Fifty Plus (50+) - Fell the other day

I was enjoying one of my very few solo rides, as I mostly ride in groups, when it started raining. Since the weather service predicted rain, it was not a surprise. I continued my wet ride which was mostly on trails and some roads. I was on my Surly LHT instead of the Orbea road bike. Actually, I was riding the Surly because it has fenders and I was expecting rain. I had completed about 20 miles of a planned 30 mile trip when it happened.

During a curve at 12 to 14 MPH my wheels siimply slid out from under me. I landed on my right side with the blunt of the blow to my right hip and my right shoulder. I was actually on some "tile" type surface instead of asphalt when it happened. My hip slid on the surface which resulted in quite a "strawberry" which still exists today.

The part that hurt the most was the jolt from hitting. I did not break any bones, my Surly was not damaged (a really tough steel bike),but I did tear my shorts and leg warmers. Actually my hands were still on the handle bar when I came to a stop. I moved the bike off me and got right up to walk around. I knew I had no major injuries right away, but as I said, the jolt of landing on the hard surface was what bothered me the most.

This crash was a mental error as I was going too fast for the conditions. The mistake was obvious. I guess I do not ride in the rain enough to fully understand what situations to avoid. However, a couple days ago I did ride in the rain again. Guess what, all corners were taken at a much reduced speed.

This means that you can teach an old dog new tricks if it hurts enough.

Keep an eye on the bruises. I hope you get past the soreness as quickly as possible. Going down on the road almost always hurts.

Ouch! I'm glad it wasn't too bad. Question: We all fall, at one time or another, we all fall. Would you prefer to fall during a solo ride or during a group ride?

Ride On!
-Spoke

Spoke asked if I would prefer to fall on a solo ride or a group ride. With everything considered, I think I would rather fall on a solo ride. In a group ride I probably would have been run over by the next rider or two. Not only would that have hurt me, a lot, but it could cause other riders to be hurt because of my mistake. Hurting someone else because of my mistake would be horrible.

There are a couple of bad aspects to being solo and crashing. If there is a major injury there might not be anyone there to help for some time. Also, as in my case it hurt so bad I could of cried, but there was no one to hear me, so it would do me no good.

Offroad and I never go alone now. Only once had an injury that needed some assistance to get me home- but as I was on the tandem at the time- I got it.

I have not had a serious fall for a few years now but you are right- it is not so much the fall- it is the landing that causes the problem--and the recovery over the next few days. I find that a bottle of scotch will help with the cuts and bruises. Does stop the pain but you don't care .

Good to hear you're okay, but I hear you re:tile, or decorative kind-like-tile surfaces. Those types of surfaces are much more slick that ordinary pavement. They remind me of those white lines, esp. the freshly (or nearly fresh) painted ones.

Real pavement in the rain is actually not that bad. But tile, white lines, manhole covers, leaves, etc. all take away huge amounts of traction. Good that you didn't break any bones. A friend of mine broke his hip on a white line crash recently.

Rick / OCRR

Gald you weren't more seriously injured. It was a good thing you kept your hands on the bars. Too many people break collar bones trying to break their falls with their hands/arms.

I did a similar thing on a wet steel grate decked bridge years ago. It is amazing how quickly you can go from upright to on your side.

tile, white lines, manhole covers, leaves, etc. all take away huge amounts of traction. R

Glad you're OK.

To add to the list of slippery stuff - railroad tracks are the worst. Must be approached at 90 degrees and with great caution.

Ouch! Ibuprofen is your friend.

I'm newly returned to cycling an look at it this way: I'm much closer to the ground on a bicycle than I am on my horse and the bicycle weighs a lot less. My horse and I went down once several years ago and I couldn't lift my arm above my shoulder for 6 months. Of course road rash is more of a problem on a bicycle!

Glad you're OK.

To add to the list of slippery stuff - railroad tracks are the worst. Must be approached at 90 degrees and with great caution.

20 minutes before a race last summer I was riding along and talking to a friend as we crossed a railroad crossing, with the track at 45 degrees, at a slow speed. My front wheel slipped into the opening between the rail and the pavement and I went down on my side hard. My first reaction was to check out the bike, then me. Got to the starting line with a sore and stiff hip and blood oozing from my hand, elbow, hip, knee and ankle.

I knew I had no major injuries right away, but as I said, the jolt of landing on the hard surface was what bothered me the most.

