As we age our balance and subsequent ability to recover from a stumble diminish. We take longer to realize that we are out of balance and longer to effectively react. We are much more likely to fall. This is especially true for we who are 65 or older. Falls are the leading cause of death for folks 65 or older. Oddly enough weight training reduces this balance/recovery decline.

TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injury) also increase with age. Our brains become more fragile. To make it worse, we are also as much as twice as likely to die from a TBI. 81% of TBIs in those of us over 65 are caused by falls.

If you find this alarming, well --- so do I. However, it is better to know the “stats” before learning them personally and becoming a datum point within them.

So, lift weights, do Tai Chi, dance or Yoga to help maintain and perhaps even improve your balance. Don’t fall down ;o)
And please consider wearing a helmet when you ride.

Joe

A couple of links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumatic_brain_injury
TBI: Get the Facts | Concussion | Traumatic Brain Injury | CDC Injury Center

Riding a trike reduces the chances of falling too.

I'm 71 and haven't fallen since my car-bike accident in 2014. My brain problems afterward. But I've had two "major" surgeries in the last 5 months. The latest was 10 days ago. No brain mis-firings so far but for some reason I don't have much energy today, but tomorrow will be better.

I would have trouble railing a corner in a TT, though.

tmac100: Good observation --- as long as it is a "Tadpole" trike. One-wheel in front ain't a good idea.

Joe

Sitting on the couch reduces falls and TBI. Thanks for your concern, but my life would be incomplete without active outdoor hobbies. I'll accept the risks, just keep me out of that dangerous gym routine. Personally I think riding a bike for decades helps most people improve their balance and leg strength to minimize falls more than any other activity

So what delta tricycles are you familiar with?

Retro Grouch:
If by "delta tricycles" you mean one-wheel-in-front trikes, well --- it does not matter all that much. Very low CG delta trikes would be much less likely to overturn than those I see women (mostly) riding to the market to buy stuff. The dynamic issue is CG (center of gravity) travel as the lateral loads change.

A rather tall CG (upright riding position, big basket behind the seat trike) isn't the same as a dedicated sport-type trike.

Still, if you were to compare a 'delta' trike to a 'tadpole' trike (both having the same CG height) the tadpole trike could go around a corner or turn while braking at a higher lateral "g" loading than the equivalent delta trike before lifting a wheel.

Joe

BTW:
I was in charge of testing of the Honda ATC90 while was still a prototype. After two months testing I (and its designer) declared that it was, essentially unstable and its steering was counter-intuitive; I told them not to build it with one wheel in front. They built it anyway ($$$) and, literally, thousands of riders were killed or disabled as a result. -- JM

I could never learn to ride a motorcycle with sidecar reliably enough to trust myself on public roads at even moderate speeds. FWIW.

Wildwood:!
Yeah, man! I know what you mean. I've had some time on sidecar rigs; ya' turn one way and its great turn the other, well-- you know!
When I worked in Hollywood but lived in Venice, I rode east into work on the Santa Monica freeway: There was a guy riding a "Ural" sidecar rig who would, out of boredom, lift the wheel and ride along for a quarter-mile or more with the sidecar wheel about three feet off the roadway -- I loved that guy!

Joe

Good idea to notify family and friends in advance to be alert to potential concussions in cyclists. Discuss the risks and symptoms so they'll know what to watch for if we or another cyclist falls.

There's a risk of concussion even without head impact, as a good jolt to the body can make our brains bounce around inside the skull. The risk increases with age as our brains shrink.

It's common to experience a "lucid interval" even with serious internal head injuries but no obvious external injuries. And it's not unusual for folks who've experienced concussions or been unconscious to deny that anything is wrong, and even to refuse treatment or examination. If they become very irritable or angry about medical attention they've almost certainly experienced shock, at a minimum, and possibly a concussion and brain injury (unless the person is always just a jerk!).

Followup physical exams are a good idea over the 48 hours after a potential concussion. And there's no shame in seeking psychological evaluation and counseling or therapy if symptoms of PTSD or unusual changes in behavior occur. Some folks may experience confusion for months afterward, and others may feel irritable, depressed, agitated, etc. Helps to be aware of the symptoms and let others know what to watch for.

