Brian

Next time someone comments on the reckless nature of some ss/fixie riders, I'll be sure to quote you.

KrisPistofferson

stendhalian

I don’t wanna die in the wreckage
Don’t wanna go blind in the wreckage
Don’t wanna go down in the wreckage
Don’t wanna get stuck in the wreckage
Sometimes it’s all I can see
The wreckage is all around me
The human wreckage, the human wreckage
To you, I say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, bye-bye, bye-bye

shankton

Maybe you can teach me the right way to fall after a drunk AH in a car blows a stop sign, crushes your right knee and launches you into the middle of a busy Chicago intersection. My martial arts training failed me on that one.

Aeroplane

Another thing that teaches you about how to fall on a bike: Mountain biking. This past summer I took so many endos, diggers, and just general wipeouts that the road looks like a safety zone.

jfmckenna

LOL +1

My Dad who is a black belt in Judo taught me how to fall. But if your going 20-30mph on a bike and fall lets face it, that’s different. Hopping a curb and falling is no big deal. I pretty much fall every time I go mountain biking or cyclocross racing but again those are typically low speed low impact falls.

Ken Cox

I've fallen a few times.
The other day I went down on ice and did a nice roll.
However, last March 29th my front wheel went out from underneath me on sheet ice, and I hit still clipped in and hands on the handlebars.
I didn't realize gravity could work that fast.
I broke four ribs, collapsed a lung, and lost a month of work and two paychecks.
As we say in my business, "You can cheat death a thousand times, but death only has to win once."

Doctor Who

You really can't do much about protecting yourself if you're hitting the tarmac at 25 MPH.

Xscarred for lifex

lyledriver

I recently fell while riding my fixie at the skatepark.
It seems my 1-1/4" Conti Ultrasport's have a little less grip on spraypaint than my 2.1" Odyssey Paths do.

ch0mb0

damn, do I really miss those days sometimes. finding some ledges or rails, hitting them and hanging out for hours. absolutely loved it. still have a pair of razors lying around.

metallo pesante

yeah man, i got a pair of razor shima S4s back at my house, i've been thinking about pulling them out for a little skating pretty soon.

skelly

Would it be correct to say that falling more often makes your bones a stronger? I always find it pretty crazy that people break bones pacticing skidding, when I see people routinely eat it on 20 foot dirt jumps and metal and concrete stairs, just to get up and try it again. Do people who fall often build up a resistance to breakage?

brunning

i had a roadie coach once who taught us how to crash effectively. as others have said here, the key is kind of ducking and rolling, trying to roll into it and out of it. sticking your arms out to stop yourself is somewhat instinctive, but it's also the key to broken bones.

i'm sure the knowledge doesn't hurt, and there are exceptions, but most crashes i've had, i haven't seen coming for more than a split second (or else you wouldn't crash, right?).

stendhalian

i said falling, not being taken out by AH's. i meant stories i've read about falling from learning how to skid or trackstand...your story sounds similar to how i broke my leg...not much you can do if some dude blasts into you out of nowhere.

and yes i think some people's bones are more brittle...knock on wood...

Serendipper 

"It's not how many times you fall, it's how many times you get up and keep riding that counts"

+1

Learn how to fall (BAIL) and be a better rider.

Brian

Someone mentioned mountain bikes. I know that's not for you guys though. Try BMX racing. You're on a lightweight single speed bike, and the crashes happen often, and will test anyone's reaction times.

freddiesan

So far the two falling on a fixie I've had have been no big deal even if the first one was in front of a patrol car in a curb when my chain fell off

gosh...think my neighbour gave me too much wine. Hope this came out right.

46x17

Yeah but **** happens and sometimes there is nothing you can do about. One of my worst accidents on a skateboard was going uphill. Go figure.

Appart from that though I fully agree compared to the hazards of skating fixed gear riding is a walk in the park.

Ready to Ruck

I guess skateboarding has helped me. I mean, I have massive scars and all I have to say is "well, at least they are distinguishing". Oh and whenever I do fall and bleed a bunch I usually don't mind the pain but I'm just annoyed and frustrated at not being comfortable walking or riding while I haven't healed.

Differences between skating and biking:
In skateboarding I don't think I risked my life so much. I mean I never did play "beat the train/bus/cross traffic" while skating. I think I just risked breaking bones and stuff.
In biking, I don't think I've wrecked up my body so much. I usually wreck myself up biking because I do stupid stuff anyway.

Oh man, does anyone remember "hippies". The spots around your hips that you always slammed on. I had a hippie for 4 months straight because I kept skating and kept it from healing. Oh and remember how nasty your shins would be? cut up, and discolored from various bruises.
Yeah, I feel better biking now.

Aeroplane

The similarities between BMX and track racing are too numerous to list. Think how awesome it would be to race around the track... and turn right!! and then get sick air!!!

huhenio

1 - Judo = 9 years

2 - Skateboarding = 5 years

3 - Paratrooper = 2 active years

4 - Rollerblades = Still running, just to change things a bit.

5 - All kinds of bicycles = 30 years - know how to tuck and roll

6 - Motorcycles - 2 years - I am yet to fall from one ... I hope I slide

Brian

Hmm. I've seen video of trackies racing counter-clockwise, but last time I was at the track out here, it was clockwise. Confusion sets in.

stendhalian

do you have a huge garage with tons of stuff in it?

bostontrevor

I haven't skated seriously for probably 8 years and I still have permanently dented bones and messed up knees.

There was one summer when I ground (grinded?) my shin across a railing on the dismount and every time I went out after that, my lower leg would swell by like a third after half an hour or so. It was grotesque.

Ready to Ruck

damn; that's gotta suck. The only thing I have to remember skating by is the constant cracking sound of my ankles when I walk down stairs. No, I never broke 'em, never sprained 'em, only rolled 'em. I still take my board out to bomb hills (dangerous in itself!) or longboard around big parking lots. It's been about three years since I quit skating,