Originally Posted by
noodle soup
I wonder how many people responding to this thread have actually experienced a massive wreck.
Having a front tire wash out during a turn, isn't a wreck. It's a "whoops".
Broken collarbones and wrists, aren't serious inquires. Head and neck injuries can be.
I'll sacrifice my hands and arms everytime they could help protect my head.
When that is the choice one is faced with, it's an easy one to make. However, it is a mistake to equate sticking an arm out with protecting your head/neck. You can very easily wind up with more broken bones *and* dramatically greater impact to your head and neck.
The amount of control one has during a crash ranges from none to quite a bit. But people who know how to fall are more likely to be able to mitigate a particular fall or even choose a controlled crash rather than hang on too long and leave too much to luck.
I personally have been in a couple serious crashes and a bunch of minor ones over the years. In the most significant, I was knocked out even wearing the helmet.