Big Pete 1982

I totally biffed it today and it sucked hard! I was riding on a bike path and it was a beautiful day so there were a ton of people out. I was riding pretty close to the edge of the trail and I made the mistake of turning to look behind me to see if my buddy was keeping up and my front tire drifted into the dirt. The trail is a few inches above the dirt so when I tried to turn my wheel and get back on the pavement, it didn't work out too well and I didn't clip out in time. POW! On my side and skidding across the pavement at about 15 mph. I busted up my elbow and skinned my knee and scraped up my shin pretty good. Bruised my pride pretty good since about 10 people had to have seen it! I also scratched the crap out of my left side shifter and brake lever! I guess it could have been worse. I'm not hurt too bad and everything on my bike still works. I guess my bike has some war wounds now! Maybe I'll just tell people it adds "mojo" to my otherwise pristine bike! Anyway, it sucked but I survived.

tergal

Ouch, long as you are ok it is fine.

Bet you clip out in time next time, It only takes once and you learn rather fast


Speedy recovery mate, and keep the grazing clean so it heals well

Street Pedaler

Yeowch. Glad it wasn't worse.

jim p

This is what is scary about being clipped in. I don't think that there is any way to clip out fast enough when the bike just slides from under you. I will just have to take my chances because I love clipless.

I am glad that you are ok. A few years back a fellow that wanted to ride with me let his tire drop off the road and ended up with broken ribs and cheek bone. He ended up having to go and get medical care. He was 74 and now his family wont let him ride anymore. But it is still ok for him to run chainsaws and do any other manual labor that will help the family out. We all know that operating tools is one of the most dangerous things that you can do.

volosong

That sux. Glad you are not hurt worse. You may consider bar-end mirrors. Saves having to twist your body around to see your buddies.

I got a set of these the other week. Don't like that they are convex, but like that they don't vibrate - which gives a solid image of what's behind. I'm going to order a second pair for my other bike. They don't look like I'm too much of a Fred because they are not easily noticeable, unless you are looking right at them.

https://www.amazon.com/Sprintech-Drop...dp/B00168K3IY/

You can see how they look on the bike in this post, (the second and third picture, the blue/black/white Pinarello):
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post14130187

Big Pete 1982

I tried the bar end mirrors and found them to be at a weird angle for me. I'm usually pretty good about keeping a steady line. I'm just not used to riding around that many other people as I generally ride solo on back country roads. Oh well, at least I didn't break a collarbone or anything serious.

TrojanHorse

Dang those really are subtle. I saw those pictures yesterday and didn't notice the mirrors at all. Black bar tape would render them even less noticeable.

Sorry about your crash Pete! My bike tends to wander when I look around too, hope your scrapes heal quickly.

magohn

Im very happy you are OK but this is a pet peeve of mine - cyclists riding at 15mph or more amongst pedestrians. To me, a bike path was created for parents to meander with their children at 4-7mph not for more serious cyclists. Im happy your OK and that you did not hit a child on your descent.

CJ C

Glad your ok, take some advil dust yourself off and ride again.

Last fall i hit a wet patch of leaves, and locked up my rear wheel at around 15 mph. i ended up on my back with the bike on top of me with my left foot still clipped in.

now on blind turns, sketchy roads, narrow MUP's, kids ahead, and in in city traffic i ride unclipped.

i tried going back to platform pedals with my new bike, and it just doesn't feel right and at cadence 95 or higher i get all bouncy with out my clipless.

rdtompki

We ride on some country roads with a 4-6" drop-off. I've told my wife (we're on a tandem), that if we go off we've got to ride it out. Trying to turn back onto the road surface would be a disaster. Unfortunately, these tend to be ag fields; if the ground is muddy we're in for a fall. So far, so good however. (and if it's at all deep you've got to keep pedaling).

CraigB

My wife crashed the same way (but on a road) several years ago. I had a similar event a couple seasons ago, except it was even stupider (more stupid?) - I tried to bunny hop up a 1" concrete curb cut and was too tired to give it a full effort. My front wheel stayed in the gutter, and the rest of the bike, and my body, went to the right. Boom, on the pavement before I even knew what was happening. Fortunately for me the only damage were bruises to my elbow and ego.

Pinyon

Stuff like that happens so fast.

Glad you are okay.

Wolfwerx

I did the exact same thing a couple of weeks ago. 30+ years on a bike, and you'd think I know better. Scraped my knee and my pride, but not much else was hurt.

I call those "dumb-dumb moments".

Big Pete 1982

This path is about 20 miles through the middle of nowhere (it's a rail to trail from Tenino to Yelm to Olympia). It was mostly bike traffic with very few pedestrians and I saw a total of maybe 3 kids all day. We slowed down when we got to Olympia and there were pedestrians. I would have to respectfully disagree with you about the purpose of a bike path. Silly me thinking it was meant for riding my bike on.

