cafzali

I had a crash a bit more than a week ago with a car that, thankfully, was relatively minor in the scheme of things and involved nothing more than some pretty serious road rash and a bruise to the forehead (even though I was wearing a helmet). I got back out as soon as I could because I didn't want my mind to make the fear bigger than it should be. There's obviously an element or risk in cycling and perhaps I didn't do a good enough job mitigating that by anticipating the potential action of the motorist who hit me. But other than do a better job with that and ride defensively, you just have to let the chips fall where they may.

The way I look at it, the health benefits I gain from cycling do far more for me than the likelihood of a serious injury from cycling.

Climb14er

July 2012 along the Colorado River bike trail east of Glenwood, I hit a section after two 90* turns under the flying over passes at low speed. The section of cement on the trail had collapsed and I hit it at an angle almost head on.

Came out of my clips and over the back of the bike, landing right on my sacrum/pelvis. Fractured T12 and L2.

Long and painful recovery, still have pain after long rides and exertion while on the peaks.

A few things I've learned after riding bikes for well over fifty years and motorcycles for forty two.

1) Accidents happen unbelievably fast and sometimes they're not your fault. Don't beat yourself up and take recovery... one day at a time. Btw... first accident ever on both bikes and motorcycles.

2) There are lots of road dangers lurking that are unmarked and in need of repair.

3) Do not carry anything like smartphones or bike pumps in your jersey. If you land on them, they become deadly objects.

4) Drivers who are on their cell phones or are texting, are as bad as drunk drivers... maybe more so.

5) Give yourself and body time to heal and recover.

Be safe out there!

MikeWMass

This is absolutely true. I know several people who have given up cycling (as well as skiing, climbing and sailing) after being hurt, or sometimes seeing someone else badly hurt or killed. I think it is worth giving it a try, and don't worry about being a wimp about traffic, pacelines, descents, or whatever your particular demon is. However, if you try it a few times and the anxiety is still dominant, and the enjoyment and relaxation is not present, to hell with it! This is supposed to be fun, and I assume you are not being paid to ride. Life is too short to torture yourself, and there are plenty of other ways to spend time and get exercise.

Pamestique 

I've had my share of bad accidents and long recoveries... after each I got back on the bike but... I've slowed it down a bit; I don't descend like I use too (I was at one time fearless - now I am respectful of being afraid) and I take it easy on technical trails, even walking at times, when I mountain bike. I have a permanent brain injury I have to deal with and I don't really want to do the recovery thing again (two collarbone breaks including surgery, torn shoulder, fx'd leg and arm, shattered hip, fx'd ankle the list goes on...most of these injuries where on the road which is why I now stick more to mountain biking. I think dirt is more forgiving...) but I love the sport; I can still ride; and I can enjoy myself even though I don't do all the crazy stuff anymore...

Pamestique 

While mountain biking last year, I had a bad fall going up a steep hill... hit a rock, bike just stopped and in order to avoid falling off a cliff to my right, I "willed" myself off the bike to the left landing hard on my chest and shoulder. So, I know better, but I always like to carry a camera which I thread through the top connecting strap of my Camelbak. The camera was OK but I had this perfectly square, 4 X 6" black and purple bruise on my chest (that hurt!) for months! You would think I've learn a lesson - I haven't - still carry a camera in
the same place.

Doug64

Yes, exact same scenario, only I was luckier. 27 stitches in forearm and knee, road rash, complete tear of the bicep tendon, partial tear of 3 other tendons including the rotator cuff. I had surgery in March, and two weeks ago was the first time I was allowed on my bike since then (not counting trainer). I rode the remaining 4 miles home after the accident; I had no other options. I must admit that I've been a little wary of letting loose on the downhills. More so because I can't afford an accident for another 2 months; until my shoulder is completely healed. Also, I'm darn leery of the back wheels of the people I ride with. I did overlap my wife's back wheel for a short time this morning. Old habits are hard to break.

We are leaving for a fully loaded tour of the Selkirk Loop in Idaho and southern British Columbia Thursday.

Get on your bike as quick as possible, but follow your doctor's instructions.

My helmet may have also saved my life, or at least prevented serious injury. The ER Doc told me to get a new one as he cleaned out the dirt packed in my ear. He held up a piece of debris as he cleaned my elbow, and said, "this looks like a flower".

Grillparzer

[h=1]“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.”[/h]
― Hunter S. Thompson

zonatandem

In my early-70s (am now 81 years old) got blown over by the wind just after apexing a climb. Very strong wind blew me sideways into the dirt and broke 6 ribs and punctured a lung. Bike was fine.
Could of been worse as I landed in the dirt, missed a 50 foot dropoff.
Ribs take a while to heal and the lung took a couple weeks of riding to get back to normal.
Still riding 100+ miles a week.
Stuff happens!
Rudy/zonatandem

FBinNY 

While the consequences might have been very different, just about every racer, and many experienced non-racers have gone down from overlapped tires. The rule of thumb is the front rider does OK, and the rear one goes down because he's lost steering (like falling into trolley tracks). But it isn't always that way.

A short while back was a thread about the etiquette of drafting, and you'll see posts from myself and others that unapproved drafting is a serious breach. This is why.

If you allow yourself to overlap the wheel in front of you, you loose steering room to that side, the same way as when riding very close to a curb, or trolley tracks. This is OK as long as you and the rider are on the same page, but if you misjudge your position or body angle, or if the rider ahead moves toward you, you'll go down unless you have superb handling skills (even the best pros go down for this reason).

