creativeirish

After three really great years of commuting, I had my first crash two weeks ago. It was moderately spectacular, I guess. I was trying to avoid a group of young co-eds who had decided to abruptly cross the middle of the street directly in front of me. None looked before they crossed mid-block, so I did my best to try to quickly swerve around them. My speed and angle were just perfect for catching my front tire on what I think was a bad seam around a manhole cover. My front wheel twisted around as far as it could go, and I went head-first over my bars, half of me hitting pavement, and the other half landing on my bike. Ow! I was pretty scraped up, bruised, and sore (still feel it in my "impact" shoulder), but after a few days off from riding, I resumed my daily 16-mile round trip this week.

Now I need to know from those of you who have crashed: did you feel like you were having a lot of close calls when you got back in the saddle? This week, I've had a car nearly hit me while making a right-on-red at a stoplight (she never even slowed down), and another pedestrian walk right out in front of me and come within inches of causing me to fall. I've never had a string of bad luck like this before. I'm noticeably more nervous while riding, and honestly, not having as much fun. In fact, I didn't ride today because...well, I'm a bit scared. Am I just a little more sensitive now that I know what a fall feels like?

uke

I just finished reading this thread in the road cyling forum. Deals with this nicely, if you're looking for more stories.

nahh

i'm more careful after near misses. in the past few months i've almost been hit by a speeding fork lift by a construction site, and a soccer mom who rolled through a stop sign (in her defense, though, i was speeding through it)

to answer your question: you're not crazy.

rugerben

Just had my first crash today. had to swerve to avoid a car that pulled out right infront of me. Swerved into a gravel parking lot, and lost control (fully loaded bike, with city tires, turning hard on gravel is not a good combo). I hit the gravel doing about 15-17mph. Scraped the hall out of my left palm, right forearm, right shoulder, and both knees. Tore straight through my heavy cargo shorts, and ripped the shoulder straight off my cotton t-shirt.
Front wheel was twisted sideways out of alignment with the handlebars, broke my front fender mount, i mean it was a mess. Later I went back to the spot and saw about a 10-12 foot drag mark through the gravel.

I got back on. Rode home. Had my lunch. cleaned up the wounds. fixed the bike. got my stuff together. and within 2.5 hours, was already back on the road on my bike back to school. Now i'm sitting in class bandaged up.

No fear period necessary. Sh*t happens. But it's the first time it's happened in a long time. Now I'm not due for another long while.

Pinyon

I had significant fear issues when a similar-looking situation occurred for a while, where I over-reacted to perceived threats. I'm still more wary and apprehensive of things like you are describing, but it has not negatively impacted my love for riding. Be careful, and have fun!

timmhaan

i got t-boned by a left turning car before. it took me a few solid weeks before i didn't second guess every single car making a turn toward me. then that fear slowly faded as i made it home safely more often.

it just takes time.

JR97

Just keep riding. Stay aware. Ride smart. Crashes happen. Law of averages is on your side.

I"ve had some gnarly crashes and close calls in a short amount of time this year. But 99% of my rides have been issue free. So I just focus on enjoying the bike and take things as they come. Control what I can and accept and learn from the outcome on those things that I can't.

Bat22

Last spring I was doing 15 in a 30 mph zone when I got doored by a mid size car. I endo'd over
into the oncoming lane where car #2 knew how to use his brakes. No damage to my bike and
only a scrape on my knee. I call it the heebeegeebees when you get put off your groove for the
next few rides.
I thought I had developed a situational awareness for heads in parked cars. It wasn't my first
time at the rodeo,but it was the little woman in the high backed seat that threw me off.

saryon

My personal experience with crashing (be it my fault, others fault, mechanical issues, etc.) you have to get back up and learn from it. I strongly advocate to learning how to crash... I know that might sound strange but in many sports (skiing in water or snow, skating, bmx biking, etc.) learning how to crash is the first thing you do and it builds the fundamentals of how to escape controllable situations. Practice on a mountain bike or something you are not too worried about just laying it out (like a motorcycle racer) on some soft dirt or grass in appropriate clothing. You'll be quite amazed how effective it is in a pinch (although not very nice to your on pavement).

With regard to the pedestrian crash you had, I feel your frustration and pain. I grew up in Tucson, AZ a big biking town and college town at that. On campus they have dedicated bike paths that pedestrians never obeyed. After a while many cyclists began just flat out hitting the pedestrians in the path... it is like a bird in the road in a car, you don't swerve and cause an accident possibly hurting yourself and others... you just hit the bird. I ended up stopping at one of these crashes... pretty mangled bike, rider, and pedestrian... the cops told the pedestrian he was at fault and was liable for the bike and the rider as he did not obey posted signs and had no right-of-way.

