Going down
11-04-18 | 02:03 PM
#1
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Going down
Winter, ice ... strange coincidences!
If you think about all the times when you’ve fallen off your bike when commuting (I know, that doesn’t happen often ;-) ...
Do you appear to fall off on one side more than the other?
E.g. I have a tendancy to ‘abandon bike port side’.
If you think about all the times when you’ve fallen off your bike when commuting (I know, that doesn’t happen often ;-) ...
Do you appear to fall off on one side more than the other?
E.g. I have a tendancy to ‘abandon bike port side’.
11-04-18 | 06:28 PM
#2
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
was just thinking about this recently cuz I had 2 dirt / mud falls on my MTB. no snow or ice yet. both times to my left. and I am right handed. are you? I think for me, it was just coincidence. need more data aka more falls in more varied situations
11-04-18 | 11:57 PM
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I do have a single pannier on the back, opposite side. But I guess intent / direction may play a big role (= the orientation of the front wheel).
On the other hand, no pun intended, I do try to build in a reflex to fall on the left side by being ready to put my left foot on the ground.
Last edited by Bikewolf; 11-05-18 at 11:34 AM.
11-05-18 | 07:57 AM
#5
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
I too, mount & dismount on the left side. there was a moment a cpl yrs ago where I broke thru some thick ice & the bike got erratic so I bailed & let it go down. I stayed upright. a surprising moment for sure. but when I hopped off, I hopped left
11-05-18 | 10:12 AM
#6
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From: Along the Rivers of Pittsburgh
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Here's some more data points. I've fallen twice. Both to the left. I'm left-handed. Mount/dismount on the left. First time was making a left turn. Second time, the rear tire kicked out on a slick spot while going straight.
11-05-18 | 01:10 PM
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11-05-18 | 06:46 PM
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When I ride on ice without studs, it hasn’t ever mattered. It’s very random. It’s not like you have a lot of control over which way your tires slip. It’s also a very rapid occurance so you don’t really have time to plan.
As someone who mountain bikes, I try to fall to the uphill side for rather obvious reasons but even that is not certain.
As someone who mountain bikes, I try to fall to the uphill side for rather obvious reasons but even that is not certain.
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Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-05-18 | 06:55 PM
#11
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and probably the least serious injury you can experience. The worst I’ve seen from someone who had to “put a foot down to catch” themselves was a compound fracture of the lower leg...both bones...that took more than 9 months and several surgeries to repair.
Ride the bike down. Keep your hands on the bars and your feet on the pedals. The bike will take the impact and lessen the impact that you take. Anything that you put out to “catch” yourself can be broken and take a long time to heal.
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-05-18 | 11:49 PM
#12
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@ cyccommute: Thank you very much for your very kind and smart advice!
I must add that, I do wear studded shoes and go with studded tires. And I’m no superhero: I still take a deep breath when I have to commute early in the morning when ice may be present, as if I have to climb a big snowy mountain. So I ride very carefully and slow especially when turning; sometimes I simply get of my bike and walk. But every year I gather more experience and courage. I do like winter commuting!
I must add that, I do wear studded shoes and go with studded tires. And I’m no superhero: I still take a deep breath when I have to commute early in the morning when ice may be present, as if I have to climb a big snowy mountain. So I ride very carefully and slow especially when turning; sometimes I simply get of my bike and walk. But every year I gather more experience and courage. I do like winter commuting!
