Wipeout!

[lejogger]

First proper off this morning after 3 years of riding

Turning into a sharp 90 degree left hander, and next thing I know I'm on the deck.

I've had a couple of slow speed clipless moments, and a couple of drunken ditchings, but today was the first incident at speed where perhaps my bike handling was at fault.

The biggest problem is that I don't know the exact cause. I can assume that it was either a greasy surface due to the weather conditions, a greasy surface due to oil or fuel on the road (it was at a junction), rider going too fast for the conditions, the small bulge (slight wall failure) on my rear tyre, or a combination of some or all or these.

Damage sustained seems to be scuffed rack, scuffed rear QR skewer, suffed brake lever and hood, pedal scrape on the shin, and a nasty case of road rash on my thigh/arse. (anyone know if you can touch up the brakes or get replacement levers without replacing the whole unit?)

I was only half a mile from home, so I'm glad that I got back on and continued the 10 mile commute. Certainly took it slowly on all the remaining bends though, but hoping my full confidence returns soon - new tyres are on the way which should take out any doubt from my current set.

Do we all get a bit over-confident at times and just need an occasional skiddy reality check?

 

[I like Skol]

I had a similar unexpected off on my new road bike the first time out. I rode 10 miles to work and 10 miles home then the bike dissappeared from under me as I turned into my driveway at slow speed. Only explanation was possibly the damp shiny tarmac or I have read since that new tyres are quite lethal until they wear in a bit. Either way I am scared stiff of this bike if there is the faintest whiff of dampness in the air despite now having covered around 300 miles on it and have no similar qualms when on my MTB or hybrid. It might take a full year of incident free use before I have confidence in the bikes grip!

 

[Fran143]

I had quite a bad "off" in July at speed through no fault of my own and it is only now I feel I'm starting to get back to normal but still get nervy when riding with club. Bear with it and don't try and look for fault with yourself....shoot happens!

 

[I like Skol]

Fran, what happened to your avatar, you've been eaten by an ogre!

 

[Fran143]

Thats my daytime look.......shoulda stuck with the donkey.

 

[I like Skol]

How on earth do you do that? Your profile pic and status update icon are still the 'normal'(?) you!

 

[calibanzwei]

You can set up separate profile and avatar pics

 

[fossyant]

Ease off at this time of year when cornering. Diesel, greasy surfaces caused by trees/leaf decay etc etc.

Got two colleagues who have chewed the tarmac recently hitting wet leaves on the way to work.

 

[lejogger]

Update: Found a tear in my Ortlieb trunk bag... right on the corner where the the base joins the side. Might be tricky to fix..

Dammit, that wasn't a cheap rack bag.

 

[Moodyman]

Sorry to hear that. Wish the bike a speedy recovery .

I think it's a combination of the factors you've mentioned.

Winter roads are always damp in the mornings and it's worth being extra cautious.

I've been on my rigid mtb with slicks for the last two weeks and will ride this until March. The wider tyres give far more confidence and the commute takes just as long as the 'faster' bike.

 

[VamP]

This happens. There's a rule for it.

Be aware that new tyres will be even more slippery than the old ones until the release agent scubs off.

 

[lejogger]

Sorry to hear that. Wish the bike a speedy recovery .

I think it's a combination of the factors you've mentioned.

Winter roads are always damp in the mornings and it's worth being extra cautious.

I've been on my rigid mtb with slicks for the last two weeks and will ride this until March. The wider tyres give far more confidence and the commute takes just as long as the 'faster' bike.

Thanks Moodyman

I have put the carbon away for the winter, so was on the CX/Tourer/Commuter machine which is a relief. Despite only getting it in May, I do hammer it so I acknowledge it's going to get more battered than the 'best' bike.

I had found the Schwalbe Marathons to be pretty good up until now... I've done nearly 2000 miles on them, but since discovering the slight egg/bulge I've lost confidence with them. At slow speeds I can feel it, and I've noticed that it gets a bit twitchy when the bulge makes contact with the road. I guess to be safer I should put the defective tyre on the front until the replacements arrive.

Not going to totally blame the tools though. I probably should have shown more caution.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I came off a couple of years ago it was this time of year, came out my house down the street turned right up an incline and bang I was on the deck, bike just slid from under me, damaged bar tape and shifters. Arm, thigh grazes and bruised shoulder. Damp leaves were the culprit and leaning into the corner to much. It's better to take corners and island in a more upright position, slower speed with your full body weight on the saddle and therefore over the rear wheel giving better traction. Since doing this I've only had a couple of scary moments.

 

[EthelF]

Sorry to hear about your spill. Roads are trickier at this time of year - I had a similar off in January, front wheel disappeared from under me on a bend and I crashed down onto my elbow (upshot: cracked rib). Only upon closer inspection did I spot the tiniest frozen puddle on the apex of the bend (it was a frosty morning).
2 positives I took from this: it reminded me to take more care on bends, and it showed me the advantages of child trailers over child seats as my son watched unimpressed from the comfort of his trailer as daddy lay down in the road.
So, with winter on its way, take care out there (and enjoy any crisp bright mornings we may get!)
DJ

 

[I like Skol]

This happens. There's a rule for it.

#64, but also lots of other good advice contained in the list.