CraigB

25+ years I've been using clipless pedals without a fall, and felt pretty smug about it. Then, on this morning's 56 mile TT training ride, I made a stupid mistake and fell over.

I had foolishly taken my cell phone with me, and got a call from a client about 10 miles into the ride. I got off the road to stop and take it, at a short, steep rise between the highway I was on, and an adjacent elevated railbed MUP. As I talked her through her problem (she couldn't get the lockbox to work on the front door of her not-quite-finished new house and couldn't get in because of it), I was standing over the bike, my right foot on the ground and my left foot still clipped in. When done, I tried to turn around to go back down to the highway. This is where the stupid part came in. I had to turn left to go back where I was, and that became the downhill side of the bike. By the time I realized the significance of this, I was past the tipping point, with nothing to do but try to roll into it. It was relatively painless, until I saw that I'd traded some skin for road debris on my knee and elbow. No idea how the knee managed to get scraped right on the front, below the kneecap, but it did.

The worst part about it was after I was back on the road, watching a little blood trickle down my shin, and feeling the sweat stinging the wound, she texted back to say she did finally get the lockbox to work, but skinned her finger in the process.

JanMM

Hope I'm not next.

Glad you weren't maimed.

overthehillmedi

So were any cute young things involved? Oh, and hows the bike?

qcpmsame 

Hope the client doesn't sue or cancel her contract for the home. That would be irony in its purest form. Glad you are okay.

Bill

Dudelsack 

Best thread title I've seen here for awhile. And we feel your pain.

CraigB

Thanks for the sympathy, everyone. The bike shows no signs of any kind to indicate it suffered at my hands. The whole thing seemed much "softer" than I expected it to other than the skinned knee and elbow (not that I want to do it again).

And while there were no cute young things around, there was one attractive middle-aged lady walking on the MUP who saw it all and was very concerned about me.

teachme

Attractive middle aged ladies are good! Nice Tombay report!

Jamesw2

Enough of these "skin" stories on BF. This is G rated

John_V 

I'm glad that you are not hurt more than just the two bruises. Your Tombay incident turned out much better than mine did, two weeks ago. Still can't use the right arm very much and can't ride my road bike. Good thing my wife has a recumbent trike I can use in the meantime. I'm getting better at steering it with one arm.

Mort Canard

At my age an attractive 42 yr. old lady is much preferable to two cute 21 yr. olds! They know what they want and aren't shy about asking for it! Come to think about it, a 52 yr. old may be preferable to a 42 yr. old.

Craig,
Glad to hear you are OK. I am still picking scab from the strawberry on my right elbow from a pile up in a gravel patch a couple of weeks ago. I feel your pain Bro'!

overthehillmedi

As previous posters have said, for some of us (self included) an "attractive middled-aged lady " qualifies as a cute young thing.

stapfam

One of the Stupid falls that occur with riders but that is what Tombay's are about. Hope you kept the customer that with the problem and you had another criteria for a Tombay- Person of the opposite gender showing concern. So certificate to follow.

stapfam

Hope you will not gain another one in the near future

Doug.

CraigB

LOL! Thanks, Doug.

jethro56 

My first (and only so far) Tombay was on day two of riding clipless. No blood and just laughing during that seemingly endless time between knowing there'e nothing you can do and landing on the grass.

Nightshade

Yep, sooner or later clipless will get you!