Is there a good way to fall?

[AZchick]

I practiced with my new clipless pedals in my backyard today... and well, I ran out of yard and didn't clip out. Stretched my arm out to my right to catch my fall and sprained my wrist. Is there a safer way?

[Trek420]

Good thread here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=6697

Glad that you are ok. Easier said than done to conquer the instinct to put your hand out but may be worth a try.

[AZchick]

OH thanks Trek!!!! I searched but didn't come up with that. I will check it out.

[marni]

learn the drop and roll technique? Mostof the time when you fall, it happens so fast that you don't have time to react with a practiced response, but your body does tend to instinctively to try and protect itself.

good luck, and buy good gloves if you find yourself sticking out your hands.

marni

[AZchick]

My gel gloves and my completely covered body helped I am sure... no blood at least. Have any of you heard about the idea of slightly turning to the direction you are falling, and putting both hands out to even out the effect? Sounds scary to me.

[OakLeaf]

Y'know, just a couple of days ago when they had that big crash in the Dauphinée, I asked DH (who never lets go of the remote ) to replay it in slomo so I could watch the one guy go over the bars. Only because I remember flying through the air in December, and I wanted to see what it looked like.

He put his hands out. I don't know if he broke his collarbone or not. I know they always say not to, but is it really better to land on your chin as I did, and risk breaking your neck? I think collarbone is a better sacrifice...

(Actually I think the reason I didn't put my hands out is because I never let go of the brakes ... still trying to slow down with both wheels in the air, wound up spraining both wrists and just about everything in my right hand. It certainly wasn't a conscious choice not to put my hands out.)

[socaljewel]

Wear elbow pads and knee pads. You can fall all you want and not get hurt. Then eventually you will feel comfortable and confident and you won't need it. I guess you should also wear wrist guards.

[OakLeaf]

I think the lesson here is that it depends on your trajectory - there's no one good way - and the bottom line is in a panic situation we will do what muscle memory tells us, so unless we go to stunt school (like that guy in that NYC bike lane video) it's sort of a useless discussion.

I should've let go of my bike - if I had, I wouldn't have had such bad sprains. (I thought it was 100% by now until I tilled up my garden last month ...) Falling to the side, probably it is best to keep holding on (and keep braking).