EastTNrider

So, 2 days ago I was side swiped by a Ford Explorer 200 feet from my car after 48 grueling, mountain filled miles. I tore off his side view mirror with my arm before eating the pavement and watching him drive away.

Minimal damage to the bike and myself luckily, but it prompted me to think of asking what kind if similar situations people have gotten into and how you felt the first time returning to the bike. I should be able to return to riding as soon as I'm a little more healed up and I have learned how to and then actually replaced my bent left brake lever/shifter.

cafzali

I was in an accident a few weeks ago (first since returning to riding in '08) where a car that had just passed me on the road turned into my path, leaving me nowhere to go. The impact caused me to skid a bit before coming to rest. Since I basically slid on my side, my bike didn't take any impact other than the front wheel hitting the car. That was no worse than the energy from a pothole, so my bike escaped unscathed. I had road rash on my left arm and left leg that took about three weeks to totally heal, but I was back out on the bike in a week.

In my case, the car stopped and the police were called, so a full report was taken. I generally try to avoid areas where there will be instances where cars are turning on/off frequently, but came away with the lesson to take more of the lane in those instances, where possible, to help cars see me.

By the way, love Chattanooga -- it's a great town! (Former TN native, now 20-year NY'er).

Kai Winters

tboned by a real stinker...crushed L1, broke both arms at the wrists, nerve damage to my left leg, psychological damage as well...crazy rage at drivers, tried to pull one out of the car when he did a California roll at a stop sign as I was passing by...got help and overcame it.
My team mate hit by same car...lost part of his lower jaw requiring removal of part of hip bone to rebuild lower jaw...lost 5 teeth...molar area...has a bridge.

closest I've come to death on a bike. I've been hit by 6 cars in my 30 plus years of riding/racing.

BoSoxYacht

In the past 6 years I've been taken to the ER 4 times(twice by helicopter), broken 18 bones(fibula, lateral malleolus, 9 ribs, collarbone, scapula, 2 skull fractures, 3 cervical vertebrae) 3 surgeries(intestinal damage), punctured lung, countless stitches, 2 concussions, some nasty road rash, and 1 of the biggest hip bruises you've ever seen. This year alone I've spent 32 days in the hospital, and I'll likely need another surgery by the end of the year.

Cycling is fun, but crashing can be very dangerous.

EastTNrider

Wow that is shocking! Were these during races? Casual rides? Group rides?

texbiker

Glad to hear you are okay.

My first accident was in a paceline riding 5th out of 6 people. I hit a chunk of asphalt riding one handed and the 6th guy ran over me. Ended up in the hospital with lots of road rash and had my spleen removed. 5 years later I was back in the hospital for abdominal adhesion's from the previous surgery. In 2005 I was sideswiped by a SUV. The driver stopped (no insurance but he repaid my out of pocket costs and a new bike) and I took a trip in the ambulance to the hospital. Nothing broken but a large hematoma on my left hip. It is still there but shrunken some. In 2013 a teenage girl pulled out in front of me and I t-boned the rear fender. She yelled at me and then drove off. Later she went to the police and confessed. Again no bones broken but lots of bruises. Her insurance company covered my expenses. After each of these I spent some time off the bike healing but as soon as possible I got back on to ride. I enjoy riding. Other than some small crashes that is it since 1979 and over 60,000 miles. When I watch the pros racing they pile up more in a season than I do in a lifetime.

Velo Vol 

wut

It might be time to find a new hobby.

BoSoxYacht

Of the 4 main wrecks, 2 were mountain biking, 1 was commuting, and 1 was on a road bike(training)hit by a car. There was one wreck in a criterium(road rash), and another training ride one that left a huge bruise on my hip.

From 1980-2007 I was hit by a car(minor injuries), and had mostly minor criterium wrecks and mountain bike crashes. The last half dozen years have been rough though.

BoSoxYacht

I've lived car-free since 93, so cycling isn't just a hobby.

The wreck I had 2/26 could have killed me, but I was pretty lucky. Everything is healed, but my strength and fitness is still not what it was.

Pibber

Got cut off by a driver who stopped in the crosswalk of an intersection forcing me to shoot for the sidewalk to avoid traffic and the parked cars on the side of the road. Six ribs broken, coracoid process broken, liver and a kidney lacerated, nondislocated fracture of my T6. Five days in hospital. Happened May 16, started riding a month ago because I hate metro.

beatlebee 

Dude! It is great that you are still out riding.

I had a race crash this year that broke both arms, left elbow, and left clavicle. Took about 4.5 months to get back the fitness.

dralways

If anyone is ever looking to talk someone out of the hobby just have them read this thread..........

