Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) => Topic started by: stutho on March 21, 2007, 09:48:10 am
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Cycling home from work yesterday evening - along a road that I must have used at least 2000 times! My bike decided that that I had had enough of that particular stretch of road and decided to try the drainage ditch instead. (Said road crosses a salt marsh and floods regularly)
Needless to say both the bike and myself were covered in mud, luckily however neither of us were damaged - other than my pride. (I was probably travailing at 18 to 20 mph at the time so I really was lucky)
Reason for crash - Not looking where I was going - due to low sun.
Conclusion - I was a prize Muppet!
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Unlucky, pleased the bike was OK -and you of course! I often think that good weather with low sun and your thoughts elsewhere is more dangerous than the grotty stuff where you have to concentrate.
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Came off my mtb at Glentress forest in the Tweed valley the other weekend - was staying nearby and had a few hours to spare. Chose the blue(next to easiest!) route. Couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground climbing steep hairpins and went off over the steep downhill side - couldn't unclip in time so rolled down to the hairpin below. Fortunately nobody nearby to see my, felt like a real p*****k! Slight dent in the frame and a couple of bruises on hips, elbows but otherwise carried on for an enjoyable afternoon.
I put it down to changing my stem to a longer one the night before due to a stripped thread, which upset the fore/aft balance and made the front end a bit twitchy. Or maybe I just need a bit more practice on steep hairpins!
It's a great MTB centre for a visit if anybody is ever in the vicinity.
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Thankfully no,touch wood !!!!!!!!!!!1
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Thankfully no,touch wood !!!!!!!!!!!1
;D ;D ;D ;D
Hello,
I was crossing a Canal bridge Sunday. The road was dirty wet and slippery. I only knew how slippery when my bike slid away from me with no warning. I went down. Through the rail at the side of the bridge went my arm. The rail rammed up into my armpit. My ribs hit the rail, then my head (with helmet) hit the rail-hard. The sound in my head was like a bomb going off. I could not believe that I was still alive. I was helped up by a number of passers by. I was really in a great deal of pain. Help was summoned by mobile phone. I and my bike (Thorn Club Tour) had to be taken home (15 miles) by a car!
Today Monday I am Black and blue up my left side. My kneck is really painful with 'whiplash' and my leg hurts.
For those who argue the use of helmets-my response is-I am alive or at least not unconcious in Hospital due to my wearing a helmet. The helmet is in need of replacement. It is a MET helmet and I know now that the helmet is stronger than it looks. The helmet has a dent in its side.
This is my first fall for over 11 Years and I certainly hope my last.
For those interested, my bike seems OK. The saddle is turned 45 degrees from straight and the left brake lever is damaged but thankfully everything else seems OK.
John........
www.pbase.com/john28july
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Ouch!!
Sounds a bad fall. But I suppose that the railings that injured you stopped you ending up in the canal??!! Not much comfort, I suppose.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Lewis
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Tough luck John, I hope you get back on the bike soon and the fall doesn't knock your confidence. I had a spill 18 months ago and the memory of it still recurs when riding in icy conditions.
Glad nothing was broken.
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John,
Sorry to hear about your fall.
It may be worth you taking Arnica 30c tablets, it can help relieve severe bruising, concussion and shock.
The cream is also worth trying, but not on any broken skin.
I hope this helps.
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Hello,
Thank you all for the sympathy!
I have just been taken back to where the incident happened. It was caused by rivets holding the bridge surface plates down. these rivetts are about an inch across and protrude about half an inch. I have also reported this incident to the Waterways people. The bridge operator was actually aware of the matter and tells me I should claim damages. I have sent pictures of my bruising and what caused it and shall now relax (?) until I hear more.
Again thanks for the kind thoughts all of you. It still hurts though! It seems that the bikes front wheel has some damage. I will get this checked over when I feel better.
John.
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Sorry to hear about your fall John and get well soon.
