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Quote:

Originally Posted by munkyv22 (Post 6538133)

My first road bike crash?

I was riding my 3 day old Madone on a secluded little (not very well known) path. I am booking it doing probably 32Mph. This is a narrow path, maybe 4 or 5 feet across. It also curves to and fro and has lots of hills and dips. Very fun.

Anyway, I came accelerating out of a corner and suddenly see these three fat women walking shoulder to shoulder up the path a ways. I call out that I am coming up. No response, I shout again, louder. No response. I finally am maybe 100 ft from them and I yell "Move the f*ck out of the way". They finally all scream and jump into the dirt on the sides as I tear through. Then they start yelling at me. "Slow down *****hole" they say. I flip them off over my shoulder as I stand and sprint up a hill and out of their sight.

Little did I know, this particular hill did not remain straight after its crest, it reaches the top, drops down AND turns at the same time. Turns sharp. I am doing 35 Mph. This is not a good thing. I slam on my breaks and start trying to get some lean in for the turn. Not happening. I go straight off the path, into the sand, where the Madone quickly grabs a front wheel full of sand and, brakes applied 100% now, throws me over the handlebars.

I did NOT unclip as this happened. I had the joy of hurdling through the air with the bike still attached, landing on my face and chest in the sand (thank FSM for small miracles) and then having the bike land on me, unclip my shoes and tear my calve open with the chainring.

Believe it or not, I was up, back on the bike and riding away WELL before the fat beeatches came over the hill to see my all wrecked.

That was my first road bike crash,

Karma's a b.

(If that's really a true story and not a troll.)

Thankfully not had many in 40 years of racing. My worst was just over a year ago breaking my collar bone for the first time in a criterium.

Quote:

Originally Posted by velik (Post 6539827)

Often one's body has an amazing ability to react without brain knowing what's going on but unfortunately not always :-(

It is amazing how you usually get unclipped. In every road or mtb tumble I've had I am somehow unclipped without even thinking about it.

One thing, whenever the thought or discussion of crashing comes up think to yourself "TUCK AND ROLL". Try and mentally embed that in your head and muscles. Obviously if you go down on your side it does not apply, but anytime you are going forwards or over the top, tuck your head down, roll and try not to reach with your arms. Mtb is a great teacher of this ;)

My first hard road crash was in the low 20's; group ride and the guy in front braked and went right to avoid a hole, right into my front wheel. From mtb crashes I instinctively tucked and rolled as I went over and came out very sore with some solid rash on the back of my shoulders, elbow and knees. It hurt but I was able to ride the 10 miles back home at a decent pace.

The other day I was riding in Boston on my usual commuter route when I saw this guy take a hilarious bad fall right where Beacon St meets Commonweatlh Ave, near Chestnut Hill... looks like he hit a track or something. I was laughing so hard at the sight that I rode directly into the car in front of me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KidTruth (Post 6565233)

That must be one hell of a commuter route from Houston, Texas!

Tegaderm is your friend if you get to it in time.

Biggest tip I can offer having learned that lesson myself first hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoesInBoston (Post 6571238)

That must be one hell of a commuter route from Houston, Texas!

Uphill both ways, too.

+1 on tegaderm. Once it is on, DO NOT TAKE IT OFF. If you do, you end up spending lots of money and eliminate the advantage. Just watch it for signs of infection.

My first crash was self induced. Just learned how to do front brake endos with my bmx (namesake) and was showing off to my Dad before school. Sure enough, over the handlebars and into the asphalt.