Originally Posted by
Slaninar
A slide is another matter. Though I had an about 20 km/h slide in a tight turn - bike just flew below me on an ice patch - i managed to slide on all fours, avoiding to cut my work trousers.
Some motorcycle "low side" slides I've had - exactly that - push bike away and just land on the back (keeping the head tucked - not hit the floor with the back of my head. Or roll sideways.
This is good, 9 seconds into video fall explains it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKHQ715IMyc
This deals with high sides, using arms and legs just enough to get into a tucked, rolling position:
(these people have elbow protectors, on a bicycle, I often put my palms (with gloves) first, instead of elbows, but with bent arms and muscles prepared to just cushion and roll, not hold arms straight at all cost).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3J4YfBj24
Very nice post. Thanks. One can immediately see that they not only don't put an arm or hand out, they do everything they can to prevent their arms and hands from contacting the ground - they even hold them up in the air. When tumbling, they keep their arms bent and relaxed.
On the subject of "no one can possibly prepare for a crash," it's been my experience that one can prepare to execute a plan in milliseconds by running scenarios in one's head. Front tire blows, rear brake; rear tire blows, front brake; bike goes down, downside hand moves in; etc. This works for cycling, skiing, driving, and many sports. Make it a practice to run scenarios in your head frequently. It works. Never think "there's nothing I can do."