StanSeven

A big reason to avoid sand is there's nothing worse that eating bearings if it gets in areas. Even then it gets trapped on chains when eats cassettes and chainrings as a result. Some sand, particularly near water, contains salt.

You can get off, walk around, and be back on pavement just about as quick as riding. That's especially true if you slow down a lot as a result of deep sand.

Biker395 

Well ... most of the time.

Here is what my commute looked like a month or so ago. It was like this for over a week, with the worse section about 300 yards long ... others perhaps 20 yards long.

Lemme tell ya ... it gets tiresome walking though this kind of thing.

Sand and salt water do eff up bikes pretty bad. Even aluminum starts to corrode under paint in these kind of conditions.

Jseis 

Yes, avoid sand.

Looigi

Technique is important, but look a the differences in rake, trail, and chainstay length between road, gravel and cross bikes. Larger in all these helps prevent the front wheel from digging, plowing and washing out in soft terrain, as do wider tires.

NYMXer

While all the things you mention are correct, I still think that technique is more important and contributed to the OP's fall. I can share a personal test that I once did with my fellow mountain bikers (I ride with several groups) in an older, slower more casual paced bunch of mid 50's guys. One day they claimed that I wouldn't be so fast if I had a different bike, sooooo, the next time we rode, I was on my comfort bike w/ 700c tires. They soon realized that good technique is better than a good bike. Of course, a good (or the right) bike helps too.

Had the OP maintained his speed and kept his weight back leaving the front wheel light as he pedaled through the short section of sand, he probably would have made it. Had he walked his bike the short distance, he would have made it for sure. Another for instance, once while with a road group, we came upon a large patch of ice that covered the road for about 20 yards. Most stopped and walked across the ice, I rode up on the shoulder and around the ice, some followed. After some discussion afterwards, a few members of that group realized mountain bike skills can come in handy even on a road ride. BTW, our tires left impressions in the super saturated soil on the shoulder of the road.

Moral here, there are many correct answers but most people are not aware of or open minded to other options. In the end, it is whatever works for that individual and maintaining a certain level of safety, something along the lines of "calculated risks".

I hope that clears it up better, I have no real opinion other than what I've shared based on what I saw in his video, but there were certainly other factors and options. In the end, no one was hurt and the ride continued with a good discussion followed afterwards.

winston63 

I had a bad moment about a year ago when I unexpectedly hit a patch of very soft sand that grabbed my front wheel and threw me. I wasn't hurt (nor was the bike) but it really caught me off guard. Part of the issue was that I was riding a rented road bike in an area I'd never ridden before and it was completely unexpected. I was traveling at a pretty good pace, too, having been on nothing but pavement, not realizing that enough fine sand had collected to represent a hazard in one spot. Scared the crap out of me!

John E

Fortunately, I never rind through sand.

Crewchief911

The good thing is the sand doesn't hurt like asphalt or concrete. If I have to bail on my bike, I want it to be in nice soft sand, lol.

Blanchje

The real moral to the story is "Think twice before filming yourself". No evidence = it never happened.

mprelaw

The good thing about sand is, it's usually a soft landing. Unfortunately, it looks like he went down on the drive side, so there was some cleaning involved, no doubt.

corrado33

I love the garmin "paused" chime right after you fell. Almost like it was mocking you.

Daspydyr 

We all have those moments! Thanks for having a good attitude and posting it.

A guy in our crew was playing American Woman for music when he took a HARD, collarbone breaking tumble. He posted it, music, grinding ad groaning included. Its good to laugh at ourselves.

Miele Man

Avoid sand?

Well there goes about 99% of the backroads I ride up here on tour.

These are of the GOOD road

Cheers

#02 Heading out by Miele Man, on Flickr

#03 Doing Good by Miele Man, on Flickr

#04 About to go Round the Bend by Miele Man, on Flickr

#05 Beavers Flooded the Road by Miele Man, on Flickr

BluesDawg

Thinking twice may be what caused the fall. Pedaling steadily while keeping the bike straight with a light grip will get you through that easily.

longbeachgary

Glad you're OK

wnl256

Decades ago when I was a teenager and was riding my Schwinn Varsity everywhere, the worst bicycle accident I ever had was an endo caused by riding downhill through soft Florida sand. The front wheel knifed, the bike stopped, and I didn't. Landing in soft sand really isn't a problem. Landing in soft sand that's loaded with sand burrs, on the other hand, can be really painful. One burr caught my skin right below the knee and ripped it open. I was bandaged up and couldn't bend my knee for about a week. On the plus side, it got me out of PE for awhile.

mrodgers

I would have just put my foot down rather than falling over...

Daspydyr 

Falling allows me to cuss and act indignant. I am good at all!

mrodgers

I LOVE doing that, LOL.

Garfield Cat

Nothing short of a reason among other reasons to get a new bike to add to the road bike.

Jimbo47

Perfect excuse to go and buy that trike you've been pondering!.....