I FELL OFF MY BIKE ON SUNDAY 20 JAN AND HAVE PUT THE AC JOINT OUT BUT PROBABLY HAVE MORE PAIN FROM WHAT IS THOUGHT TO BE A FRACTURED RIB. HOWEVER THE PAIN IS SUBSIDING ALL READY AND I AM JUST WEARING A SLING. i WOULD AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD TRY AND MOVE THE ARM WITHOUT PUTTING ANY STRAIN ON IT. tHE WIDTH OF THE SHOULDER IS ABOUT 2 THIRDS THE ORIGINAL LEGNTH.
i ALSO DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT AND i WOULD SAY I HAD MORE PAIN FROM THAT.
WHAT i WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW THE BIKE CAN LOSE CONTROL SO QUICKLY , I Swerved to avoid a branch on the road at speed and had just put new brake blocks on, maybe the brake was to powerful and when I applied the rear it just locked up and went over the full lock of the steering any ideas for safe descending?

Sorry to hear about your injury. Make sure it heals well before risking further jarring. My dislodged lower rib took ages to get right again.

As far as breaking goes, dont use the back, esp during cornering. It invariably breaks out from underneath you. You should practice using the front with a fine touch for those situations.
You need to descend at a safe speed, with enough road visible so you dont get surprised like that. Feather your brakes to control your speed on the straights, line up the corners wide in, narrow out, and corner without brakes, inside pedal up.

You can try cycling over obstacles like that. At high speed, you can often bunny hop a few inches. Apply the front and feel your weight go forward. Release the breaks and bounce up and over.

Like aviators, there are old cyclists and bold cyclists.

I don't mean to be mean, like one member of a subhuman species that visits the site but, maybe you should learn to "bunny hop" obstacles, once you master the technique it's much safer that sweving. if you can't find someone, a magazine or book to learn shoot me an e-mail and I'll advise you how.

Ride Safer
Pat

Ahh Haa thats where mountain bike skills(assuming you have them) comes in ... things like drifting, rear wheel drifts, two wheeled drifts .. using the rear wheel locked up to steer .., bunny hopping obstacles, weight transfer , using speed as your friend to get you out of a sticky sitch ...so on and so fourth , and when you do get stung ,sure it's gonna hurt! but pain is just temporary, experience lasts forever !!

The bike didn't lose control-you did.


2 questions: Why did you hit the rear brake so hard, and why did you turn the wheel full lock?

Seriously, you did something stupid. Maybe your new brake blocks are grippier than the old ones, but if you hammer on the rear brake like that, of course you are going to wipe out!! how long have you been riding?

(PS: Keep the caps lock off. It's really annoying)

Don't get uptight 'bout using caps lock ! , hey it's your first reply on this forum , and I'm sure YOU know this ..a simple mistake, It did'nt worry me none !!, enjoy you're time here at the bike forums Roy , and ask any questions you like !! No matter , No what ....

Yes, welcome Roy. Some bikes are a bit less stable than others and can catch you out if you are used to your previous bike.

Riding more brings experience.

The last near accident I had was when picking up a bike which had the brakes in continental style (back on right side)!!