EastTNrider

I know! I've only been cycling seriously for about 3 months. Had no idea the prominence and extent of injuries caused by this sport!

runner pat

Only one accident. Sideswiped/rear-ended by pickup truck-stock trailer combo. Truck mirror got my helmet, fender over the trailer wheel got my leg. Bike was untouched.
Degloved the back and side of thigh, tore away part of the hamstring and the sciatic nerve and broke the femur. Helicopter, 89 units of blood and 2 months in the hospital.

Returned to the gym 5 months after the accident, started riding a handcycle 4 months after that. Took 18 months to take my first step and another 6 months to put away the wheelchair and walker for good. Did several metrics and did a full century in 2007.
I'll always need a cane to walk. Not bad considering amputation was being considered.

surgeonstone

Going down a forested , sun dappled road at 45 mph. The patchy shadows were very effective at masking road imperfections. Hit a wash board area that was un seen and went into a death wobble. Too inexperienced to know what to do and crashed, flipped, somersaulted 2-3 times. Lost my glasses., entire left side of hip, arms, shoulders, head, thighs and legs an open bleeding mess.

surgeonstone

Not many people survive a trauma requiring 89 units of blood. I can think of only one. Very fortunate indeed!

klmmicro

Worst crash for me did not involve a car, truck or van. Sprinting to a corner on at 25+MPH and leaned to make the turn. Front tire was going down and I did not feel it...heard it instead as the rim contacted the pavement. Slid across 3 lanes of traffic, luckily it was my green for the turn. Road rash sucks! A truck came to a stop and blocked the lane so i could peel myself off the ground and made it all better with a comment I will never forget, "Dude, that was Tour de France RAD!" What is cool (years later) is seeing the GPS track...25 to 0 in about 30 feet.

I have glanced off of cars and not gone down. I have had so many close calls that should have ended badly. Friends have been squished, spending time in the hospital. Ride I still do. It is an addiction.

bt

fell over at a light, couldn't get un-clipped.

severely damaged ego, still not fully healed.

Campagnono

I fell off my bike a few times in 1993 while starting with some clipless pedals. Obviously at stop signs.

I didn't have a real "crash" for many years. Sometimes I was run off the road and hit gravel while heavy on the brakes and ended up with a few boo-boos here and there, but nothing serious.

Flying down Plateau de Beille in 2011 on a club ride in the dawn of Strava and being hammerfest idiots, I was run off the mountain by a food service truck who couldn't stand only going 60kmh and had to go 75. I don't know what happened as I have no memory, I just remember the sensation of sucking on my salty, jagged, broken teeth as blood filled my mouth.

Double clavicle fracture, broken wrist, broken hand, two broken fingers, broken lower jaw, five cracked or lost teeth. Total empathy for Stybar's crash yesterday in Eneco.

The insurance paid everything, including more tooth extractions, a bridge, five dental implants, and reconstructive jaw surgery.

My smile is beautiful now.

hairnet

I didn't take quite the right line through a high speed switchback. I knew the crash was imminent, said out loud "**** me", and went into the guard rail. Wasn't so bad but my 10sp 105 shifters are filled with dirt. I have had many bad crashes but this was the latest and fairly mild.

klmmicro

My buddy did that...right into me! We both fell over. I was like, WTF through tears of laughter. For some odd reason, found it to be funny.

mcours2006

Reading all this has definitely prompted me to rethink about my new hobby. I've fallen over with clipless pedals once at a stop light. Like bt said, ego bruised, not much else.

I did crash once back in 1990 during initial foray into road cycling. I was cut off by some idiot making a right turn when he had no right to make it at that particular moment. Cops came and gave the guy a ticket, but gave me one too for having no bell! WTF?

alexaschwanden

I took a hair pin turn at 30% degree tilt and the front tire slides out! luckily I bailed off the bike before getting road rash. It was scary as hell.

kbarch

First lap of a race this season, still not fully light out, I was in front and didn't want to be as we started a descent. Didn't see pothole or rut or something that knocked my front wheel out about 45 degrees and down I went, breaking right clavicle and scapula. That was in March, and my knee still shows prominent signs of road rash. Not the same kind of bike, but a few years ago I was knocked over by a texting driver. After a few yards of tumbling down the middle of the freeway (60 to zero in under four seconds, probably) - seven broken bones and 2 weeks in hospital, but not a drop of blood spilled. We wear a bit more than lycra on the motos....

bruce19

On July 24th 2013 I face planted on a State road and broke my neck. Had a 5 hr. and then 4 hr. surgery to fuse C1 & C2. Today I rode a Metric Century at 15.5 mph. My first time back on the bike was a rail trail on my cross bike in Nov. 2013 and I felt fine other than the physical stiffness. First time on the road was a week later and, again, I was fine. Today at age 68 I may not be as strong as I was 30 yrs. ago but I am a better rider.