First Fall
#1
Fat Guy Rolling
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Louisville Kentucky
Posts: 2,434
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
First Fall
Okay, it's my first fall where I was actually riding, rather than at a stop.
I met up with a buddy for a 40 mile ride at 7:00 a.m. this morning. I was riding my recumbent, he was riding his shiny new QuickBeam.
We were on a deserted road riding side-by-side, and I wasn't paying enough attention, and dropped the front wheel off of the paved road and down about four inches into gravel. I tried to steer back on to the road, but it wasn't going to happen.
I was doing at least 15 MPH when my butt landed on the road. I was still gripping the handlebars as the bike and I slid down the road. I saw everything happen in slow-motion, but was powerless to stop it.
After the bike and I stopped sliding, time returned to normal, and I felt the pain. I have road rash on my bottom and my back. The bike had some minor scuffs. It wasn't too bad. I only needed a few minutes to collect my thoughts, and I was back on the bike for the rest of the ride.
I really got lucky. My bare skin was never against the road, there was always clothing in the way. That saved me from getting much worse road rash.
So, my lesson for the day: "Pay Attention!"
I met up with a buddy for a 40 mile ride at 7:00 a.m. this morning. I was riding my recumbent, he was riding his shiny new QuickBeam.
We were on a deserted road riding side-by-side, and I wasn't paying enough attention, and dropped the front wheel off of the paved road and down about four inches into gravel. I tried to steer back on to the road, but it wasn't going to happen.
I was doing at least 15 MPH when my butt landed on the road. I was still gripping the handlebars as the bike and I slid down the road. I saw everything happen in slow-motion, but was powerless to stop it.
After the bike and I stopped sliding, time returned to normal, and I felt the pain. I have road rash on my bottom and my back. The bike had some minor scuffs. It wasn't too bad. I only needed a few minutes to collect my thoughts, and I was back on the bike for the rest of the ride.
I really got lucky. My bare skin was never against the road, there was always clothing in the way. That saved me from getting much worse road rash.
So, my lesson for the day: "Pay Attention!"
#2
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,057
Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
17 Posts
Welcome to the club. There are only 2 types of cyclists. Those who've crashed, and those that haven't........yet.
Good that nothing really hurt but your pride, though.
Good that nothing really hurt but your pride, though.
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
#3
fishologist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,199
Bikes: Diamondback MTB; Leader 736R
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am glad you are okay...however, picturing you sliding on your arse down the road paints quite a funny scene in my mind....LOL
__________________
We cannot solve problems with the same level of consciousness that created them. A.E.
1990 Diamond Back MTB
2007 Leader 736R
www.cohocyclist.blogspot.com
https://www.loopd.com/members/cohocyclist/Default.aspx
We cannot solve problems with the same level of consciousness that created them. A.E.
1990 Diamond Back MTB
2007 Leader 736R
www.cohocyclist.blogspot.com
https://www.loopd.com/members/cohocyclist/Default.aspx
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paradise, TX
Posts: 2,087
Bikes: Soma Pescadero, Surly Pugsley, Salsa Fargo, Schwinn Klunker, Gravity SS 27.5, Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times
in
166 Posts
Does falling off a recumbent really even count as a fall?
Just kidding, road rash sucks.
Just kidding, road rash sucks.
#6
Allegheny Mtns of WV
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hampshire County, West Virginia
Posts: 310
Bikes: Giant Cypress
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was in the TDC last week and there was a stretch of uneven pavement and everyone was riding in the lower section being worked on for some reason and I had two cyclists wipe out right in front of me as they were trying to get switch lanes into the upper lane. Tehy were both females and knew they had to be hurting
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: eastern Massachusetts
Posts: 999
Bikes: Rans V-Rex
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
From what I understand, losing front wheel traction and sliding is one of the more common types of 'bent falls, compared with going over the handlebars on an upright. Given the option, I'd rather lose the skin on my hips than break my collarbone (I did that skiiing in my teens, once was enough!)...