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Hope you feel better soon, hope you are feeling better soon
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that was a nasty fall john really glad your ok,these accidents happen so quick
your right about helmets there life savers no doubt about it ,
anyhow john glad your hear to tell the tale and keep takeing the pills,
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ah well went and did it yesterday, dident think the road's were so slippy boy was i wrong.
i hit a patch of ice down i came ,broke my collorbone brused neck and rib's sitting here in lot's of pain but here to tell the tale thank god ,helmet split in two done it's job well great bit of kit never leave home without one .talk soon bye bye for now .
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Jags, you have my sympathy a broken collar bone is not nice. Hope you can keep yourself distracted with bike forums while things mend.
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Jags,
I hope that it was not me who started all this interest? Hows the new Sherpa>
Sit tight, I am and it still hurts too.
John.
www.pbase.com/john28july
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thank's lad's,ill be the forum's best custumor in the next month or so,
i dident check the bike john im in to much pain got it all down my right side so i cant move ,
only just please excuse the spelling the head is not quiet right.
anyhow you have to laugh or either crack up
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jags,
Sorry to hear about your fall on ice.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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last post got lost, anyhow i reckon ill be the forum's best customer in the next month or so ,
still havent checked the bike john im in to much pain, but i think it's ok
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Jags, I feel your pain...
I fell off my bike recently due to nothing other than laziness: I was cycling home from Brighton on the mighty orange Brompton, as I often do, and was attempting to hide in the slipstream of the number 14 bus, which makes cycling sooooo much easier (well, YOU all know how annoying wind and hills are, right?) I've done it loads of times before. Anyway, the hard part is attempting to keep up with the bus when it accelerates away from bus stops. Normally this is fine, but I hadn't counted on the rubbish grip on the folding pedal...
Right at the peak of my effort, my left foot sipped off the front of the pedal and over the bars I went. I bounced straight up to clear the road of my bike and me, blood piddling out of my head and leg, but that stopped after a while (did the car behind stop to see if i was alive? Did they ****. They waited for me to clear the road of me, bike, bag, water bottles, etc. and then drove on.) I noticed my shoulder was a bit crunchy and at first thought I'd dislocated it, but a quick feel revealed a not-as-whole-as-it-used-to-be collar bone. I was a little shaken and stirred and bleeding so got an ambulance to take me for a night in a very comfy and expensive bed in A&E (they kept me in as I was a bit woozy and fainted at one point whilst waiting, though that did get me seen more quickly!). The good ol' Brompton faithfully accompanied me in the ambulance, all around casualty, to Xray and back and kept me company while I was kept in the ward. it even sat there stoically as a doctor and I had a mini-helmet-debate (which it would perhaps not be a good idea to go into here if we want this forum to remain friendly)
What a faithful little bike.
Anyway, that was many weeks ago, three of which were in a sling. It WOULD have to be my right arm too, wouldn't it?
I had five weeks of not riding, which was the longest I've been without it since I learnt to ride a bike! Getting back on the bike was a joy, though the hills round here left me tasting blood in my throat before I realised that I perhaps had lost a little fitness...
How's your clavicle now, Jags? The ends of mine are still moving and 'clicking' a bit inside the boney callous, but it does everything I ask of it. Has yours got a lump? Anybody else broken theirs in the past (this is a cycling forum so I'm sure there will be takers!) and care to report on how it heals and if it stays lumpy?
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jawj glad your ok i felt your pain there for a moment,ah these things happen .im a bit more careful now especally decending, i used to be a nutcase going down hill not any more.
yeah my collor bone it does get sore every now and then but nothing bad ,it seems to have healed well dosent stick out to much ;D
i used to slipstream anything i could ride behind ,i once sliped in behind a lorry doing 50mph but i was so much younger then ..these days i listen to some mucic on my ipod and i just go with the flow..
anyway jawj glad your here to tell the tale ,no more racing for you. ;)
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jawj,
I bet that hurt! I can't believe the following motorist didn't stop.
