Confidence after a crash

[fossyant]

I could divert but it would be more than a couple of miles unfortunately!!

And... Do it. All cyclists ride the long way.

 

[Maylian]

It's a cliche but it's bang on, time is a great healer.

Take your time and your confidence will build back up. I had a big spill a few years ago and got a concussion, bruised ribs and a broken ankle for my efforts.

It took some time, (and a temporary switch back to flat pedals), but I got my mojo back and whilst I still control my descent speeds, (generally don't exceed 40 mph nowadays), I did get back to where I was.

Exactly this, I had an off on my birthday last year (March) had concussion for two weeks, a hole in my knee for best part of a month or two and a smashed up face. I don't wear a helmet and once I was back in the saddle started using one, was a bit more tentative on corners and ever so slightly nervous. The confidence comes back from exposure and now I'm back to riding normally (without a helmet) but take some corners slightly more conservatively than I used to.

Don't avoid a route for the wrong reasons! I did exactly that and it almost completely stopped me enjoying one of the most fantastic parts of the country (New Forest). Now when I go past the scene of my off, I say goodmorning to it and chuckle that "he" hasn't got me this time....odd but it makes me smile and keeps me in the saddle.

 

[Excellor8]

Exactly this, I had an off on my birthday last year (March) had concussion for two weeks, a hole in my knee for best part of a month or two and a smashed up face. I don't wear a helmet and once I was back in the saddle started using one, was a bit more tentative on corners and ever so slightly nervous. The confidence comes back from exposure and now I'm back to riding normally (without a helmet) but take some corners slightly more conservatively than I used to.

Don't avoid a route for the wrong reasons! I did exactly that and it almost completely stopped me enjoying one of the most fantastic parts of the country (New Forest). Now when I go past the scene of my off, I say goodmorning to it and chuckle that "he" hasn't got me this time....odd but it makes me smile and keeps me in the saddle.

i don't actually avoid that part of the route, i just get off the bike at that one junction as they drive like idiots going onto the slip road. The junction where i got hit is literally a couple of feet to the exit on the roundabout and if the roundabout is clear they will continue onto the slip road at speed without thinking about us cyclists!! i will be taking up Fossyant's idea and go the long way round which will put more mileage into the legs so win win scenario lol!!!

And... Do it. All cyclists ride the long way.

 

[Shaunthesheep]

And is there anyone on here that hasn't fell off lol I came off myself last week just got a new hybrid bike with thin tyres compared to my old mountain bike. Went down a road where the tram tracks join the road frount wheel went down the rail gap and off I came. Hit my head hard broke my helmet but not a mark on my head so did it's job. And to think until last Sumer I never wore a helmet. Big bruise on leg and sore ribs and arm. Bike ok that's the main thing lol. Carried on with my ride and did another 30 odd mile. Next day the pain started so had a full week off but went out Saturday and did 40 mile all of road. I am a bit wiery of cycling on the roads now. But living in sheffield with all it's pot holes and tram tracks probley not a bad thing

 

[Shaunthesheep]

two photos fist shows dint in outside second shows crack on inside

 

[Shaunthesheep]

 

[SpokeyDokey]

And is there anyone on here that hasn't fell off lol I came off myself last week just got a new hybrid bike with thin tyres compared to my old mountain bike. Went down a road where the tram tracks join the road frount wheel went down the rail gap and off I came. Hit my head hard broke my helmet but not a mark on my head so did it's job. And to think until last Sumer I never wore a helmet. Big bruise on leg and sore ribs and arm. Bike ok that's the main thing lol. Carried on with my ride and did another 30 odd mile. Next day the pain started so had a full week off but went out Saturday and did 40 mile all of road. I am a bit wiery of cycling on the roads now. But living in sheffield with all it's pot holes and tram tracks probley not a bad thing

Glad you are ok.

Two things:

Glad to see that you have posted helmet pic' as so often we don't get to see helmet damage. I had the same with my first off last year - didn't even know I had banged my head until I took my helmet off when I got home. Wish I had photographed it now! It had a whopping great chunk missing out of the LH side and had loads of gravel embedded in it. Did the job for me. One of the reasons I feel a lot less confident since my off is that it has left me feeling vulnerable - hard to shake off the feeling too.

