kudude

I was talking about this year. I've crashed once, and since racing doesn't start this early ALL over the country, so....maybe a stretch, but I was amused enough with the response to post it.

I think you're talking about me here. You do seem to be in love with that pic of a hole in your shorts, though. The problem with posting a picture of your carnage is that whatever it is, someone has always had it much worst and DIDN'T post it. If you want some pics of why I wear gloves when I ride, I'll pm them to you. Also the wreck up there ^^ involved actually shredding my shorts to the point where i was a little concerned with my "bits" hanging out. We all know what a skinned knee looks like, and i'm guessing there was more rash/bruising on your ass, but c'mon.

You notice most don't post those pics, even thought they have them. Why don't you start a thread "Post yourself after a wreck" with the caveat that there will be no "Fred" name-calling in that particular thread -- you may end up with some NC-17 stuff, for real.

bitterken

I don't think I'm ever ready to crash. It's just in the back of my head as something that happens, but line up anyways. If I thought about it too much, I would never be able to race again or even just ride for that matter...

That being said, I went down a couple of times last season. I didn't know what happened in the first one, but I found myself sitting in a pile of riders and bikes. The other was in slow motion so I was able to land gently on a pudgy rider . Neither resulted in anything worse then some torn shorts, road rash and scratched up shifters and pedals. Out of 30 starts during the road season, I didn't think going down twice is bad at all.

Now 'cross on the other hand...stitches on a leg one time, broken helmet the other...crappy season...

FatguyRacer

Please post a photo. Just in case i ever make to race in cali, I'll know who to steer clear of in the pack.

Just kidding...

Seriously though i know guys like you who have the worst luck when it comes to staying upright in a race.

I have had 3 race crashes in 100+ starts. Only one was my fault when i rolled a tubular off a rim. Pretty rashed up after that one. Worst crash involved a me smashing a Spinergy Rev-X and then almost having my balls cut off from a broken blade. I had cuts on my inner thigh just inches from my fellas as well as some rash.

ride26fast

although most of my crashes have been on my DH bike, i have to say, those sand spots in early spring kill if you go down on them..

2manybikes

Some trainers teach the riders how to fall in a crash, and practice it on the grass. It's like a tumbling fall and roll in some cases. It does not always work of course, but it's good to know. It's always good to stack the odds in your own favor just in case.

I think the book "Bicycle Road Racing" by Eddie B. tells and has some sketches about this. I think any racer, or even non racers should read this book. I do the bike specific stretching.

Some of the book is very outdated, some of it is very good. It's in many librarys too.

It also talks about the "dominant left", how most falls are on the left side.