6 years ago (Pre Thorn - not long after I had taken up cycling) my front wheel slid out on ice and I was sent sliding across a busy junction. Luckily I was unhurt however I had the opposite problem the people from the car behind me were insistent that I went to hospital - and they would take me! Even if I didn't need the attention I would much rather it this way round.
I don't cycle on ice or snow any more - not worth the risk
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Glad to hear you're all healed up Jags, let's hope it continues to improve. I haven't had the courage to slipstream anything since the fall, but I'm sure it won't be long until the spare-tyre-waisted devil of laziness catches up with me and persuades me to take just one more 'ride' on the number 14...
You know, Stu, it didn't actually hurt that much, bizarrely! I'm not trying to sound macho, but it was remarkably painless - I guess one's body just knows when it's in trouble and adrenaline keeps pain at bay (I wish that happened every time I fell off...) No, the worst pain, which was more uncomfortable than painful, was for a couple of weeks the two ends of the bone would occasionally 'pop' out of place over each other and I'd have to shove that shoulder backwards with my other hand to get the ends lined up again.
I bet y'all wanted to know THAT.
How was your bike after that fall, Stu?
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It was a bit scratched up and I smashed a brand new set of front lights (less than a week old) but otherwise it was undamaged. I was back on it later the same day.
If someone hasn't experience a fount wheel slid out on ice - I would recommend that they keep it that way! I hit the ground before I even knew it was sliding, it all happen VERY quickly.
The bike I was riding at the time was an 531 British Eagle that must be at least 20 years old. I have still got the frame and I intend on day to restore it - but this is a Loooong term project.
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That sounds as though it should be very painful Jawj - especially the bones misaligning now and then! Glad its healing well though.
I'll second Stutho regarding avoiding a front wheel slip on the ice. I was turning left at a junction on a quiet estate a couple of years ago, not seeing the sheet ice, going at walking pace, and the next thing i knew i was on the floor - not a chance of putting a leg or arm out to stop it - instant!
If i had had time to put my arm out i might well have hurt myself - luckily i didn't.
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not easy been a cyclist's is it lads. ;)
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I fell off my RST back in February on some ice and 3 weeks ago fell off my hired road bike in Corsica; I was bonked with the heat and 3 kms from home, ended up in the gutter and knew a spill was coming. Road rash, bleeding kneees, sore ribs etc but worst of all ripped my assos F1 bibs. The good news is that assos are going to repair free of charge and if unable to do so supply a 50% voucher off a new pair - result, they are also the best shorts i have ever worn.
By the way, my Ardbeg jersey that i love wearing on the continental jaunts survived intact!
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Fell of again!
Descending a moderate slope and going relativity slowly ~10mph. I turned into a bend with an slight off camber. The bend was nothing special - this was all easy riding.
However... there was loose gravel on the inside of the bend that I hadn't spotted.
I was braking front and rear and yes - you guessed it - the front wheel slipped out.
What made the fall particular bad was that I was towing my 3 year old daughter was on her Islabike Trailerbike. As I somersaulted over the front of the bike I had a brief view of her falling off too. (Not a nice feeling.)
Lucky she was unhurt. My wife, who saw it all happen, said that my daughters fall had being much less 'energetic' than mine. The bike & trailer had kind of jackknifed and I guess most of the energy departed the seen as my 80Kg of mass took to the sky in a most undignified manor!
I ended up with a badly gashed hand but nothing that wont heal. Damaged my handlebars and my rack (the Islabike attaches to the rack) again nothing that can't be but right.
Overall it could of being a lot worse - Mia (my daughters) got back on without too much drama.
Ride safe
StuTho
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Bad luck Stutho - good to hear your daughter was unhurt, it sounds as though she is made of tough stuff to get back in the saddle without too much fuss.
And of course its good news that no terminal damage to the RST occurred!
Gravel patches are a nightmare - surprisingly difficult to spot before its too late to avoid them!
