Wipeout!

[VamP]

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

Thanks, I kinda forgot to point out which rule it was

 

[DougieAB]

Came off last winter at a downhill section with a sharp right turn, slid along for several yards which caused a friction burn on my elbow which is still visible. Can only think it was fuel on the road. Am very careful on corners now. You will lose more time waiting at traffic lights than you will if you slow right down to take corners.

 

[Ross K]

I really sympathise. I'm 47, been cycling 40 years, done God knows how many miles and had my first off in twenty years last Friday on my 12 mile each way commute.

Sharp right, taken carefully, front wheel went and down I came, it happens alarmingly quickly, all that "oh, it was like in slow motion" is nonsense, more like fast forward.

Big thigh bruise, grazed forearm but worst a dislocated collar bone - x-ray showed a big gap at its outer end.

Very painful, but I'm, in a way, more bothered by the mental side of it. I'm a fast but careful cyclist, always examining the road surface. My ride is all rural so I'm always looking for tractor debris, mud, leaves, frost, smooth bits, ruts, drain covers etc etc etc, and then going round the same corner I have ridden hundreds of times, BANG! I can only assume it was diesel or oil but it has really rattled my confidence. Recovery will be another week at least before doing anything really, but for the first time in my life I feel nervous about the prospect of riding in the wet. Or the dry if I'm honest.

I guess it'll be a baptism of fire when I get back into it as the commute each way will be in pitch dark and likely to be damp. At least if it's icy I have the MTB with spiked Marathon Winters, but either way I'm anxious.

It's that feeling of "well if I can lose the bike on a slow corner like that, then where else could I crash?"

 

[coffeejo]

Welcome to the forum, Ross. Hope you make a swift recovery. (And that everyone's road rash heals quickly!)

I had a near off in the summer on a downhill corner, took me ages to get my confidence back. I shall take it easy tonight...

 

[brickisred]

I had my first big road bike off in September, on a charity bike ride to Bristol. Completed the ride but ended up in hospital requiring an operation on my gashed elbow which got infected because I left it 24 hours before going to A&E!

The reason for mine was obvious i.e me

I'd had minor low speed offs and clipless moments in the past but this one was a 20+ mph. Was completely my own fault, which I put down to switching off on a quiet, straight stretch of path. Whereas 10 mins previously was descending at 40+ mph but guess I concentrate more when doing that.

Anyway hope the road rash heals quickly

 

[lejogger]

I really sympathise. I'm 47, been cycling 40 years, done God knows how many miles and had my first off in twenty years last Friday on my 12 mile each way commute.

Sharp right, taken carefully, front wheel went and down I came, it happens alarmingly quickly, all that "oh, it was like in slow motion" is nonsense, more like fast forward.

Big thigh bruise, grazed forearm but worst a dislocated collar bone - x-ray showed a big gap at its outer end.

Very painful, but I'm, in a way, more bothered by the mental side of it. I'm a fast but careful cyclist, always examining the road surface. My ride is all rural so I'm always looking for tractor debris, mud, leaves, frost, smooth bits, ruts, drain covers etc etc etc, and then going round the same corner I have ridden hundreds of times, BANG! I can only assume it was diesel or oil but it has really rattled my confidence. Recovery will be another week at least before doing anything really, but for the first time in my life I feel nervous about the prospect of riding in the wet. Or the dry if I'm honest.

I guess it'll be a baptism of fire when I get back into it as the commute each way will be in pitch dark and likely to be damp. At least if it's icy I have the MTB with spiked Marathon Winters, but either way I'm anxious.

It's that feeling of "well if I can lose the bike on a slow corner like that, then where else could I crash?"

Sorry to hear about your spill Ross. It sounds a bad one, and physically anyway, I seem to have been lucky to get away with just a bit of road rash. I'm sure it won't be long until you're back to normal in the saddle.

I completely understand what you mean by the psychological aspect. I think that was why I knew it was so important to get straight back on and see out the commute. I had no problems on the straights, I still pushed the big gears and kept over 20mph on the flats, but as soon as I had bends to contend with I was on the brakes early to slow right down. All cornering confidence lost.

I'd not thought about the commute home in the dark yet... I suppose that's yet another thing to contend with.

Your fast forward comment is very accurate as well. There was no wobble or chance to attempt a correction. One minute I was cornering, the next I was on the tarmac wondering what the hell had happened!

 

[Ross K]

Thanks for the words of sympathy, I should have said I hope your wounds heal soon too!

I forgot to mention I did actually ride the last 5 miles back home but it was a bot of a blur to be honest as I was trying not to faint with the pain most of the time. I got some bollocking from my wife when I arrived home all cut up, for not calling her to be picked up. I think I mumbled something about not wanting to be a nuisance and needing to get back in the saddle, between general groans of agony. . .