Road riding falls

[im4smiley]

I too have had the clipless stumbles, I call them stumbles cause I never really fell, I did ride with some people once that I had never ridden with and one girl was very nervous riding in the road. we had to stop wait for traffic to stopp so we could cross a road and when it was clear we were all bunched up crossing and she just stopped I was in back of her, caught her back wheel and we went down kind of slipping sideways down the little incline. We were ok, her bike ok, my shifter hit the ground...not ok had to replace it.

[East Hill]

All right SadieKate, you have brought me out into the open with the call to slackers!

My first, and so far only, significant fall occurred when I was still foolish enough to think that riding on the sidewalk was safer than riding in the road. I hit a large bump in the concrete, but due to my slow speed (I was on a beach cruiser) did not perform an endo, just fell off sideways. Still managed to get my left knee quite bloody, and the scars remain to this day--almost ten years later.

East Hill

[newfsmith]

Falls that have done me damage:
1) First spring morning ride without studded tires, I rode through spring run-off on my way to work in the morning & found the skim of ice under the water. My wheels went left, bike & I went right & landed on my right shoulder, with my feet still clipped in. Slight AC separation, bike fine.
2) New Symmetry set up with flat bars. Took it out for it's very first ride and couldn't unclip, landed on my left elbow. 3 weeks later, when I still couldn't extend my elbow I had rads & learned I had cracked the head of my radius. A few months later I developed a "frozen" left shoulder, probably secondary to the fracture.
3) New Felt with first drop bars I had ridden in 15 years. I was approaching a line of traffic stopped for a red-light, went for the top of the bars to brake out of habit, and came up with 2 fist-fuls of nothing. Panic stop with no control & fell to right. I was wearing tights, which didn't tear, but sure tore me on my right knee, leaving a dark tatoo.
4) Casual ride with my husband while on vacation, looked back to find him, looked forward to see a rock, slow swerve and fall to left, landing on left knee. I didn't even skin my knee. Got up & rode back to camp with DH, then went out & did a couple hill repeats. The next morning my knee was so swollen I had trouble getting out of the sleeping bag. Wound up cutting vacation short, spent a week with my knee in an immobilizer, and took 3 weeks to be able to commute both ways again.
5) Nearing the Provincetown finish of the PMC this year I was turning left for the Family Finish when the rider in front of me realized he needed to go the other way to get to the Inn & made a U-turn in front of me. I swerved to avoid him, but ran out of road and hit the deep sand. Partial tear of ligaments in my right thumb, still wearing Spica splint. Also did something dramatic to my front brakes, the quick release won't lock. I had to do some cable adjustment to get enough braking ability to be able to finish the ride. Bike is in the LBS for post crash check and repair.

So, it is quite clear that my road skills are not great, I tend to ride faster than I should, I'm easily distracted, and I don't plan bail-outs enough. I would like to go to a Ride NoHo clinic to improve on that, but in the meantime I guess I have to say, "ride with me at your own risk."

[GLC1968]

I almost replied that I'd never fallen when I remembered my two stupid falls while reading everyone else's responses. They are so embarassing, that I think I blocked them out.

They were both during the MS Bike Tour ride last fall.

The first happened at the top of this HUGE local hill. I felt really strong, so I virtually flew up the hill and passed tons of people. I get to the top, all proud of myself, and when my husband catches up and tries to tell me that I'm turning the wrong way. I felt the need to point out which arrows I was following. As I went to point out the correct arrow, I drove right off the road onto the gravel shoulder and completely skidded out. Of course, by this time, all the people I'd passed on the hill were at the top just in time to see me do it. Other than a couple of scratches to my bike, I was fine.

The other time, was AFTER the ride was over. I was riding down this cement path to the parking lot where our car was (and there were tons of people milling around) when my wheel slipped into the opening between the cement blocks and just stopped moving. There was nothing I could do as I didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. I just fell over sideways onto a decorative lamp (and crushed it!). About 10 people rushed over to help me and I felt like such an idiot! Who bikes 115 miles in a weekend and falls when it's over? Duh.

[SadieKate]

All right SadieKate, you have brought me out into the open with the call to slackers!l

Bwahahahahahaah!

I'm sure hoping this thread will do what I intended. Get the faint of heart to understand that by far the majority of falls are oopsies. Sure you might have a wound and a story to share, but truthfully it is the odd falls that cause serious damage. If you look at the comments from people who said they voted based on the highest impact falls or discounted falls due to cages or the learning stages of clipless, you'll see that the statistical results for slow speed tip overs would be even higher.