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Ooh, Stu, that sounds nasty for your hand, but happy to hear the bike's ok. Oh yeah, and more importantly, family fine too! :-) Despite many years of riding I still sometimes have to conciously force myself not to brake in corners - we'll learn one day...
During a XC mountain bike race the other weekend impatience got the better of me, despite me laughing at all the people who were taking it FAR too seriously and the fact that I kept telling myself I was doing it just for fun. There was massive bunching and mush slowness through the first singletrack sections so I decided to nip along the side of the trail, passing lots of people in the process.
"Brilliant!" I thought, until the ground fell away from me and I went over the bars into a big hole; the last thing I heard before it happened was someone, who could see it coming, saying, "And into the ditch..."
It was all soft pine needles so no harm done, but, sheesh, did I feel like a complete wally. I quipped "Well folks, that's what impatience gets you!" but my pride was quite dented.
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I rode into a ditch the other day but, fortunately, the Sterling remained upright long enough for me to get my feet down. Moral: go cycling or birdwatching...to do both at the same time could damage your health and your bike!
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Riding to work in the dark and cold on a winter Alberta morning. can't really see where I'm going, but I know the path so I am going pretty fast. Someone decided to put up a construction fence. Hitting the fence wasn't particularly bad. the rebound was worse as my bicycle seat is rather pointed. I was somewhat chuffed I would say. (I have no idea what that means coming from canada and all but it seems to fit ). when i got to work, i had a nice fence pattern on my face. And I walked funny. In a somewhat chuffy way. Bike fine.
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Chuffed to me means pleased with yourself, maybe not what you had in mind?
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Perhaps you were miffed.
definitions from the Urban Dictionary:
Miffed = To be slightly annoyed, specifically with someone or something. :(
Chuffed = To be very pleased, proud or happy with yourself ;D
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So.. I was chuffed as I bore myself in a manly fashion after my somewhat humiliating misfortune. Then I was miffed when a lady opened her car door in front of me causing me to sail through the air,over the door landing after a rather nice shoulder roll in the middle of main street, Canmore (not Scotland).
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The guy behind the counter at the local post office said they were out of holiday stamps but I could get some in Bearsville. What a nice excuse for a ride! Might as well take the long way home!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bearsville,+ny&daddr=42.07678,-74.13091+to:woodstock,+ny&geocode=FUd9gQIdeXuU-ynbgOXeaADdiTER7Ewxl5rtwg%3BFWwKggIdItqU-ykp4HISG6rdiTF8vmKC1OxB4g%3BFV1-gQIdywuV-ykrTM_AMwfdiTH8cQeI775cuA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=12&via=1&sll=42.059489,-74.140205&sspn=0.125156,0.212173&ie=UTF8&ll=42.059362,-74.139862&spn=0.062578,0.106087&t=p&z=13
That's a 1200 foot gain in elevation to the pass! My first ride of that classic loop.
The steep part at the bottom of McDaniel Road climbs 120 feet in about 700 feet, so about a 17% grade. I had to stop a couple times to catch my breath and prevent cardiac arrest. The Rohloff is great! I find it easier to start up a steep slope in a higher gear, like 4th. I put in maybe three pedal strokes to get some momentum, then quick flip back to first. Then if I want to switch to standing up on the pedals, again a quick switch back up to fourth. That quick shifting across multiple gears is just fabulous!
Somehow, I think I was just starting up, and a car was coming by, I ended up going very slowly into the frozen deep ruts just off the asphalt. Over I went! I can't remember the last time I fell on a bike. I was lucky when I first switched to clipless pedals a dozen years ago or so, I tipped over at a light but there was some big box right alongside me so I just leaned over into that. This time I went all the way over, rolling around in the gravel trying to get my feet unclipped. And I haven't had my Nomad even a month yet!