My advise with pedestrians, do not hesitate to yell at the top of your lungs (usually quicker than a horn or bell and I have found to get more attention). Be careful but take the lessons you learned from it with you.

thehum

yikes. You wear a helment, right? I went OTH when I had my first crash in May. It was anything but spectacular as I was coming fast down a hill and slammed on the front brake *doh!*. Face planted onto the gravel/pavement. Had sand and dirt scraped up all in my mouth and face and knocked a tooth loose. Had I not been wearing my helmet my head would have taken a beating as well. After a night in the ER and next day in the dentist/root canal specialist, I was right back on my feet. To be honest, I was pissed at myself for making a stupid mistake, and eating anything with a raw mouth was miserable. The next day, I was right back on my bike to cheer myself up, and even went biking in New York City to meet up with a friend for dinner we had planned.

Well, I definitely tend to notice close calls more often than I did once I got back into the saddle because getting injured in the crash has humbled me. I'm way more attentive now than I was before because I know full well the consequences of getting into a serious crash and do everything in my power to avoid it. It's possible the same is happening to you; maybe you're just more cautious now and because of it are starting to notice the danger of situations you previously thought weren't as dangerous. As far as safe biking goes, being sensitive to danger is a good thing, especially when danger comes in the form of 2-15 ton cages of metal hurling in your direction.

With that said, biking after my crash was definately nerve-racking, but after I learned to become a safer biker, avoiding danger came easier and biking became just as fun as always.

creativeirish

Saryon: yep, I'm in a college town. A BIG, record enrollment-setting college town. With lots of "scholars" wearing iPods, texting while they walk, never lifting their heads to look in front of them. Honestly, I'm figuring out a new route to and from work that will take me away from pedestrians and put me into the relative safety of vehicular traffic. Kinda whacked, I know.

thehum: I absolutely wear a helmet. And now it has a nice battle scar on it.

Popeyecahn

When I ride I try not to think about it, otherwise I'll find reasons not to ride. The benefits outweigh the unknowns for me.

I've only crashed a few times (most recently on Sunday) and I always get back on and keep going. Fortunately I haven't been injured so bad as to not have this option, so I don't let the fear stop me. I remain as vigilant as possible and I keep on trucking...

rugerben

I just re-read my last post, and realized it sounds cavalier and silly. Please allow me to elaborate and explain.

After a close call, I always feel a little doubt with other cars. On the other hand, I also have to put things in perspective. I just got my bike computer and have only put 235 miles on it. But I've done easily 1500mi in the past year. And this was the first time I had a close call. So one close call in 1500mi. is really not bad as far as stats go. I have a 1/1500 chance of having a problem with each mile I ride. I like those odds. So I just put things in perspective and realize that even if I am emotionally insecure, I am actually safe.

I am sorry that you had the fall, and hope you are ok. Did any of those kids you swerved to avoid at least stop to hep you? Did they even notice?

Cyclist01012

I nailed a bolt sticking up in a railroad crossing, over corrected lost it when my front wheel dropped in between the rail and the wood of the crossing. hit the wet pavemenat and slid. Cuts on leg road rash on elbow and some spots that have turned into some really nice brusises.

As my friends wife held their tandem he picked bike up, flipped it up side down pulled a spoke wrench out of his seatbag and retrued the frt wheel by the side of the road. We noticed the rear der hanger was bent, grabbed an alllen wrench out of my seat and used it as a lever to straighten it out as best we could. quick adjustment of the rear der and off we went. From the time I hit the pavement untill we were back on the bikes maybe 10 minutes passed. Back on the bike to finish the ride.

Oh yea we were only 1 1/2 mile from home but after the crash we still did the 40 mile loop we started out to do. And the back on the bike the next day for the commute to work.

dalmore

Helmets are intended to be one-use items. Might consider retiring that battle-scared veteran to a shelf in your office ...

creativeirish

rugerben: One out of the six did offer to help me up off the pavement, and asked me to take my sunglasses off so she could see my eyes. EMT training, maybe? The rest? Lots of "Oh, my god!", and TEXTING!!!

dalmore: New helmet on the agenda after work tomorrow. No bike until then. And to everyone who has posted: THANK YOU! I do feel a little better that the "shock and awe" is all part of the experience, and that my confidence will return a little more with each ride. I'm not giving up. But, man...I wish there weren't 42,000 scholarly "obstacles" to have to avoid every day.

Steve_Reno

Ok uno mas: I started commuting this summer after 40 years off of a bike. After about 20 days, 100 or so miles I was getting pretty cocky/confident. Anyways after I left work I came around a corner and realized I had not turned on my headlight. I fiddled with the headlight and BLAM! HIT A PARKED CAR, put 2 dents in teh door and ripped the mirror clean off. flew about 15 feet as I was going about 18-20.

Any ways I am all healed up now even had a cracked rib (went to the hospital and everything a week later, yes the drugs were good!).

I AM A DIFFERENT RIDER NOW! You will get over the fear, yeah I wasa skittish too.

The mirror cost $170 bucks too! Yes I located and fessed up to the owner of the late model car.

uke

These cost $9, which is almost certainly less than the pain and time required to regrow one square ft of hand skin.

wheel

Both times I got assaulted, I had to bike the next day for school. The bus shuts down.

GV27

Well, I have no doubt the young co-eds caused the wreck, but how do you know they didn't look? Most folks don't look out of that part of their body.....


Get back on the horse and RIDE, son!