I'm sorry to hear about your injury, but you shouldn't be afraid to get back on the horse, just don't draft close and certainly do not allow tire overlap. These days I ride mainly solo, or with a small circle of friends who know and trust each other. I don't draft strangers, nor do I allow them to draft me.

B. Carfree

These threads always leave me grateful to the wonderful cycling mentors I had when I was a teenager who taught me well how to avoid such mishaps.

After 510,000 miles, I have hit the deck twice. Once as a five-year-old (sting rays don't handle pot holes at 40 mph) that resulted in a mild collar bone crack and once about six years ago when an angry motorist changed lanes into me and gave me a brake check. He left a thirteen foot skid mark. My front wheel went into his bumper while my right thigh found my handlebar on my way up and out (which caused the down-tube to separate from the head tube). I managed a full flip with a one and three-quarters twist and stuck the landing in sandals. I credit the helmet for reminding me which end to keep up.

I feel it is important to keep one's core muscles in shape for these mishaps. If I had been lacking in core strength, that encounter with the bumper could have been quite painful.

Gerryattrick

My recent crash is chicken-feed compared to others in this thread but the post-crash issues are the same. I fell, landing on my head, breaking my crash helmet and ending up with bad concussion and some bleeding on the brain. Three weeks later all symptoms had virtually gone away and I was ready to ride again, now started and enjoying it just as much, if a little more wary for a while.

My mental issue was that I was knocked out and remember nothing about the crash at all, so no idea how it happened and no idea if I could do anything to stop it happening again. The doc says it was unlikely to have been a blackout and I'll probably never know, but the worry on my first few rides was all about a possible blackout causing it. Luckily a few weeks of riding have just about washed those worries away.

I've got a follow-up scan in a couple of weeks so hopefully that will further alleviate my concerns.

Only you will know if you're ready to ride again, and it's not the end of the world if you're not, but either way it is a cliché, but true that time is a great healer - not just of physical ailments.

BlazingPedals

Last week's Tuesday night ride was, let's say, "spirited," and the participants are fairly new to group riding (bunch of tri-geeks.) So before this week's Tuesday ride, the ride leader gave them the lecture: They should follow rules for safe pacelining, with only the very basics mentioned. Trouble is, these guys don't KNOW the rules. Well, the ride turned into a free-for-all again. This time, I went to the front and told them to BACK OFF on the testosterone and practice their technique. This led them all to slow to <10 mph and bunch up, wondering what they were doing wrong (everything!) , at which point one of them crossed a wheel and went down hard. Not much road rash at that speed, but it looked like he was in a lot of pain & he got picked up by his son in the car. Tonight I may hear how bad it was.

digibud

A group of tri geeks slowing down to <10mph??? Pacelines with strangers is a recipe for disaster.

BlazingPedals

The good news was, no serious injuries and nothing broken. Yeah, they didn't know how to ride that slow!

downtube42

When we were young we had so much to lose - our entire lives ahead of us - yet we were reckless. The older we get, generally the more careful we become. Seems backwards, don't you think?

Maybe as we age we become aware of how precious life is; although we have fewer years remaining to risk, we better know the value of those years.

I've modified my riding to reduce the chance of certain accidents, as I've come to know my limitations and to know where the risks are. But to quit riding... that's a guaranteed reduction in quality of life.

Gordy. 1888

Broke my hip 6 days ago after coming off my bike and had a pin fitted. Desperate to get on the bike already. It's going to be a long struggle waiting.

Biker395 

I love gallows humor.

tigat

Same injury a year ago. Three weeks in, the doc let me start riding a stationary recumbent. It was a muscle, life saver. In 8 weeks I was back on a regular bike. In the last 12 months, I've gone better than 8k miles. Bones heal.

Gordy. 1888

thanks tigat, good positive info just what I need right now..

Doohickie

My crash last year wasn't as severe as some of the ones in this thread, but after breaking my arm I didn't really want to want to ride right away. The wreck came on my fixed gear bike and I did several rides on other bikes before I got up the nerve to try FG again (even though the spill wasn't a result of being on a FG). But I think the OP will get over his trepidation eventually and the joy of riding will return. Just don't rush into it.

Jim from Boston

Even as a fellow (native) Michiganian, I would like to tell you about my serious accident, but we of BF have been advised by Tom Stormcrowe in a sticky on the Advocacy & Safety Forum (****If You've Been Hit By A Motor Vehicle: ALL MEMBERS READ****):

FWIW. Best wishes for recovery, and keep reading the Forums.

George

I may as well join in, about 7 years ago while going down hill at a little over 20 mph I went down. Cracked 3 ribs and got some road rash. The good part is, I got a new set of bibs, jersey and helmet out of it.
Heal fast op and keep riding it has a lot of benefits. I know you know that already though.

bruce19

People can't believe I am riding better than ever after having C1&C2 fused last July thanks to a road accident. But, I can't believe you. Awesome and inspirational.

BikeArkansas

It is not about the crash, it is about your mind once you get back out there. A deer got me. I lived through it, but my bike did not. The poor Trek had to be put down for good. Sad day. Anyway, I was very worried about riding again. I was shocked at how very little I worred about crashing again once I recovered, built up another bike and got back out there. I guess I was lucky.

Cyclcist11023131

I crash all the time. I've been knocked off my bike by a shopping cart on SART. Had people clip my wheels in turns. Don't want to jinx it, but never been seriously hurt. Learning to fall is important. Mostly when you fall roll into a ball. Dissipate the energy away from your core. Hardest thing is not putting your hands out to catch yourself. Good luck out there and we will all fall, those of us that get back up and ride are "Cyclists".