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My husband and I were cycling the Sheerness Gloucester canal path last August, in heavy rain. The front wheel skidded on a flat stone hidden by wet vegetation and we fell off. The Thorn tandem was OK, as was my husband. I, however, had separated my acromio clavicular joint. We walked the remaining three miles to our superb B&B The Tudor Arms at Shepards Patch, where the landlord took us to Stroud MI unit where I was diagnosed and strapped up within 30 mins.
For two weeks any movement was agony and to be avoided if at all possible. As it was my right shoulder (and I am right handed) I had to learn to do everything with the wrong arm/hand, which was incredibly difficult.
After that it started improving and at three weeks I started physio. Now, five months later it only reminds me occasionally, especially when getting out of bed in the morning.
I was back on the tandem at four and a half weeks and on my solo at five weeks, so it could have been a lot worse.
At the time I was not aware of this forum or I would have have asked if anyone else had had a similar injury and how long it took to recover.
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Sorry to hear of your fall but it sounds like you've made a decent recovery. I got knocked of my bike in late October and broke by collarbone, it had separated quite badly like yours, I had to wear a sling for 6 weeks which as you know is very inconvenient but necessary especially as I live alone. It has healed reasonably well although I still can't sleep on the side of the break. I had the option of having it pinned and plated but decided to let it heal naturally (perhaps it was the wrong choice).
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I went for the nuts and bolts solution for my broken collar bone which meant I was able to ride again after a fortnight, I believe the consultant recommended a longer period of rest which I ignored. When you are relying on nature to heal you, clearly you need to give it more time.
My question is how long does it take you mentally to get over these injuries, in my case I took a couple of years to get back to my pre accident levels of confidence on a bike, I would brake on quite small hills and steer rather than lean round corners.
L, were you the captain or the stoker when you had the accident, if you where the stoker have you asked to swap seats yet?
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I was the stoker, and no, I have no desire to be the pilot! I do the mapreading, as my husband would get last crossing a road! Also his position is too stretched out.
I took longer to get over a previous injury, almost 6 years!
We were cycling in the dark. all lit up like a Christmas tree including hi-vis jackets but as we were being cut up all the time by cars, we went onto a footpath next to the road. Husband swerved to avoid a pothole but did not have time to warn me, so I went sailing on, landing on my knees and hands. Feeling rather foolish, I got up straight away to reassure husband that I was OK, but then fainted and sat down HARD. This happened THREE times! Very badly bruised coccyx, manipulation needed six months later and no long distance cycling holiday the next year. I have now got a Spiderflex saddle which is superb.
I still trust my pilot completely, so have not had any problems.
(Fortunately both times I had finished my (knitting) row)
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I fell off my Raven Tour yesterday. On ice, I dont think anyone saw me.
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I fell over on my Nomad before Christmas. Neither of us were hurt except my pride took a bit of a hiding.
I had partaken of some the Christmas spirit that was in abundance, went back to the office to collect my belongings and cycle home. I wasn't unfit to ride but I was aware that I should take the journey slower and with more care than usual.
I came out of the subterranean car park, turned right to head down to the bottom of the the road, where I would again have to turn right. Some vehicles blocked my path so I slowed to wait but couldn't unclip from the pedals, slowed completely and fell over on my left side.
After looking around and realising no-one had seen me (the view from the pub across the road was obscured by the traffic), I laughed whilst I righted myself and the bike and then carried on!
I rode home with a very red face.
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I was riding down main street the other day when a lady opened her car door. i nearly avoided it but caught my right foot. I must have gone up and over the door and then rolled on my shoulder, for the next thing I knew i was standing in the middle of town swearing a blue streak. I was lucky because I wasn't wearing a helmet. Also happened not to be clipped in or the bike would have come with me. Very sore shoulder. Bike ok.
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Yesterday morning on my way to school ( as a teacher :( )I didn't see the ice on a downhill small road and I fell. The bike is ok, and I enjoyed the way I touched the ground, with my forearms and my feet. Only my Knees where a little beaten. I was lucky of course because no cars where on the road.