Fell off!

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benb

Evidence based cyclist
Location
Epsom
I'm so embarrassed, so naturally my first thought is to tell you lot!

I fell of my bike yesterday. Totally stupid. I was just leaving work, and there is a bit of tarmac down to the road that leads out of the car park that's about 20m long, and downhill (it's just a connecting piece of tarmac from a higher part of the car park to a lower part - no cars can use it).

I saw someone I knew and raised my left hand to wave at them. At the same time I was applying the front brake with my right hand. I don't really know how, but I applied the front brake too strongly, and as my weight was already forward because of the downhill, I pitched over the front. Well, I kind of turned sideways at the same time.

I have a bruised left knee, right hip, right elbow, and nice straight line welt on my right thigh where the top tube hit it hard.

What an idiot - and people saw too!
 

jdtate101

Ex-Fatman
It always happens in front of a crowd doesn't it? I had a 'clipless' moment in front of 30 other cyclists at a club meet. I was very embarrassing, but I could see most people smiling with understanding, thinking...."I've done that too mate"

:banghead:
 

akb

Veteran
I have done similar to that before; turning from a main road to my street, signalled with the right hand and pulled the rear break a bit to hard to slow me down. Luckily it was just past rush hour so the road was pretty empty so only the driver behind saw! I didnt fall though; I dont know how I managed it, but manged to sort of jump/fall onto my feet!

GWS Ben!
 
OP
OP
benb

benb

Evidence based cyclist
Location
Epsom
Cheers. My ego is more bruised than my body! They've come up a nice shade of purple today though.

Luckily my bike only suffered an abrasion on the bar end, and a bit on the pedal. No real damage.
 

caimg

Über Member
Cheers. My ego is more bruised than my body! They've come up a nice shade of purple today though.

Luckily my bike only suffered an abrasion on the bar end, and a bit on the pedal. No real damage.

Ouch, that all sounds pretty painful! I've got a grazed shoulder today from a canal path tunnel yesterday, a runner wearing headphones refused to stop and forced me against the tunnel wall. Your incident sounds like one I'd do though :biggrin:
 

jonathanw

Chorlton and the Wheelies
Location
The Frozen North
Cheers. My ego is more bruised than my body! They've come up a nice shade of purple today though.

Luckily my bike only suffered an abrasion on the bar end, and a bit on the pedal. No real damage.

Not the Croix de Fer ???? (I guess not when you mention a bar end) So, indeed, it could have been soooooooo much worse

^_^
 

potsy

Rambler
Location
My Armchair
I'm so embarrassed, so naturally my first thought is to tell you lot!

I fell of my bike yesterday.
I saw someone I knew and raised my left hand to wave at them. At the same time I was applying the front brake with my right hand. I don't really know how, but I applied the front brake too strongly, and as my weight was already forward because of the downhill, I pitched over the front. Well, I kind of turned sideways at the same time.

I fell off in similar fashion a few months ago at a set of lights on a shared path, though mine was caused by a strong gust of wind blowing my cap off and me trying to catch it with my left hand whilst braking hard with my right :blush:
Where's the video? :biggrin:
 
OP
OP
benb

benb

Evidence based cyclist
Location
Epsom
I fell off in similar fashion a few months ago at a set of lights on a shared path, though mine was caused by a strong gust of wind blowing my cap off and me trying to catch it with my left hand whilst braking hard with my right :blush:
Where's the video? :biggrin:

I had literally only just set off, so hadn't hit record yet. I can take a photo of my bruise if you want.
 
OP
OP
benb

benb

Evidence based cyclist
Location
Epsom
Phew indeed

Mine is needing a good strip down and clean after winter. New front mech fitted this month, as it jammed up irrevocably..

Any more tours planned on the trusty steel steed, now that the good weather is here?

Yep - doing Redhill to Amsterdam charity ride in June. 300 miles in 3 days. Yikes!
This weekend it's MTB though.
 

jonathanw

Chorlton and the Wheelies
Location
The Frozen North
Yep - doing Redhill to Amsterdam charity ride in June. 300 miles in 3 days. Yikes!
This weekend it's MTB though.

Good luck with the 300miler

I know what you mean about the MTB, been out on mine twice this week and it was tremendous fun, then the carbon road bike for the Bealach na Ba yesterday. The C de F is looking very lonely in the stable. I need to make amends:blush:
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
I fell off my bike literally just turning into the office car park, about to get out my pass (in the Autumn on wet leaves having just moved off the wet cobbles). Wasn't seen by anyone I know, but I was aware that that bit is covered by CCTV cameras!!!

Hope you aren't feeling too bruised now.
 

RedRider

Pulling through
Ouch! A perfect storm of incidents for the OP

My moment of shame came in front of a bunch of mums with kids. It'd just rained after weeks of dry weather so there was slipperyness on the streets. I was aware of the conditions and took a left more slowly and tentatively than usual and yet...
When the front wheel went it stayed went but it went so slow I even caught the eye of one of the mum's on the way down. In the moment before I hit the deck I remember thinking: 'Hmmm, I'm looking a right prat here...'
 

Moodyman

Legendary Member
You're not alone Ben.

I fell off the canal tow path on Wednesday - attacked by a swan protecting her nearby young ones. It ran straight at me, I turned sharply to avoid, lost traction on a muddy patch and went over. Was seen by two walkers who initially laughed, then came over to help.

Ego bruised, all else ok
 
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