"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Broken collarbone question.

A fellow I ride with occasionally, broke his collarbone last week at the Dixie Classic crit. Sad thing was that it happened after the race, during the cool down lap. He crossed wheels with someone. I have heard you're likely to break your collarbone by putting your hand down to stop the fall. Is it just as bad to land directly on your shoulder?

i broke mine by landing on the shoulder itself, popped just about out of the skin. 6 screws and a stainless steel support to fix it.

I'm not saying it will totally help, but ... this is why I will never truly quit lifting a little weight at least once a week. For some upper body padding. If I get to a place where I have to be nasty skinny in order to compete, I may change my mind. But I'm 38 racing Cat 4 and it doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon. Plus, the chicks dig it. Well, one chick: My wife. When she's been drinking. And in the mood to fool around. I totally got off subject, didn't I?

Plus, the chicks dig it. Well, one chick: My wife. When she's been drinking. And in the mood to fool around. I totally got off subject, didn't I?

:lol:

I don't have an answer per se, but my experience from in-line skating (tried out for the X-games, didn't make it, I suck) has taught me to "roll" into any fall.

Never broken a bone as a result of a crash, but haven't had a nasty crash on the bike yet.

I haven't experimented on the bike either in a high speed crash (knock on wood), but like carl, I was taught to roll a bit when I'd fall off a horse. Broken collarbones are pretty common in that sport too. Sometimes, I'd put a hand out, but I wouldn't brace against the fall. If you don't break a collarbone, you're likely to snap a wrist. Instead, I'd kind of touch and keep crumpling into a roll. I fell once hard directly on the shoulder and jammed it pretty well. I didn't even have time to react any better to the fall. Luckily, I landed in sand, but that shoulder still clicks and cracks from time to time.

The "roll" isn't really rolling around, because, obviously, you don't want to increase your chances of being run over. Just tuck yourself a bit so that you hit and keep diffusing the impact by slightly rolling around towards your back. ....if you can.

Most of it is about luck in how you go down.

Ive broke mine both ways, one was putting my hand out to catch my fall (motocross) and the other was just a hard fall on my shoulder (bmx)

http://www.dukesofwindsoar.com/page_photos/army_plf.gif

Every time I've gone down hard on the bike my "oh s**t I don't wanna die" training has kicked in, and I've done a variation of the above (parachute landing fall).

No bone breaks. Knock on wood.

Thanks for the replies. The only time I've gone down at speed was on a rain slicked road and it was alot like sliding into third. It happened so fast I didn't even get unclipped from my pedals. I don't think I let go of the handlebars. No real damage for me or the bike. Tommorrow is Dixie day.

I don't think there's a technique you can employ that will prevent a collar bone break. If you go down hard on your shoulder, ***** happens.

Hey, Noah, show us the technique for not rupturing your ACL!!!

--Steve (sorry, I couldn't resist)

I don't think there's a technique you can employ that will prevent a collar bone break. If you go down hard on your shoulder, ***** happens.

Hey, Noah, show us the technique for not rupturing your ACL!!!

--Steve (sorry, I couldn't resist)

my doctor said. It took less than 18? Lbs of pressure to break it if you hit wrong

I don't think there's a technique you can employ that will prevent a collar bone break. If you go down hard on your shoulder, ***** happens.

Hey, Noah, show us the technique for not rupturing your ACL!!!

--Steve (sorry, I couldn't resist)

If I knew man...I think I'm just genetically gifted with crap-tacular knees.

If I knew man...I think I'm just genetically gifted with crap-tacular knees.

I have the amazing gift of landing on my head.

--Steve

i broke mine by landing on the shoulder itself, popped just about out of the skin. 6 screws and a stainless steel support to fix it.

same. Landed shoulder and head on the ground. Let it heal itself, healed wrong. went back for surgery. Have a nasty scar.