I have decided to slow waaaaaaaaaaay down

[Miquel In De Rain]

The golden rule (driving) is to be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. On the open road, no junctions close by, no hazards around you, go for it. A junction you can't see into, parked cars that might pull out, pedestrians who might wander out, cars that might change lanes, etc, etc, etc, then adjust your speed to be able to stop. That might mean
you're doing 50mph in one place and 5mph in another.

*This doesn't apply on the Bow flyover.

 

[Andrew_P]

Don't go slower, go on Strava!

Seriously, how slow are you going to have to go to not hurt yourself or hurt yourself less?

I gave myself a spiral fracture of my tibula playing cricket! (slipped over)

It is luck of draw if you crash, just as likely to fracture at 5 mph as you would be at 15mph. I see the biggest persoanl risk on a bike other road users being either directly or in directly involved in an incident. I try and clear these thoughts from my mind when cycling. I avoid accident, near miss videos and threads as well.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Actually my incidents have increased since I got faster again.

 

[CopperBrompton]

*This doesn't apply on the Bow flyover.

This is true

 

[Matthew_T]

The size of the injuries isnt the thing you should be worrying about. Something may appear minor after a crash, but until you get it looked at you dont know how serious it is.

For example, in this video I am travelling at 20mph. It has just rained so the ground is a little bit damp. That and the poor road condition caused this to happen:
http://s1132.photobucket.com/albums...ction=view&current=Mybigfallmadeevenworse.mp4
The result of which was this to my knee:

It may not look like much but ther was a serious chance that I could lose my whole leg if I hadnt had it cleaned and stitched together.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

The front wheel slipped on the corner? Any oil?

The bike didn't sound too healthy at the end and what was the camera?

Cheers.

 

[cyberknight]

I've been commuting to work every day and popping out for the occasional lunchtime razz for about four months now and I'm starting to get fast (for a fatty). An average clear cruising speed is around 24mph

That 24 mph on the flat or 24 mph average for longer rides? if its the former then try to maintain pace for longer and if its the latter get a racing license

 

[betty swollocks]

I've been commuting to work every day and popping out for the occasional lunchtime razz for about four months now and I'm starting to get fast (for a fatty). An average clear cruising speed is around 24mph and I can hit 37mph on a good hill (of which there are few in these parts).

But I've now read about so many horrible accidents and seen enough terrifying helmet cam vids that I'm seriously considering deliberately riding a lot slower.

Speed has always been a big motivating factor in my cycling, so I feel a bit sad about not giving it my all, but I've had a fast face-shredding head injury in the past and don't want another.

Any thoughts? Am I missing something obvious here?

Sorry, with respect: don't believe your 'clear cruising speed'. Last year's Tour de France's average speed was 24.7181mph. You sure your computer is calibrated correctly?

 

[HovR]

BTW If you have a feeling inside you that something is going to happen then have a little bit to drink.

I can't be the only one that thinks this is a terrible idea.

 

[ColinJ]

Go fast where it is safe, and slow where it isn't! I am a timid kind of person generally but I regularly hit 50-55 mph on long Yorkshire and Lancashire descents. I'll do 55 mph on a clear, straight downhill, where the gradient is no more than about 5% and the road is dry. On a 15% descent on a twisty, wet, narrow, gravel-strewn road, I'll probably be doing less than 10 mph!

 

[Matthew_T]

The front wheel slipped on the corner? Any oil?

The bike didn't sound too healthy at the end and what was the camera?

Cheers.

Yes the front wheel came from underneath me. I dont beleive there was any oil on the ground but the surface was terribly slippy as it had just rained and I seemed to forget this.

The damage to the bike: The fall pushed the bars up and the brake lever in, chain came off, odo sensor made a clinging on the front wheel, bar tape ripped, ripped seat, ripped shorts, both brake levers now have a considerable amount of scuffing on them.

Damage to me: Wound you can see in picture, road rash to arm, rr to hip, rr to anckle, rr to knee just besides wound, very saw arm where the majority of my weight landed.

I was in hospital for 4 days (I went in on Thursday and came out on Tuesday). Couldnt go on bike for 3 months (managed to get doctor to agree on 1.5 months).

The camera was an Oregon Scientific ATC2K (or a waterproof action camera on the box). It has now broken as the lense snapped off as I was cleaning it. It could be fixed with welding but I have a helmet camera now so I have no need for it.

 

[musa]

Matty mate you old enough to drink? Or you referring to squash?

 

[Matthew_T]

Matty mate you old enough to drink? Or you referring to squash?

Yes I am old enough to drink. tut

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

So,what helmet cam do you use now?

I had one of the Oregon things,chunky as fk.

 

[musa]

Yes I am old enough to drink. tut

Haa good on ya
No crazy sh%t though we have your camera for evidence