Chef Fall Down Go BOOM BOOM
08-02-12 | 10:09 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 899
Likes: 7
From: Coupeville, WA
Bikes: 84 Raleigh Technium- 89 Shogun Mt. Bike-96 Miyata 914
It was such a nice commute this morning until about 1/2 mile away from work. Decided to take a back route which is a small path close to work that is paved. Nice area and heavily wooded. I notced some pieces of twigs and such on the ground but no issue. It was pitch black out and I was feeling good. Curved into a slight turn, noticed more twigs I needed to avoid and BAAAAAMMMMMM I hit a split treet that was portruding out into the path. Fell and took a skid on my left side. Scraped up and left wrist a little mingeled and left palm killing me. Banged my head and nice to have a helmet! Took a quick glance of the bike and it looked ok.
The last half mile to work took a long time it seemed. Couldnt apply pressure on my left wrist and it hurt to put my palm on any part of my bars.
Just another day!
The last half mile to work took a long time it seemed. Couldnt apply pressure on my left wrist and it hurt to put my palm on any part of my bars.
Just another day!
Always figured if that happened to me I would prefer to have a helmet on too but I sure don't want to make hay out of that issue here.
08-03-12 | 07:28 PM
#31
just ride
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia
Bummer about the crash but that only seals your membership into the community. I think it's an unfortunate fact of life for anyone who cycles regularly in the dark, that there will be some moment when you are just riding along -same as you have hundreds of times - and you find yourself in a violent encounter with the pavement.
For me it was last fall, when after commuting 18 miles a day without incident for a year and a half, I crashed 3 times within two weeks.
1)Day after the freak October snow, at 5AM had to detour from my normal route due to down power lines. Sliped on ice that I didn't think would be there according to predicted temperatures. Barked my shin -no big deal.
2) Due to same freak storm, tons of branches had come down because the heavy wet snow fell when the trees still had leaves. Everyone dragged the branches to the curb. So again, in the dark sometime between 5 and 5:30 AM, I'm riding along +/- 15MPh and I come to a sudden violent halt due to branch in spoke. Half asleep, all of a sudden I'm flying headfirst over the handlebars. Really smashed my right wrist, shin and left elbow and knee. Lots of blood from the shin and ligaments and tendons in wrist clearly damaged. ( could not roll down window of my truck or use it to push open a door - but somehow could ride a bike as long as you allow for loud cursing upon every bump and pothole)
3) again about a week later about 5 AM in light rain that was not supposed to fall according to weather report, I overcooked a turn at an intersection that I have traversed hundreds of times before. Went down hard and damaged left wrist, shin and right elbow and knee. A mirror image of the previous wreck.
So what can we learn ?
1)The wrists are a tough injury. Mine are still not at full strength but they are much better than last fall. Best I can tell, conventional medicine says that rest and immobilzation are the keys to healing torn tendons and ligaments - like that will ever happen with an addicted cyclist.
2) The over cooked turn in the rain ? Turns out upon closer examination, there was a steel plate in the road at wider radius that I normally make. Turning bike tire on a wet steel plate ? No chance. Moral of the story -slow down when conditions are not favorable.
3) Although I damaged my wrists I did not tear up my hand due to gloves that I was wearing on account of temperature. I now wear cycling gloves without fingers in the warm days just to guard against my next crash. Sound like you might consider this.
4) When riding in the dark - more light - more better. I don't know how I didn't see the stick or the steel plate but more light couldn't have hurt. (was riding with about 120 lumens which seemed to be enough at the time .......)
good luck - hang in there - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
For me it was last fall, when after commuting 18 miles a day without incident for a year and a half, I crashed 3 times within two weeks.
1)Day after the freak October snow, at 5AM had to detour from my normal route due to down power lines. Sliped on ice that I didn't think would be there according to predicted temperatures. Barked my shin -no big deal.
