lok_hkcc

Crashed while making a turn... probably due to my lack of pack riding skills as I was so nervous when someone was making a turn with me!
But anyway thanks guys from Alto Velo and everyone who asked "Are you okay?" when they passed by
Sadly I guess I will have to replace the rim of my rear wheel...

Anyway, I am sure that I need to improve my pack riding skills like holding my line and get use to people riding so close to me! I guess the best way is to ride at the back of the group and learn from behind?

Looking forward to join the B ride again next week.... but I will make sure I stay at the back next time!

Once again thanks guys from Alto Velo and other kind cyclists!

UmneyDurak

Just relax and don't panic. Most crashes happen when people panic and do stupid stuff. Some guy managed to crash on a first lap in circuit race today. He panicked, went outside over lapped the wheel and down people went...

'nother

Staying at the back can be worse; as the ride gets more people in it, the back has a rubber-band-y effect...it's always on the brakes, then pedal like crazy to close gaps. As such, I think it's more dangerous back there (but you get a heckuva workout). Best place to be is right at the front, first few rows; it is usually nice and smooth. Problem is, it can be hard to stay there, especially if there are a lot of hammerheads on the ride, because everyone else wants to be up front too. But usually on the flats the pace is manageable.

It might be worth hitting some smaller group rides with people who know what they're doing and who might be able to help point out some things to do and not do. The B ride may not always be the best venue for that, though if you ask and/or mention that you need some help, you might find some guys willing to give you some pointers.


I don't know about the actual statistics, but definitely, panicking seems to make bad things worse. But, if you don't know how to handle certain situations, you probably are going to panic 'cause you don't know any better. But it's not hard to learn what to do, and what not to do -- and people will help you if you ask.

SteveE

Some weird mojo out on Arastradero today. After lok_hkcc took his spill, I saw two other riders nearly eat it and then a woman on a mountain bike went down, hit her helmet on the pavement, and skinned her knee. She was OK but ended up calling her husband to pick her up.

lok_hkcc

Back from 8 hours of work... Boy it was a long day!
Anyway, regarding treating road rash, I wonder if there's any good ways to deal with it?
I cleaned my wounds and put on Tegaderm on them which act like a second skin... but I found some brown liquid coming out from the wound. Should I replace my dressing so that the liquid won't be trap between the wound and the dressing? Thanks!

Anyway, lucky I got a set of spare wheels... so I should be riding again tomorrow so that my body won't stiffen up.

UmneyDurak

Some good info here: https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/266539-road-rash.html

lok_hkcc

Thanks UmneyDurak! That's really useful!

Back from a 30mile recovery ride.... did multiple portola-alpine loops so not much climbing for me.

By the way on my way back I saw someone stealing a bike (a black teenager in all black clothes cutting off perhaps a chain or a wire and rode away a blue MTB)... I was torn between whether I should make a U-turn (with a lot of traffic) and chase after him or just keep going... I chose the latter which I am still regretting right now...

Swampy1970

Stay up at the front. Take the pulls at the front the best you can. If you can't then ride to the front and pull over. If you really are having a hard time of it then noone is really going to get ticked off at you for just going through and off.... It really is easier at the front.

Look around for the riders that look the most at ease and sit on their wheels and just follow then through the turns - you may just have to follow in blind faith but believe that because they made the turn that you will too.

As for the road rash... You'll probably notice that for the first 10 to 15 minutes the area is somewhat numbed by the "shock". Get back to the car as soon as possible and clean it good. I always used to carry a small emergency kit - clean water in a squeezy bottle, gentle scrubbing brush, antisceptic wipes and clean guaze. Get in there with a soft brush and get ALL the dirt out whilst it's still numb - sure it's gonna hurt but not as much as it'll do in 5 days when you still have brown puss dripping down your leg.....