Commuting - Fiery Crash Tonight Heading Home

First of all - no video :cry: I know, I know. No photos and it didn't really happen.

I don't post every little owie and trolley track tribulation here. I hit the deck at least once a year. Goes with the territory.

But on the way home tonight...awesome!

I am rolling on my Jamis ATB hardtail/rigid fork through the park with no hands sipping from my water bottle at maybe 15 mph at most. It's still light enough to see but I am running my NightRider on strobe anyway. I pass this broken section of asphalt every evening no prob that stretches from curb to curb - no getting around it - and a chunk is missing near the middle about two foot by one foot and ten inches deep (see where this is going?)

I manage to get my right hand back on the bars but the front wheel hits the hole anyway. The bike kinda springs up in the air - wobbles like a big spring - then comes down nearly sideways giving me plenty of time to say !OH****! out loud. I hit the ground expecting a big hurt but no...almost like landing on a giant pillow nearly on my back. Then sliiiiiiiiding for a bit looking up at the sky and majestic oaks. I stop still clipped in at least one foot and both hands now holding the bars (more or less). It took me a full 15 seconds lying dead center in the road to get away from the bike.

I look around. Not a soul in sight. Just sounds of tennis players nearby. I look at the ground and it looks like I was torpedoed - U-Lock over here, water bottle over there, and the bike a full 20 feet from the hole!

Time to inventory the body. No blood squirting out. No bones visible. That's good. My ring finger on my right hand seems mildly sprained at the second knuckle. I have a 2mm piece of skin missing just past my glove on the thumb of my left hand. And a nice hematoma rising on my right shin where the crank hit it ringed by a couple of minor scratches. My helmet is flawless. My white dress shirt is unmarked. My backpack is OK. When I get home I pull down my shorts at the mirror and see why I didn't feel the impact. My right butt cheek has a muffin plate sized red mark barely visible. I later find that my sunglass case was crushed inside my backpack, but the glasses survived somehow (clip-on style).

As for the bike. The chain got inside the right crank and took some time to carefully remove it. Wheels are fine. Rear rack scratched up. Handle bar end plug the same. Rear derailleur scratched and the hanger is bent a tad. Seat is twisted a bit and scuffed on the edge. I rode it home with no issues.

So my arse cheek and backpack (full of clothes) took the impact. I swear I felt nothing. A tad sore now, but I'll be riding tomorrow not doubt. Man, that really came out of nowhere. Who ever thought balancing on two wheels would be a good idea anyway?

Harsh! Get well soon!

Glad to hear you're reasonably OK. All those folks who've been waiting for you to get creamed while running a red light are going to be a little disappointed, especially when you admit to not paying enough attention to something you've seen before.

Funny how a helmet can come out of a flop like that without ever touching the ground. Mine's done so a couple of times.

Funny how a helmet can come out of a flop like that without ever touching the ground. Mine's done so a couple of times.

As I was falling I was fully aware that the back of my head was going to take a hit and that I was wearing a helmet. So I just kept my hands and arms away from the ground and didn't feel compelled to protect my head. I was certain that my head touched the ground, but upon close inspection of the helmet - nothing.

I have taken some gnarly falls offroad. Once I dented a helmet slightly. Kept the dirt out of my hair anyway ;)

Sounds like you made it out ok.

Riding with no hands and your ma wasn't around to look- darn!

I look at the ground and it looks like I was torpedoed - U-Lock over here, water bottle over there, and the bike a full 20 feet from the hole!

In skiing, this is known as a yardsale. Extra points if you do it under the chairlift and then get an audience as you pick up your scattered gear.

Congrats on taking the hit on the soft stuff!

Wait a second; you were wearing a helmet, taking the lane, using a light, and being visible. Another reason for cyclist to be on the sidewalk :rolleyes:. Sorry, bad attempt at sarcasm. I'm glad to hear you are relatively ok JoeyBike. Just pick up the pieces (of yourself and your bike) and keep pedaling.

damn no video. that would have been a classic. sorry could not resist. glad you survived. those pot holes are bad news. take care. oh and you'll be sore. advil is your friend?

Like your mama said, ride with both hands! Glad to hear you had to serious injuries or damage.

Like your mama said, ride with both hands!

How are you supposed to carry home the chicken wings?

Glad you are in one piece.

Glad you made it through, Joey.

I'm still waiting for the fiery part...!

He lit a match and used it to cauterize his wounds.

...or use some voodoo concoction

I'm still waiting for the fiery part...!

That happened in the shower when I got home. (Those of you who have lost skin in a crash know what I mean about that first post-crash shower).

All those folks who've been waiting for you to get creamed while running a red light are going to be a little disappointed, especially when you admit to not paying enough attention to something you've seen before.

Who would ever wish such a thing on Joey?