2) Due to same freak storm, tons of branches had come down because the heavy wet snow fell when the trees still had leaves. Everyone dragged the branches to the curb. So again, in the dark sometime between 5 and 5:30 AM, I'm riding along +/- 15MPh and I come to a sudden violent halt due to branch in spoke. Half asleep, all of a sudden I'm flying headfirst over the handlebars. Really smashed my right wrist, shin and left elbow and knee. Lots of blood from the shin and ligaments and tendons in wrist clearly damaged. ( could not roll down window of my truck or use it to push open a door - but somehow could ride a bike as long as you allow for loud cursing upon every bump and pothole)
3) again about a week later about 5 AM in light rain that was not supposed to fall according to weather report, I overcooked a turn at an intersection that I have traversed hundreds of times before. Went down hard and damaged left wrist, shin and right elbow and knee. A mirror image of the previous wreck.
So what can we learn ?
1)The wrists are a tough injury. Mine are still not at full strength but they are much better than last fall. Best I can tell, conventional medicine says that rest and immobilzation are the keys to healing torn tendons and ligaments - like that will ever happen with an addicted cyclist.
2) The over cooked turn in the rain ? Turns out upon closer examination, there was a steel plate in the road at wider radius that I normally make. Turning bike tire on a wet steel plate ? No chance. Moral of the story -slow down when conditions are not favorable.
3) Although I damaged my wrists I did not tear up my hand due to gloves that I was wearing on account of temperature. I now wear cycling gloves without fingers in the warm days just to guard against my next crash. Sound like you might consider this.
4) When riding in the dark - more light - more better. I don't know how I didn't see the stick or the steel plate but more light couldn't have hurt. (was riding with about 120 lumens which seemed to be enough at the time .......)
good luck - hang in there - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Last edited by bubbagrannygear; 08-03-12 at 08:15 PM.
08-04-12 | 02:12 AM
#32
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
Bummer about the crash but that only seals your membership into the community. I think it's an unfortunate fact of life for anyone who cycles regularly in the dark, that there will be some moment when you are just riding along -same as you have hundreds of times - and you find yourself in a violent encounter with the pavement.
For me it was last fall, when after commuting 18 miles a day without incident for a year and a half, I crashed 3 times within two weeks.
1)Day after the freak October snow, at 5AM had to detour from my normal route due to down power lines. Sliped on ice that I didn't think would be there according to predicted temperatures. Barked my shin -no big deal.
2) Due to same freak storm, tons of branches had come down because the heavy wet snow fell when the trees still had leaves. Everyone dragged the branches to the curb. So again, in the dark sometime between 5 and 5:30 AM, I'm riding along +/- 15MPh and I come to a sudden violent halt due to branch in spoke. Half asleep, all of a sudden I'm flying headfirst over the handlebars. Really smashed my right wrist, shin and left elbow and knee. Lots of blood from the shin and ligaments and tendons in wrist clearly damaged. ( could not roll down window of my truck or use it to push open a door - but somehow could ride a bike as long as you allow for loud cursing upon every bump and pothole)
3) again about a week later about 5 AM in light rain that was not supposed to fall according to weather report, I overcooked a turn at an intersection that I have traversed hundreds of times before. Went down hard and damaged left wrist, shin and right elbow and knee. A mirror image of the previous wreck.
So what can we learn ?
1)The wrists are a tough injury. Mine are still not at full strength but they are much better than last fall. Best I can tell, conventional medicine says that rest and immobilzation are the keys to healing torn tendons and ligaments - like that will ever happen with an addicted cyclist.
2) The over cooked turn in the rain ? Turns out upon closer examination, there was a steel plate in the road at wider radius that I normally make. Turning bike tire on a wet steel plate ? No chance. Moral of the story -slow down when conditions are not favorable.
3) Although I damaged my wrists I did not tear up my hand due to gloves that I was wearing on account of temperature. I now wear cycling gloves without fingers in the warm days just to guard against my next crash. Sound like you might consider this.
4) When riding in the dark - more light - more better. I don't know how I didn't see the stick or the steel plate but more light couldn't have hurt. (was riding with about 120 lumens which seemed to be enough at the time .......)
good luck - hang in there - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
For me it was last fall, when after commuting 18 miles a day without incident for a year and a half, I crashed 3 times within two weeks.
1)Day after the freak October snow, at 5AM had to detour from my normal route due to down power lines. Sliped on ice that I didn't think would be there according to predicted temperatures. Barked my shin -no big deal.
