Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.johnkearney@ipr
03-26-08, 12:11 AM
Hi all, I am a newbie to bike riding after an absence of 35 years I started riding again about 5 months ago I am 54 yrs young and after spending a lifetime playing basketball and running the odd fun run my knees gave out and in Feb 07 I had double knee surgery. I struggled with the recovery and in Nov 07 I purchased a flat bar road bike and have been riding 3 - 4 times per week at approx 30kms per ride (approx 100-120kms/week). I just love it, my knees are back to their best and my fitness is back where it should be, is't life just perfect....Then 11 days ago while on my regular ride decending a very steep hill with a 90* corner at the bottom I locked up a rear wheel about halfway down the hill and hit the road at approx 50kph. After sliding 30 metres on bitumen and another 20 metres through gravel, I managed to leave a very large amount of my skin and flesh on the road and collect a large amount of gravel in my wounds along the way. Many bruises, extreme pain but no broken bones. Today the pain is starting to subside and I can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Any suggestions regarding my return to the saddle, it seems my braking technique could use a bit of work and if anyone is wondering, the bike came out of it a lot better than I did and Lycra offers absolutely no protection in a fall.....Der