Injuries can really be deceiving and sometimes can take several minutes to set in. My brother went down in a similar fashion and knew he hurt a little but didn't think it was anything major. He tried riding home and 3 miles later he couldn't get off his bike. He had a broken hip.........

what tyres had you on.on my touring bike i changed the marathon plus because there crap on wet roads.glad you diden't brake anything (bones).

Glad you are alright... but I have to say I stopped riding in rainy weather some time ago when several older club members had serious falls. One broke her hip and another his collarbone and had a serious head injury. Another buddy of my also fell and broke his hip during foggy weather because the road was wet.

If you are compelled to rain during wet weather, please be careful. Us oldster don't heal as fast as we used too!

Glad you survived. Yeah, you never know when the road will get goofy. I wiped out on algae one 100 degree plus day in the desert.

Glad you are ok!!

My last fall from my mtn bike really shook me up.

It is such a surprise.

I guess I'm glad we canceled our ride this morning. Drizzley rain. Always lots of oak leaves around on which to slip.

On my normal routine follow up visit to the docs today he just about forbid me to ride my bike in this winter weather. He said being 69 and riding is just too dangerous for my safety. I agree but I do watch for icy areas. Maybe a good reason to think about a trike.
recycled55

I'll echo the sentiments of others and say I'm glad you (and the Surly) lived to fight another day. Also, I would say some good came forth from this unfortunate incident. You have reminded those of us who in our minds revert to much younger days when we're on the bike to be more careful on wet roads. We appreciate the reminder.

Glad you are okay. Hee's some shots of my Jan 3 fall... also due purely to pilot error!

It is easier on the flesh to fall on ice I think!

I think you are a stand up guy for taking the blame for the fall. Most people would blame their clipless pedals.

Coach Troy can be your friend....

HI,
I took a hard fall early this year it took a good three days for the aches and pains to really start.
My pain was mostly the soft tissue and the hip joint, it really was unpleasent.
I guess you live in a rather icy climate, is it possiable to get a good trainer for indoor riding I would hate to take a couple months off from ridding it takes a long time to rebuild muscle and endurance.
doug
I have a local Gymn with some good bikes I like the spinner bikes best they really make you sweat..

Glad you are okay. Hee's some shots of my Jan 3 fall... also due purely to pilot error!

It is easier on the flesh to fall on ice I think!


Not to seem insensitive, but, you didn't see that coming?:innocent: That fall should teach you a lesson about taking pictures while riding a bike.:D

Glad you're alright. The hardest part for me after I took a big fall last year was more mental than physical. I healed physically last year, I'm not sure I'm over the mental part. In 2007 I rode about 5000 km, including a solo, self-supported tour of the Loire River valley in France. But in January 2008, I had a big fall; cracked some ribs, roae rash on my left hip and knee, and a fractured helmet. I was going fast, about 35 kmph and had a front flat, hit the curb, fell hard and slid along the pavement. As I was sliding down the road, I was watching the tandem wheels of a city bus cruise by me as he was trying to avoid running me over.

Not all pain is physical. I salut any one who takes a hard fall and keeps riding. For me, I finished the year with about 500 km. But 2009 is here now and I hope I can get back to where I was at the end of 2007. I'm thinking a tour of Italy this year. (BTW: I live in Switzerland).

Charlie Lupica

Clupica makes a very good point and something I did worry about the next time I went out. However, the fall I took was not nearly as bad as some I have witnessed while riding or falls I have read about, such as his. Therefore, I did not have a problem getting back out there. I am not sure it would have been that easy if there had been extensive injuries.

I was on the wheel of a good friend that is an extremely experienced cyclist when he went down due to a bad place in the road. Somehow I slipped by him as he took a very nasty fall. I stopped the bike and got back to him only to find some very bad injuries. His fall actually caused more doubt in my mind than my own fall did. NOTE: He is back on the bike and often leading the pack already.

I suffered a low-speed fall when the front wheel dropped into a deep crack in the pavement. Several people who lived in the neighborhood helped me find my glasses and provided a wet washcloth for a compress. They also wanted to transport me to medical help, but I didn't want to impose or bleed in their vehicle. I rode about 4 miles to an urgent care center that was on my way home where they put 8 stitches in my eyebrow and cleaned up the road rash on my knee and elbow. I was impressed with the concern the neighbors showed to a stranger and with the suddenness of the fall. It was mostly a freak accident, but I am still trying to pay closer attention to the road surface.

I commiserate. Took two falls on Sunday and my left hip and shoulder are sore as a result.

That will teach me to stay off the MUP until it is completely clear of snow. The 120mm of rain promised tonight should do the job, but then may have to watch out for flooded roads ... and the million potholes that are sprouting up everywhere.