Damn, sounds like you might have dodged a bullet! Glad you're not too seriously hurt. Those bomb crater pot holes are just deadly.

I feel like I just read about a superhero losing his powers. I'm always in awe of your riding style and traffic carving skills. Glad you're alright. Surprised the bike didn't get destroyed though, sounds like a rough one. Stay safe out there.

Who would ever wish such a thing on Joey?

Not me, I'm glad he's OK.

Too bad someone else wasn't filming you; I would have paid to see that.

;)

My mishap wasn't near as dramatic; something just went pop in my back. The cars around me didn't even have a clue I was injured. In the end it kept me from riding for a week and a half. Glad your injuries aren't as severe.

In skiing, this is known as a yardsale. Extra points if you do it under the chairlift and then get an audience as you pick up your scattered gear.

Congrats on taking the hit on the soft stuff!

Darn it ! You got there first!

A buddy did this on our second skiing vacation. Caught it out of the corner of my eye, I wasn't going to stop because we were all practicing the new found skill of shuusing, so we didn't have to push across the horrible flat spot.

We of course all stopped at the end of the flat, and watched as he gathered up his hat, glove, poles, skis, etc and made his way down to us, including pushing across the hated flat.

"You OK?"

He then entered the history books with his reply.


"Yeah! I think I'm really getting the hang of this!"

We all fell down laughing.


Joey, do you think that in putting your hand on the bar at the same moment as hitting the bump imparted some steering input that triggered this?

(Those of you who have lost skin in a crash know what I mean about that first post-crash shower).

:cry: I remember that.

Thank your backpack, it no doubt cushioned your fall. I hate riding with one, but they're great if you ever fall on your back assuming you don't keep sharp objects in it. ;) 15 mph may not be much while riding, but it's pretty fast for a fall. Glad you came out okay.

First two paragraphs made me cringe. You're really lucky you didn't maim yourself worse and don't be so sure your sprained finger won't be *****ing at you in two weeks, ask me how I know. :P

First two paragraphs made me cringe. You're really lucky you didn't maim yourself worse and don't be so sure your sprained finger won't be *****ing at you in two weeks, ask me how I know. :P

[1 week after the crash]

Yes, my finger is the worst of it. Couldn't move it the next day but it had some pretty colors to make up for that. Thanks to cycling and inline hockey, all of my fingers/thumbs/shoulders have been sprained/dislocated/jammed at least once. I'll start the physical therapy this week (I know the routine by heart and even own some of the finger rehab tools).

Gotta be a little careful in the shower with the shin. It looks fine, but still touch sensative.

For a couple of days after I felt pretty beaten up, sore, and thought I might have to pay a visit to my Rolfing (body alignment) friend for my lower back but stretching and time worked that out. My neck and abdominal muscles felt like I did 1000 crunches all at once - the result from trying to keep my grape off the tarmac as I went down backwards.

Other than that stuff, my commuting/working/errand running was not affected. I took the week off from rec riding. Did not need even one Advil.

I guess luck plays a part in any crash. Maybe I have some falling muscle memory from all of the high school gym, martial arts, diving etc. I always manage to keep my hands and arms tucked inside the handle bars and most often land on my side or back. Three over-the-bars crashes happened off road resulting in one shoulder dislocation and two "not a scratch" tuck and rolls.

I don't want to start a helmet debate, but as I was going down this time I actually had time to reflect on the fact that my head was in a Styrene ice chest as I went down which gave me confidence going down on my back and keeping my hands and arms (and collarbones) uninvolved with the concrete.

Anyway, thanks all for the interest. The last time I went down that hard was off road in 1993 resulting in a shoulder dislocation (went back in on it's own). I hope to space out the next notable crash at least another 15-20 years!

Joey, do you think that in putting your hand on the bar at the same moment as hitting the bump imparted some steering input that triggered this?

Yea, possibly. But I think that hole would have taken me down no matter how I hit it. The hole is right at an upheaval of a concrete slab. That's why I didn't see it (I KNOW it's there but wasn't paying attention). The slab of concrete that acted as my approach is elevated. When the front wheel of my bike arrived at the edge, there below it is the friggin' hole. So the front wheel is going to drop in with extra downward force.

Every other day, paying attention, I just un-weight the bike and float over the whole mess. At a faster speed I might have floated past it anyway.

Maybe I will go take a photo of that spot and post it. I can't believe it has been allowed to remain so long in a park where people bike alot. Cars will straddle the hole no prob - maybe that's why no one thinks about it. I shuld send the photo to the park office and mention my crash.

Someone filled in the hole with a bit of dirt. Picture it about 10 inches deep.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=117528&stc=1&d=1252460905

I'm thinking one of those roadie geeks set a trap!

^^That's funny!^^

Maybe they shot some video....

Don't be surprised if your finger is still buggered a week from now. Sigh.