Do the motorheads still ride fast between lanes on crowded freeways in SCal?

Spot on. Two wheels in front is definitely the best trike configuration.

I once tried riding a friend's pedicab, and true to his warning, I was one of those folks who could not get it to steer. (Once that two wheel leaning becomes ingrained, it is hard to deprogram it.)

That's true. I was once on an island where my only available transportation was an adult tricycle with one wheel in front and two in back. On the plus side, the cargo space between the two wheels easily carried all of our bags. On the minus side, steering was nearly impossible because of my bicycle instincts. When I was around six, tricycles of this configuration were easy to ride.

Wildwood:
Yeah, they do. But let me tell’ya how it really is, usually at least. Kalifornia allows bikes to go between lanes/cars under the following conditions: traffic is going under 30mph, the difference in speed between the bike and cars is no more than10mph and, are Y’a ready, the cop likes your looks – LOL

One of the most crowded freeways in the USA is the 405 going over the hill south from the Valley into the Wilshire area during morning rush hour (10/20 mph). For as long as I can remember (two maybe three weeks, I’m 74 after all), there has been an ‘understanding’ between bikers and ‘cagers’ and the numbers one and two lanes. Those folks slogging along in the #1 lane drift to the left; the other folks slogging along in the #2 lane drift to the right. The result is a corridor for bikers. We: drivers, riders, COPs (Constables On Patrol) all have found peace with this arrangement. It works; it actually, works very well.

Joe

I fell during each of the last three rides I made about 18 months ago. No big deal, just skin off some of my extremities but my confidence was really shaken. I've had some other indications that my balance is off but that's not really a surprise as I'll be turning 76 yrs in another few weeks. Some folks suggested I sell my bikes (still own two) during my off period but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Well, the balance problem doesn't seem to have worsened so I've decided to, cautiously, give it another go. Lubed up one of the bikes and took a little two mile spin, helmet on. No problem! So hopefully I'll be puttering around for a while yet.

I spend much of my riding time on uncrowded paved/gravel trails these days. The internal tension generated by riding certain roads at convenient times took the fun out of my rides. Breaking it up still keeps it refreshing = so that some rides are totally carefree and some are still focused on the reality of road rides in a crowded and growing area.

kehomer:
Sounds like me. There was a time when I could literally run down the single rail of a railroad track, but --- that was 50+ years ago. Now, I sometimes have trouble getting up out of my chair to walk across the living room without grabbing a couch-top for stability.

Give me a little time and I’ll find you some internet links that you might find useful, chin up ;o)

Joe

Unlike riding a trike, riding a bike can help maintain/improve balance skills, which can help prevent falls when not cycling.

I would not want to gamble on the above^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^

Go Trike: My Front wheels are 34 inches apart.



My neurosurgeon told me he will remove 1/4 of my skull if I need another brain surgery.

Nope Don't want that.



Please Ride Safe..

Sounds like a threat to me.
As long as you don't flip it, you have good reason to stay triked.

How does the speed of your trike compare to your road bike? How about handling and taking turns? I know the delta style can be unstable on quick turns and I remember somebody here mentioning they keep their delta slow whenever there's any turns involved. Do you have to do something similar?

Thanks

Stan

Anyone who has suffered a major brain injury is at greater risk for another similar injury and must be very careful. Those of you who have had such an injury have almost certainly been told this. Brains certainly aren't like bones that grow stronger around a break. Not all news is good

Joe

It's legal and practiced in all of CA.

canklecat:
Good words! Seems like you know more than a little about the subject.

Until ex-football players started dropping, the general public and especially athletes did not seem to understand just how serious concussions are. Every rung bell (football players like that one) represents brain damage. It may not be much but it is damage just the same. All those brain-rattling impacts (boxing, blocking, soccer) add up.

Apparently, too, aged brains are even more easily damaged.

Joe

sorry I didn't respond sooner -- JM