I should share my falls, 4 of them:
1) Couldn't get the strap loosened on the cage fast enough before a gravel patch in the shade where there hadn't been one before, especially when the lurking drafter nearly took off my head as I leaned over to grab the buckle.
2) as a newbie rider on a fast handling bike making a U-turn where I had no business doing it
3) Starting up at a slightly uphill intersection and being knocked into a gigantic pothole by another rider just as I was getting into my pedals
4) Front tire flatted and rolled off the rim in a 18 mph turn. The only damage to me was the road rash down my left arm and some soreness.

#4 made the most impact, but the majority of my road falls are simple oopsies.

Keep 'em coming! Remember that the slower the speed the more opportunity you have for scoring style points.

[fixedgeargirl]

Two road bike falls to my name. The first was as a newbie road rider on a too-big frame with old tires. Trying to keep up with BF on a winding downhill I took the turn too sharply, hit the gravel on the edge of the road and wound up in the gravel on the edge of the road, winded. My mtb skills were not particularly useful that day.

Second was on my custom ti bike, going downhill to the light at on edge of my neighborhood. Lo and behold the light was green (first time I'd ever hit it green), so I got all hot, took the 90 degree turn way too fast, and slid most of the way across two lanes of the road, the folks with the red light watching. My bike slid all the way to the curb. I jumped up, thought "I gotta get out of here", collected my bike and got up on the sidewalk. Fortunately, it was cold and I was covered head to toe in various combinations of wool and lycra. Rubbed a big hole in my tights, and an even bigger hole in the sleeve of my wool jersey, so I got some road rash over my other road rash scars from mtb. As I replayed the mental tape, I realized I was descending like a mountain biker through that turn, and the geometry of my road bike really calls for a different style .

My most spectacular crash ever was on my townie, when a volleyball popped over the "safety net" at the sand court and hit my front wheel. Over the bars, knocked out, black eye, scabs head to toe, bit a hole through my lip. Total 4th of July buzz kill .

[greenmachine]

I voted for the sideways low speed tip over since I've done that sooo many times... In fact the last time I did that move was when I was riding with the So Cal TE gals on Memorial Day and they all saw it!! I had a couple really colorful bruises and a titch of road rash, but that's it. It was more embarassing than anything, but everyone said how graceful I fell. So, I guess this one counts for style points, right SK?

I did have 1 bad crash when I was much younger and inexperienced. No helmet, and I was riding a bike that didn't fit me and I crashed into a curb, splitting my right ear in half. I ended up with a concussion and lost the hearing in my right ear from the impact, but it still could have been MUCH worse. After eight weeks of recovery, I started riding with a helmet.

Oh, then there was the time when a driver didn't see me and pulled out in front of me. I tried to get out of their way, but ended up rolling over the hood of the car and landing on the other side. Me and the bike were pretty banged up, but nothing broken.

Judy

[Trek420]

I think I saw all 6 of Bikerzs falls

weren't they on that one Richmond ride?

1) 20+ years ago at College and Broadway driver just HAS to turn into a driveway right NOW, no signal and hits rear of the bike dead on. I dive, roll out of the way. No road rash, pretty shook up, bike's toast.

I don't think I could take that ukemi (falls) like that at this age.

fast forward. Trek goes go clipless and no falls till ....

2) Alameda Creek Trail on that little woopdeedo right before the trailhead? I've slowed waaaaaaaaay down for a kid and her Dad both nervously going downhill. Going so slow I don't see the big as my head chunk of rock right in front of me. Doh.

Either I hit it or react to the sight of it and do a slow motion fall to the left I end up with a picture perfect forward roll *with* the bike. Didn't even unclip. Yelling as I roll 15 feet down "I'm ok!"

I'm ok, bike's ok (this was my namesake Trek) but had to replace both taco'd wheels. Mmmmmm, Mavics. and that was when I discovered upgades to bikes.

Next time I'll hit the kid, they bounce back and wheels are &*^% expensive. JK But dayum those were nice wheels.**

3) On Alameda Creek Trail with Pedadler (rarely posts here) We're just stopped enjoying the view and I .... just ... fall... inexplicably .... over. Nothing hurt but my pride.

4) On the Cinderella there's my nemesis intersection. It's not like I don't have forever to speed up to catch the green or slow through the red. Always end up stopped at the red then have to get going on a hill. :::sigh::

Year before last it's one of those "I'm clipped in! No I'm not. Thud" Again, nothing hurt but my pride.