Leebo

Magon, it's a bike path. Do you ride on one? Here in the Boston area, we share and call it a MUP, or multi use path. We even commute on them. Go figure. Am I racing with a pack, not at all, riding at a comfortable speed, yes. I use a bell, call out passing left and do not use them on weekends. If you meander, this is not the place for you. On my paths, kids, runners, walkers, and bikers for the most part tend to know their place, Stay right, pass left. Sorry for the derail.

PhotoJoe 

I think it really depends on where you live. In my area, the city widened the roads to accommodate more traffic. At the same time, they installed a very nice system of trails that you can actually use to get around town on. They were clear that they were there for the safety of cyclists. Running/walking lanes are clearly marked and we even have some stretches that have railed-off equestrian trails. There are some smaller areas of town that have "paseos", which are walking trails only. Now, whether or not people with strollers/kids on bikes/dogs on long leashes know what the trails were installed for is a whole different story.

magohn

No I dont - I ride my road bike on the roads - thousands of miles in fact. A bike path is for bikes but not for falsely inflating the AVG MPH of adults who endanger others as they want a flat ride. IMHO - the idea of a bike path is for the family with kids to enjoy the outside air while riding a bicycle in a safe environment ( less that 10 mph).

dcrowell

magohn, there's no indication that Big Pete was going too fast for the "traffic". He ran off the side of the pavement is all.

Big Pete, Crashes happen. Be glad it was minor. Not using clipless doesn't always make much difference either. I was riding (on a road) with a friend and did much what you described. I was riding my recumbent with clipless pedals, and my hands stayed on the bars, and my feet on the pedals. So I bruised my hip and had road rash on my butt. Ouchie.

Leebo

Magohn, I think you're in the minority here. The bike paths around here get used for commuting during the work days, and some rec. riding during the weekend. These paths area good alterative to dealing with M******* drivers.

Big Pete 1982

Who said anything about falsely inflating my AVG MPH? If I was doing that, I would have been going a helluva lot faster than 15 mph!

magohn

What I meant to write is that, yes you were travelling at 15mph but is that a worthy number when the path is flat and long (no hills or intersections etc)? If so, wouldnt the Tour De France be held on the bike paths of France? I have an avg MPH of around 12-13 - yes its slow, but its also an incorporation of at least 1500-2000 feet of climbing on a 30 mile route. Not much climbing I know but I dont ride bike paths as I find it dangerous to pedestrians. I know, I know, pedestrians should be careful and look out for their kids, dogs, etc but I also disagree that a 200lb rider should be allowed to ride through pedestrians at speeds of 15mph +. I also understand the resentment by some clydes of my beliefs. Riding on roads is a reality check that many dont want to tackle. Roads are hard and there are hills.

Anyways rant over - I am glad you ar OK and bounced back.

Beachgrad05

Off original topic but FWIW - I use the the river trails in my area to get to other areas to ride. I prefer to be on roads that have a bike lane if at all possible when on the road. For the most part the river trails in my area have cyclists ranging from clubs to recreational riders on their beach cruisers to joggers and pedestrians. On it I have gotten up to 17 or 18 mph but when nearing slower riders, joggers or pedestrians; I slow down to a more reasonable rate of speed related to their rate of speed such that I can pass safely. I am not trying to inflate my average either. I rode the my local river trail to PCH and rode that. My point being that I try to ride where it is safest for ME and the more I can eliminate the chance of getting creamed by an inattentive driver on their cell phone....the better. If that means I don't get in as much "hill work" than so be it.

jethro56 

So slow down before you crash next time.

Big Pete 1982

Wow! Why don't you quit beating around the bush and just come out and call me a puss? A worthy number? Bike paths of France? Last I checked, there were a few flat stages in the Tour de France btw. At what point of my OP did you read that I was bragging about my average mph? And at what weight am I allowed to ride on a bike path? It's ok for a 160 pound rider to do it? From now on, should I email you with all my routes to see if you approve and if they are worthy?
I'm not ducking the hills. 95% of my rides are road rides and I try to do as much climbing as possible with my skillset. You act like you read my OP and assume I'm scared ****less to ride on the road! I chose this route on that particular day to break up the normal routine, take it easy and encourage a buddy to go riding. Lighten up man, this ****'s supposed to be fun!

TrojanHorse

I'll call you a puss... puss.

You shoulda put your arms up and done a cartwheel while clipped into the bike and then kept riding like you do that sort of thing every day.

Snickering at inflating your average. You were only doing 13 weren't you. You dog.