2) Due to same freak storm, tons of branches had come down because the heavy wet snow fell when the trees still had leaves. Everyone dragged the branches to the curb. So again, in the dark sometime between 5 and 5:30 AM, I'm riding along +/- 15MPh and I come to a sudden violent halt due to branch in spoke. Half asleep, all of a sudden I'm flying headfirst over the handlebars. Really smashed my right wrist, shin and left elbow and knee. Lots of blood from the shin and ligaments and tendons in wrist clearly damaged. ( could not roll down window of my truck or use it to push open a door - but somehow could ride a bike as long as you allow for loud cursing upon every bump and pothole)
3) again about a week later about 5 AM in light rain that was not supposed to fall according to weather report, I overcooked a turn at an intersection that I have traversed hundreds of times before. Went down hard and damaged left wrist, shin and right elbow and knee. A mirror image of the previous wreck.
So what can we learn ?
1)The wrists are a tough injury. Mine are still not at full strength but they are much better than last fall. Best I can tell, conventional medicine says that rest and immobilzation are the keys to healing torn tendons and ligaments - like that will ever happen with an addicted cyclist.
2) The over cooked turn in the rain ? Turns out upon closer examination, there was a steel plate in the road at wider radius that I normally make. Turning bike tire on a wet steel plate ? No chance. Moral of the story -slow down when conditions are not favorable.
3) Although I damaged my wrists I did not tear up my hand due to gloves that I was wearing on account of temperature. I now wear cycling gloves without fingers in the warm days just to guard against my next crash. Sound like you might consider this.
4) When riding in the dark - more light - more better. I don't know how I didn't see the stick or the steel plate but more light couldn't have hurt. (was riding with about 120 lumens which seemed to be enough at the time .......)
good luck - hang in there - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
08-04-12 | 09:08 AM
#33
Banned
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,804
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Glad you're alright, Chef!
I'm still recovering from my fall last summer July 3, 2011...Dislocated shoulder.
I still cycle though!
I'm still recovering from my fall last summer July 3, 2011...Dislocated shoulder.
I still cycle though!
08-04-12 | 10:56 PM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,209
Likes: 33
From: Silicon Valley, CA
Chef, haven't I see pics of your bike with five or six lights on it? I'm curious how you missed the tree. Were you busy looking down at the twigs? I've learned to keep my eyes moving when riding in the dark. Since I can't see as far ahead at night as I can during the day, I try to spend more time looking down the road. I'm glad your fall wasn't catastrophic for you or the bike.
Edit: Oops, that cehoward. I have about the same amount of light: 700-800 on the bars, 400 on the helmet.
Edit: Oops, that cehoward. I have about the same amount of light: 700-800 on the bars, 400 on the helmet.
Last edited by a1penguin; 08-04-12 at 11:00 PM.
08-05-12 | 01:24 AM
#35
Powerful-Ugly Creature
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 569
Likes: 1
Bummer about the crash but that only seals your membership into the community. I think it's an unfortunate fact of life for anyone who cycles regularly in the dark, that there will be some moment when you are just riding along -same as you have hundreds of times - and you find yourself in a violent encounter with the pavement.
For me it was last fall, when after commuting 18 miles a day without incident for a year and a half, I crashed 3 times within two weeks.
1)Day after the freak October snow, at 5AM had to detour from my normal route due to down power lines. Sliped on ice that I didn't think would be there according to predicted temperatures. Barked my shin -no big deal.
2) Due to same freak storm, tons of branches had come down because the heavy wet snow fell when the trees still had leaves. Everyone dragged the branches to the curb. So again, in the dark sometime between 5 and 5:30 AM, I'm riding along +/- 15MPh and I come to a sudden violent halt due to branch in spoke. Half asleep, all of a sudden I'm flying headfirst over the handlebars. Really smashed my right wrist, shin and left elbow and knee. Lots of blood from the shin and ligaments and tendons in wrist clearly damaged. ( could not roll down window of my truck or use it to push open a door - but somehow could ride a bike as long as you allow for loud cursing upon every bump and pothole)
3) again about a week later about 5 AM in light rain that was not supposed to fall according to weather report, I overcooked a turn at an intersection that I have traversed hundreds of times before. Went down hard and damaged left wrist, shin and right elbow and knee. A mirror image of the previous wreck.
So what can we learn ?