Later on I overhear one woman say to another "look! there's the gal who fell at the intersection. And she's still climbing" :::sigh::: so glad to be an inspiration to others.

** sorry for the thread hijack, how many of you considered the crash an excuse to get new parts? Ride safely TE

[ccnyc]

4 Sideways low speed tip over's for me, but I was clipped out (right foot) each time.

First: On the walkway of the George Washington Bridge at the really narrow part of the walkway, I clipped out (right side) because I was letting some other riders go by me. I reached for the railing of the bridge (on my right) to steady myself and because the railing was so wide I couldn't get a good grip, my hand slipped off and I fell over on my left, clipped in side... in front of lots of other riders. I practically bounced back up off the ground I was so embarassed.

Second: Coming to a stop at the bottom of a not very steep hill I put my unclipped right foot down and my metal cleat (Speedplay Zero's) slipped on the pavement and I went down, sliding maybe a few feet. My first road rash.

Third: Waiting at a stop sign, right foot unclipped, chatting with my husband (on my right) I lost my balance and tipped over to the left. More road rash, but my Shebeest tights had no damage whatsoever.

Fourth: Struggling up a very, very steep hill that I had never done before I realized that I couldn't turnover the pedals anymore. I got my right foot unclipped, no problem, but fell to the left. Road rash and feeling sorry for myself were the results. Oh, I even had a couple low gears left and I would have most likely made it up the hill. I guess my brain just took a vacation for a few moments!

Carol

[EvilTwin]

Three decidedly ungraceful clipless falls: first one was the first day with my new bike. I had practiced clipping in and out at the house, so BF and I set out. Get to the first intersection, and oops... I can't get my foot out. Oh f****... Bf looks back to see me topple over just as the SUV comes up to the stop sign. No scrapes/bruises... made it ok the rest of the ride, and after we fininshed, we looked at my pedals and realized they could be adjusted to be easier... duh.
2nd time was similar, but 2 months into riding...slowed and unclipped for an intersection, saw a car, then decided I had room to go... unfortunately, I was off balance and when I tried to pedal, I just fell over. BF again hears me swear just as the car comes up.... dumb. Third time was the next day at a stop sign. Unclipped left, went to put right foot on the curb, and missed.... promptly fell again. With cars as an audience again.... That's it so far.... I'm sure there'll be more!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wow, so in this poll so far, 70% of all falls were "sideways lo-speed tip-overs" and from reading, it seems almost all of these were from being clipped in.
Hmmm....
Think I'll continue avoiding those clipless thingys for a while yet!
Gonna put my PowerGrip straps on soon- I think they may be way easier for me to get in and out of in a hurry.

I couldn't vote yet because I haven't fallen yet in my first two months of riding. I did skid on gravel a bit though- and hopped off my saddle only far enough to come down right on my tailbone on the saddle horn- AGhhhhh!!!!
Still healing a week later- but it was not a fall!

[SadieKate]

Ah, Lisa, you are jumping to the conclusion that clipless guarantees a fall. Before you make the decision to stay clipless you need to set up a poll about the benefits outweighing the cons of clipless. There must be some reason so many of us use them.

[DebW]

Ah, Lisa, you are jumping to the conclusion that clipless guarantees a fall. Before you make the decision to stay clipless you need to set up a poll about the benefits outweighing the cons of clipless. There must be some reason so many of us use them.

Clipless were invented because they are far safer and easier and quicker to use than their predecessor: cleated shoes with clips and straps. Those were so dangerous that most recreational riders didn't use them, and thus missed the benefits of pulling up and back on the pedals. Most riders who used them learned how to do trackstands because getting in and out at every stop light was really annoying. Unfortunately, I never learned the trackstand. See my post in this thread of my one tip-over fall three decades ago. Compared to that system, clipless are HEAVENLY! In many a panic stop with clipless pedals, I've always gotten out in time.

[kaybee]

I voted. I'm a slow-speed tipper overer, and have matching scars on my knees to prove it.

KB

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh I am sure that clipless have MANY wonderful benefits!
However, as a new rider who doesn't have a great sense of balance and confidence yet, I feel I want to get surer on my bike before I try that sort of thing. I also think clipless may not make the best sense when riding in low speed town/traffic situations where you have to stop, start, or weave and where cars are making unexpected moves all around you. At least not for me.

I admit it gives me the shivers when I read posts about new riders who have only been riding a couple of weeks falling over at stop lights and intersections while practicing clipless AND learning to ride at the same time.