The other thing is the thinner, smoother tyres issue. I am really not that won over on these thinner tyres esp' slicks/semi-slicks. I'm not talking about aquaplaning blah blah blah and I understand that on smooth surfaces then more rubber actually touching the road equals more grip.

However, the roads I ride (country lanes) are often very coarse surfaced, not always loose, but a long way from smooth. I think my old MTB knobblies used to 'dig in' and give me more stability - I imagine the 'knobby' bits fit into the little holes in the road giving some mechanical advantage. Anyone else feel the same?

I have 32mm Marathon Supremes on at the mo' and I am thinking of trying some 35-37mm hardpack CX tyres - maybe it's just a pschological thing that I need to get over as tbh I was shaken. I only came off at low speed and fortunately didn't hit anything (other thann the ground!) but it still mashed me up a lot.

 

[I like Skol]

I came off my bike last spring twice in 12hrs. 1st was a slow speed left hook incident and didn't knock my confidence at all, no injuries and just disappointed that I had allowed myself to be caught so stupidly. That was on the way home from work at about 7.30pm. Riding to work the next morning, 6am, when the temp was around 2-3 degrees and dry I hit a mini roundabout at speed and the bike just disappeared from under me at about 20mph. I was a bit shocked and couldn't understand what had happened. I picked up my bike and moved it to the side of the road then walked back to the scene and looked at the road, it still looked dry so I took off my glove and touched the road, it still felt dry and ice/grease free. I was flummoxed and as I turned around to walk back to my bike I almost went a*se over t*t as my feet tried to slip from under me. It turns out that the weeks of intense road gritting had left a film of salt on the surface that in the cool morning was holding just enough moisture to make it into a lethal lubricant. It looked dry in the morning twilight and felt dry to the touch but put something rubbery on it and wheeeee.......

I've been really nervous of hard cornering ever since, even on hot dry days, because my senses now tell me they can't be trusted and what looks ok might not be........ until just this last week when I realised I am beginning to carve again, even when damp or wet. I don't know where this return of confidence has come from and it has been quite sudden. I was definitely cornering like a girl just a few weeks ago but now I'm back to my old antics, going in hard, leaning, messing with the weight distribution front to back and left/right to get the best balance and line.

I guess surviving another winter without a repeat incident has allayed my subconscious fears and as the old saying goes.... 'time is a great healer'?

 

[dan_bo]

I came off my bike last spring twice in 12hrs. 1st was a slow speed left hook incident and didn't knock my confidence at all, no injuries and just disappointed that I had allowed myself to be caught so stupidly. That was on the way home from work at about 7.30pm. Riding to work the next morning, 6am, when the temp was around 2-3 degrees and dry I hit a mini roundabout at speed and the bike just disappeared from under me at about 20mph. I was a bit shocked and couldn't understand what had happened. I picked up my bike and moved it to the side of the road then walked back to the scene and looked at the road, it still looked dry so I took off my glove and touched the road, it still felt dry and ice/grease free. I was flummoxed and as I turned around to walk back to my bike I almost went a*se over t*t as my feet tried to slip from under me. It turns out that the weeks of intense road gritting had left a film of salt on the surface that in the cool morning was holding just enough moisture to make it into a lethal lubricant. It looked dry in the morning twilight and felt dry to the touch but put something rubbery on it and wheeeee.......

I've been really nervous of hard cornering ever since, even on hot dry days, because my senses now tell me they can't be trusted and what looks ok might not be........ until just this last week when I realised I am beginning to carve again, even when damp or wet. I don't know where this return of confidence has come from and it has been quite sudden. I was definitely cornering like a girl just a few weeks ago but now I'm back to my old antics, going in hard, leaning, messing with the weight distribution front to back and left/right to get the best balance and line.

I guess surviving another winter without a repeat incident has allayed my subconscious fears and as the old saying goes.... 'time is a great healer'?

You're nervous of hard cornering?


Yeah OK.

 

[I like Skol]

You're nervous of hard cornering?


Yeah OK.

On tarmac mate, off road is a different kettle of fish.... But I've put it behind me now