I've been on this cycling adventure about 10 months now. About 2 months ago I had my first wreck. Pretty bad - high speed, broken rib, lot's of scrapes but I figured I was about due. 3 weeks later another one. This time concussion and lots more skin left on the pavement. Today was sheer stupidity on my part - didn't get out of my pedals - but another skinned elbow & knee.

That got me wondering should I get out the training wheels or are wrecks more common then we let on? So for those who are out riding at least 3-4 times per week, pushing the hammer down, how often do you wreck? The wreck could be your fault or someone else's.

Never. If a motorcyclist had the "when will I wreck" mindset, he'd never ride. I don't know what's going on but there's no reason to expect a wreck. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but look to yourself if you're having bike crashes. Sorry if that seems cold - not my intent.

I can't exactly say never. But, I've never broken any bones, nor left any skin on the pavement. I've gotten a little more cautious with things like descending hills with poor visibility (curves, blind drives, etc), or slippery conditions. I may not always be perfectly vigilant, but I try to pay attention to my surroundings.

My worst "crash" in recent time was about 10 years ago, I dropped my wheels into a road crack that I hadn't seen at dusk. I don't think I even hit the pavement, but jammed my elbows pretty hard, and bent up my rims.

I have wondered a bit what the exact limits for cornering are, but haven't wanted to tempt fate.

Yikes 3 times in 2 months!!! none of us would ever ride if we knew we'd hit the pavement 18 times a year!!!!!

ride more safely, even if you have to slow down a little.

Hopefully you wear a helmet (new one after EVERY impact event). Gloves help too.

Maybe add some bright blinking lights or wear more reflective clothing.

complete stop at all redlights and stop signs.

take the lane.

hand signals.......

The best thing you can do, is evaluate what happened and to try and think of what can be done differently to mitigate those conditions from becoming a problem.

I've had one or two busters in the time I've been riding. Nothing more than a graze though. Once was doing a U-turn on a slippery road after rain, another was me not paying attention and mounting the gutter. A third was me braking heavily to avoid rear-ending a council bus.

Since then I've gotten better, learned how to brake more effectively.

Last few times I've come anywhere near a crash, it was a few weeks back I went over some gravel on the road, and I could feel the front wheel about to slide out from underneath me. A minor correction and I managed to keep the bike upright and kept going — no crash.

Another was one pillock of a woman decided to execute a U-turn right in front of me. I could feel my rear wheel sliding that morning, but even then, I stayed upright.

So yes, in your first year or so you will have a few busters, although yours sound more severe than mine ever were. A bit more care and attention though, and you'll improve.

Sorry if my response came across as a flip answer, but I ride as if my life depended on it. I've taken motorcycle classes and the first day they told us "if you ever have a crash, it's your own fault".

Most crashes happen when you're distracted, so next time you're tempted to check your bike computer/adjust your glasses/peek at your gears while in traffic or gravel, think again.

As a bike riding child, crashes were a common event and not even worth mentioning. Now, at age 64 and riding faster and sometimes in traffic I know that a crash is very bad thing, so I ride as if my life depended on it.

My last one was all my fault. A week ago was riding home at night from a group ride on a very familiar route. 20mph or so, no hands on the bars just relaxing chatting to another rider when I hit a missing area of pavement that I have never seen before as I took the lane to cross to the bike path. Went down hard, right elbow and knee came down first, then the bike, then my head hit the pavement. Had a helmet on which has been tossed, and the arm and knee are recovering with a horrible scab. Before that, I don't remember the last time I wrecked. Assess what you have done, what you could have done, and what you should have done.

Only 2 in 3 years of commuting, probably close to two thousand miles. Both could of been prevented but was just scrapped knees. I always wears gloves so that reduces the hand damage. The 2nd was last week when my tire got stuck in the light rails theyre putting in KC. Always think ahead.. wears you out at first but you get used to it.

I can specifically remember six wrecks over the past 14 years. One or two hardly deserve the term wreck.

Some riders like to joke about not riding hard enough and not wrecking enough. That talk is fine over a beer, but don't think that way when you're actually out on the bike. Take care of yourself so you can ride again the next day.

I think that wrecks beget wrecks.

It's a mental thing. I've had a couple of crashes serious enough for me to finish the ride in the back of an ambulance. They have definitely left me with some serious anxiety if not PTSD. When I'm tense like that I think that I'm much more likely to crash again. I think that I'm gradually getting over it but it's been a long process.

Last wreck was 8 years ago for me. Nearly 20 thousand miles ago.

I attribute this mostly to situational awareness, and following best practices. Find a LAB road course, and some research materials on how best to remain safe on a bike. That's what I did.

I found This book enjoyable and very helpful.

It depends on what you call a crash. Over the last 30 years I have fallen off my bike about 5 times.

1. I was speeding down hill and my front wheel slipped into the joint in the road and my wheel stuck as I was thrown over the handlebars. Ate cement, skinned both arms and broke my front teeth.

2. Walking dog while riding bike, dog went perpendicular to bike, pulled me off and I fractured my elbow

3. came off trail and did too quick of a stop to avoid getting hit by a car and fell over hurt arm, it felt like I fractured the elbow again. I was able to unclip but fell in the wrong direction. It looked really stupid, I'm sure.

4 and 5. about a month ago I rode my hybrid bike on some single track trails (first time) and fell over twice because I was going too slow and didn't anticipate stopping and couldn't unclip so I fell over and laughed all the way.

A lot of people fall off their bikes once when they first start using spd or other clipless pedals. Then they learn to anticipate stopping.

All my wrecks have been on the MB and were totally preventable. Lessons learned the hard way. Much more attentive and defensive on the road bike. I dunno. Guess that's why they are called ACCIDENTS. Ride safe my friend.

All my wrecks have been on the MB and were totally preventable. Lessons learned the hard way. Much more attentive and defensive on the road bike. I dunno. Guess that's why they are called ACCIDENTS. Ride safe my friend.

i rode for a few decades, including commuting and a number of long multi-month tours with nary an injury or even a crash worthy of the name. lately, i've found some form riding about 8000-9000 miles per year, and consequently ride faster.

result? three solo accidents, my fault, and three permanent injuries. i contemplated riding a MTB on the single track around here because it was a realistic option and i thought it might be safer. nope, wrong... so that's not happen'n.

latest crash was a carbon copy of Dominico Pozzovivo's crash the other day in the Giro, including memory loss, stitches and bandages.

Not counting 'Arte Johnsons" I've only had one in the past 10,000+ miles, and that was from not paying enough attention and getting my front wheel caught in a crack. If you're suffering multiple crashes, you need to figure out what you're doing wrong and fix it. Or if the people you're riding with are dangerous, then stop riding with them until THEY fix their problems.

Gone down a couple of time on snow or ice. Also, I no longer ride when drunk. Never hit anything, but couldn't stay upright.

I can only remember going down three times in the last twenty years or so. Two of those were within the last three years. Hmmmmmmm

I can relate. The first wreck was purely my fault - a miscalculated hi-speed turn. The second I will still take responsibility for - making a turn in the rain the wheels came out from under me. Still trying to figure that one out. Wasn't going fast, in fact I had just come out of another turn going much faster.

I ride the same "training" route just about every night. It's not real long, so I was focused on getting faster. It's got quite a few downhills with turns at the end. Now I'm really paranoid - I slow down on the hills and even small puddles of water scare the hell out of me. Obviously my times have slowed down a good bit.

Considering elbow & knee pads