1)The wrists are a tough injury. Mine are still not at full strength but they are much better than last fall. Best I can tell, conventional medicine says that rest and immobilzation are the keys to healing torn tendons and ligaments - like that will ever happen with an addicted cyclist.
2) The over cooked turn in the rain ? Turns out upon closer examination, there was a steel plate in the road at wider radius that I normally make. Turning bike tire on a wet steel plate ? No chance. Moral of the story -slow down when conditions are not favorable.
3) Although I damaged my wrists I did not tear up my hand due to gloves that I was wearing on account of temperature. I now wear cycling gloves without fingers in the warm days just to guard against my next crash. Sound like you might consider this.
4) When riding in the dark - more light - more better. I don't know how I didn't see the stick or the steel plate but more light couldn't have hurt. (was riding with about 120 lumens which seemed to be enough at the time .......)
good luck - hang in there - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
For me it was last fall, when after commuting 18 miles a day without incident for a year and a half, I crashed 3 times within two weeks.
1)Day after the freak October snow, at 5AM had to detour from my normal route due to down power lines. Sliped on ice that I didn't think would be there according to predicted temperatures. Barked my shin -no big deal.
2) Due to same freak storm, tons of branches had come down because the heavy wet snow fell when the trees still had leaves. Everyone dragged the branches to the curb. So again, in the dark sometime between 5 and 5:30 AM, I'm riding along +/- 15MPh and I come to a sudden violent halt due to branch in spoke. Half asleep, all of a sudden I'm flying headfirst over the handlebars. Really smashed my right wrist, shin and left elbow and knee. Lots of blood from the shin and ligaments and tendons in wrist clearly damaged. ( could not roll down window of my truck or use it to push open a door - but somehow could ride a bike as long as you allow for loud cursing upon every bump and pothole)
3) again about a week later about 5 AM in light rain that was not supposed to fall according to weather report, I overcooked a turn at an intersection that I have traversed hundreds of times before. Went down hard and damaged left wrist, shin and right elbow and knee. A mirror image of the previous wreck.
So what can we learn ?
1)The wrists are a tough injury. Mine are still not at full strength but they are much better than last fall. Best I can tell, conventional medicine says that rest and immobilzation are the keys to healing torn tendons and ligaments - like that will ever happen with an addicted cyclist.
2) The over cooked turn in the rain ? Turns out upon closer examination, there was a steel plate in the road at wider radius that I normally make. Turning bike tire on a wet steel plate ? No chance. Moral of the story -slow down when conditions are not favorable.
3) Although I damaged my wrists I did not tear up my hand due to gloves that I was wearing on account of temperature. I now wear cycling gloves without fingers in the warm days just to guard against my next crash. Sound like you might consider this.
4) When riding in the dark - more light - more better. I don't know how I didn't see the stick or the steel plate but more light couldn't have hurt. (was riding with about 120 lumens which seemed to be enough at the time .......)
good luck - hang in there - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
08-05-12 | 02:57 PM
#36
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
Chef, haven't I see pics of your bike with five or six lights on it? I'm curious how you missed the tree. Were you busy looking down at the twigs? I've learned to keep my eyes moving when riding in the dark. Since I can't see as far ahead at night as I can during the day, I try to spend more time looking down the road. I'm glad your fall wasn't catastrophic for you or the bike.
Edit: Oops, that cehoward. I have about the same amount of light: 700-800 on the bars, 400 on the helmet.
Edit: Oops, that cehoward. I have about the same amount of light: 700-800 on the bars, 400 on the helmet.
08-05-12 | 05:06 PM
#37
just ride
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia
Thanks. My wrists are getting stronger but still not fully recovered. I will look into them since I'm sure another fall would cause major damage.
08-06-12 | 06:44 AM
#38
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 4
From: Oregon City, OR
I feel like wearing them while riding would be very tough.
Especially with the plastic in your way..they do limit your range of motion.
08-07-12 | 06:35 PM
#41
just ride
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia
In addition to weekday commuter I am a weekend warrior on my road bike. As a fellow rider that I happend to come across during a nasty downpour while we were playing " this is not a race but I'm trying to pass/drop you" said as we parted routes after riding to a draw - "STAY UPRIGHT".
Good advice for all of us. I'm doing my best to heed.
Last edited by bubbagrannygear; 08-07-12 at 06:58 PM.
