My first crash
 

Well last night (6/10/03) I had my first REAL crash. The falls I had while getting used to clipless pedals don’t count.

It was raining, I never went across a metal open grate bridge (singing bridge) when it was wet. I thought that since I’m riding on the edges of the metal and not the flat part, that it wouldn’t be slippery. I started across the bridge at about 20mph. The wheels started squirming and trying to slide out from under me. I’m proud to say that I held it all the way across the bridge. Maintaining my balance meant I couldn’t steer or brake, so by the time I was coming off the bridge I was on the far left side of the road. Unfortunately, the road has a hard right bend just after the bridge.

I knew that I couldn’t make the bend. Ahead of me was what looked like flat field with low weeds. In reality it was a 4 foot drop with 4 foot weeds down below. The bike went down over the bank and when it hit, I went down over the bike and kept on going, sliding through the weeds.

When I regained my senses and tried to adjust my glasses I saw the blood. I thought that I must have banged my head of face with all that much blood. Turns out it was just a scratch on my nose, mixed with the rain – it looked like a lot. My leg and chest are bruised and very sore (doctor says no broken bones). Since I’m over 50 I don’t heal as fast as I used to so I was a bit concerned.

There was a 25 foot path of mowed down weeds that the bike and I had made. All in all, it could have been worse. There were no rocks in the field, and the weeds were thick, wet and slippery (but not thorny) which made a better landing site than asphalt.

The bike is in worse shape than I - mangled front derailer, bent/broken left brake hood and ripped saddle. Sure hope the shop gets it fixed before the weekend.

Sounds like you made the best of an unwinnable situation. You're right, it could have been much worse. There is a saying that the only two types of cyclists who exist are those who have crashed and those who will crash. All we can do in situations like that one is learn from them (something I didn't do from my penultimate crash, leading to another identical one last Sunday).

Welcome to the club....glad you're ok. Remember, permanent scars earn 'cool factor' points.

Man, I must be pretty cool then! (or do stupid mistakes on the bike not count?!:) )

Well Sunday I went over the handlebars for the second time. The first time, a year and a half ago, I broke some ribs. This time I was on my Mt. bike again, I rode down a very steep, but short, 20', hill. Would have made it, but there was a blackberry vine with 1/4" thorns strung about neck high across the trail. I ducked to keep my neck from being shredded and lost control. Went over and hit hard! Broke some ribs and my shoulder blade. Broke it into three pieces. Won't be back on the bike for 4-6 months.

If you dont crash when you are riding (mountain or downhill) you arent riding hard enough. Fair enough with the road, you dont really want to be crashing. It hurts. A lot.

I've been for a ride at the local downhill track today and I crashed 4 times, but still beat my mates home by about 10 mins... heh

MikeR - glad you're OK.

John00 - hope you heal soon.

Touchwood no crashes for over a year.

After saying that I'd suggest you ride very carefully tomorrow.

Mike, glad you're OK. That could have been very bad. Any time you can walk away from a crash, you're doing OK.

Off topic - What part of PA are you from? My wife is from the Hershey/Harrisburg area. She grew up in Perry County.

Tell your wife "hey!" I hear that her home county is about to get it's first red light!
I work in Harrisburg and I live just across the river from Perry County, in Halifax (I'm actually closer to Elizabethville). I'm currently trying to map out a good, back roads route through Perry County to Carlisle.

Well, in hindsight I think that If I were better at cornering I might have gotten through the curve. I've read about how to lean the bike (but hold my body upright) and make tighter curves. I have practiced this but not enough. I'm going to work on that.

And thanks to all the well wishers.

Horsewomen say you are not a REAL rider "until you get your pants dusted". I guess we could say that about road bikes and road rash.

Cyclists take crashing as a matter of course. I broke my collarbone into four - yes that's right FOUR pieces 2 weeks ago. My parents think I'm crazy to ever want to get on the bike again...
(Oh yeah and I also broke my wrist last year)

Man I am 25 and I still can't get my mom to stop nagging me ;).

I'm 53 - so I know. When you get older your mom won't nag you. The old injuries in you body will nag worse than anyone else could. :)

Actually in the rain, you want to lean your body and keep the bike upright!

Doesn't matter, I crash anyways!

Last time was crossing a road, WAM! hit the ground before I knew I was going down. Right in front of a sliding UPS truck! He stopped in time, and I limped home with a huge strawberry on my elbow and thigh, and a TORQUED rear axle (don't ask me how, but the axle was U-shaped!)

Glad to hear you're o.k., heal quickly!

L8R