"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Backstabbing

Well, I got my first crash out of the way. Fourth of July at the Northfield Crit here in MN.

Mixed Cat 4/5 race, and I was actually doing very well, hanging with the lead pack after we lapped some stragglers early on.

Going through a left turn after a short (one city block) descent. The wheel I'm following skid out sideways, rider goes one way, the bike goes the other way through the turn. I did brake a little, but locked up, so I had to eat it and went right into him which made me hit pavement on my left side. Left hand still on the handlebars and my bar tape took the brunt of the fall with some small road rash on the hip and elbow, but I was able to get up and head back to the pit to claim my free lap. Upon inspection, the official pulled me as my knuckles were gushing blood. Game over, head to get cleaned up.

I must have had some adrenaline going, as I didn't feel any pain as we scrubbed the dirt/gravel out of my knuckles, but the only pain I felt was a sharp pain in my back as my jersey shifted. Turns out, my fall made one of the safety pins on my number unhook and stab into my back right below my shoulder blade. The medic pulled it out and said it was embedded about a half inch into my skin.

I think I have the art of pinning mastered enough to pass the test for upgrade to the 4's, but is there a different technique (aside from not crashing) to avoid the pins from planting into your skin?

I suppose you could use that number glue crap, but really that stab was a one in a million shot. If it happens to you twice, go buy a lottery ticket.

I suppose you could use that number glue crap, but really that stab was a one in a million shot. If it happens to you twice, go buy a lottery ticket.

That's what I figured, but was just wanted to double check. Thanks.

I suppose you could use that number glue crap, but really that stab was a one in a million shot. If it happens to you twice, go buy a lottery ticket.

http://andthecowgoesmoo.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/frank-costanza-meets-the-fusilli-jerry.jpg

Million to one shot Doc, million to one.

Well, I got my first crash out of the way. Fourth of July at the Northfield Crit here in MN.

Mixed Cat 4/5 race, and I was actually doing very well, hanging with the lead pack after we lapped some stragglers early on.

Going through a left turn after a short (one city block) descent. The wheel I'm following skid out sideways, rider goes one way, the bike goes the other way through the turn. I did brake a little, but locked up, so I had to eat it and went right into him which made me hit pavement on my left side. Left hand still on the handlebars and my bar tape took the brunt of the fall with some small road rash on the hip and elbow, but I was able to get up and head back to the pit to claim my free lap. Upon inspection, the official pulled me as my knuckles were gushing blood. Game over, head to get cleaned up.

I must have had some adrenaline going, as I didn't feel any pain as we scrubbed the dirt/gravel out of my knuckles, but the only pain I felt was a sharp pain in my back as my jersey shifted. Turns out, my fall made one of the safety pins on my number unhook and stab into my back right below my shoulder blade. The medic pulled it out and said it was embedded about a half inch into my skin.

I think I have the art of pinning mastered enough to pass the test for upgrade to the 4's, but is there a different technique (aside from not crashing) to avoid the pins from planting into your skin?

Lessons to learn.

1. You say you locked up the brakes, I'm assuming you mean the rear brake, because if you lock the front, you usually endo. So, the lesson is DON"T USE THE REAR BRAKE. It has little to no braking capacity in a race and will only get you in trouble.

2. When following a wheel into a corner, I always try to be a little to the inside. If the rider in front crashes, he will always go to the outside of the corner, so if you are on the inside, the rider in front will fall away from you. I know you can't always be to the inside, but play the percentages and go to the inside whenver you can.

Lessons to learn.

1. You say you locked up the brakes, I'm assuming you mean the rear brake, because if you lock the front, you usually endo. So, the lesson is DON"T USE THE REAR BRAKE. It has little to no braking capacity in a race and will only get you in trouble.

2. When following a wheel into a corner, I always try to be a little to the inside. If the rider in front crashes, he will always go to the outside of the corner, so if you are on the inside, the rider in front will fall away from you. I know you can't always be to the inside, but play the percentages and go to the inside whenver you can.

Thanks for the input.

And I know better than to use the back brake for anything other than slight speed control, but instinct/panic took over and I reached for and clenched both levers in that split second. I think I may have actually leaned even more to try to avoid the crash on the inside and lost traction from excessive lean. Either way, lesson learned.

As for following to the inside, I actually was inside. He did a slightly exaggerated countersteer heading into the turn, putting him outside of his original line but changing his trajectory so that he'd end up cutting across my line. He lost it at the apex of the turn as he was cutting the corner, and as he skid on his side, he actually spun counter-clockwise, sending his body to the right of his bike, and launching his bike into my path to the inside. I was unclear saying I said I hit "him." I meant to say I hit his bike.

I'm just happy I stayed tucked and didn't reach out to catch my fall. And that torn bar tape and a scuffed pedal was the only damage to my bike.

Um, feathering the rear brake to slow down a hair has its applications methinks.

using both brakes is recommended. If you have time to get the rear wheel to skid, you have time to move your body back so you are less likely to endo or skid.

Well, I got my first crash out of the way. Fourth of July at the Northfield Crit here in MN.

Mixed Cat 4/5 race, and I was actually doing very well, hanging with the lead pack after we lapped some stragglers early on.

Going through a left turn after a short (one city block) descent. The wheel I'm following skid out sideways, rider goes one way, the bike goes the other way through the turn. I did brake a little, but locked up, so I had to eat it and went right into him which made me hit pavement on my left side. Left hand still on the handlebars and my bar tape took the brunt of the fall with some small road rash on the hip and elbow, but I was able to get up and head back to the pit to claim my free lap. Upon inspection, the official pulled me as my knuckles were gushing blood. Game over, head to get cleaned up.

I must have had some adrenaline going, as I didn't feel any pain as we scrubbed the dirt/gravel out of my knuckles, but the only pain I felt was a sharp pain in my back as my jersey shifted. Turns out, my fall made one of the safety pins on my number unhook and stab into my back right below my shoulder blade. The medic pulled it out and said it was embedded about a half inch into my skin.

I think I have the art of pinning mastered enough to pass the test for upgrade to the 4's, but is there a different technique (aside from not crashing) to avoid the pins from planting into your skin?

I've wondered if this happens... good to know it at least doen't hurt!