you wanted to get to Third St, everything is simple once there. Man, your route is angonizing. It's so close, with a really great panoramic view of just how close just to mock you, but a difficult cliff and a freeway that's in the way.

Don't feel too bad - you'll never ignore one of those joints again.

I've been commuting for over a year, and the other day I was heading to work at 5am, far earlier than normal. It was a nice, cool morning, the sun was coming up, no cars. In other words, nothing to keep me focused, and I was day-dreaming. I crossed a major intersection that I've crossed before, but not paying attention my 700x23 found a road joint, and woke me up really quick. I un-clipped and prepared to crash, but thankfully my instincts found a way to stay up and get out, and I kept going. Without a few thousand miles under my belt in the last year and a half, I'm sure I would have gone down like you. So don't worry, just get back on the bike, and keep trying.

We all crash eventually, be glad you've gotten the first one out of your system. :)

If I had to design an expansion joint, it'd be electrically operated and double as an electromagnetic rail gun.

OP, take a pic, send it to the city's DOT and tell them it's dangerous and needs to be covered and that your lawyer, Sue Therassoff, agrees. Take care of that arm and heal up!

Speaking of which I think I did my first bunny hop the other day. I cut through a parking lot - my first and last time though that lot. I saw a little 4 inch wide drain across the path I was travelling. Looked just like the one in my driveway with slots perpendicular to my travel so I paid no mind. As I got up on it, I discover that the slots in the grate ran parallel to me not perpendicular as I expected. I had only enough time to pull up on the front wheel and jump. I'm not sure if the back wheel came up or if I just got lucky but it worked.

As long as the front wheel makes it, I don't worry too much because that's where most of your balance comes from.

It really is one of the most valuable and ass-saving techniques I know to be able to hop. Once you're good and confident with it, most of these obstacles aren't obstacles anymore. I've also come to the conclusion that 99% of the time I negotiate an obstacle by not slowing down at all, giving it a good hop and going right through it. Braking, thinking too much, or letting myself get psyched out by it either results in me:
a) stopping and walking around it like a wuss
b) landing on it awkwardly with a half-assed hop and bouncing over my handlebars (thankfully only happened once when I was a kid)

Update: I think I'm fine, as far as the arm goes. If it's fractured, it's just a hairline because I can still grip stuff in my left hand. It's just the persistent sting of the scrapes and cuts that are reminding me how badly bruised my ego is right now. I haven't fallen off a bike since i was 10. Then again I haven't ridden a bike since I was 12 up until 2 weeks ago.

if you're a new rider, these things can happen. keep it up!

Thanks everybody for the advice and words of encouragement. I rode home yesterday, my route taking me up Sentinel St. (on the east side of the mammary-esque P&G building) to Eggleston, then to Court St., up the pedestrian bridge to Van Meter, up Wareham (which I walked because it was hot and my heart apparently isn't strong enough even for my 28/BIG gearing on that hill (I say BIG because I don't know what my cassette has on it)), through Eden Park and back to my place. This morning, however, I did not ride. I finally fell asleep at 6am (road rash apparently is enough to keep me up at night) and far overslept (getting to work at 11:15am). I'm tired, I'm cranky, and I feel like I was hit by a bus. :( So I think I'll be using my 6-speed for a while. It's an Audi, and it's a little more forgiving over road expansion joints than my bike. I'll get back on the trails once I buy myself a new helmet and probably replace the saddle (which has a small tear in the right rear section). Unfortunately I really liked my red/white/black Bell Furio helmet, and got it on sale. It now has a crack in the forehead that I wouldn't have noticed unless I went around the helmet trying to flex it. It is also now regular price. :( :(

This has to be the spot. I had some free time today to check it out. The groove is about 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep. Usually I've gone the opposite direction and never noticed it. Otherwise, that's a nice route you picked jmatxu. Much better than Gilbert. I might give it a try on the way back to break the monotany of my regualr route. Hope you're healing well and give it another try.

Expansion joints are designed for cars to cross over safely, not bikes. In Philly, there are trolley tracks that run in the middle of many of the roads, and everyone is always double parking in the bike lane, forcing you cut into traffic and the tracks. This happens almost every city block. The first few weeks, I was very cautious of them, slowing down, and crossing them as perpendicular as I could. As time when by, I became brave, and then stupid. Soon I was crossing the tracks almost parallel at much greater speeds. It was just so much easier. Then one day, I found my rear tire following the tracks while the bike and I were heading in a different direction. I went down. I wasn't going that fast, but I still scraped my arm and elbow. Now I slow down and cross tracks as perpendicular as possible.