falling off

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Off-road riding is a good confidence builder. It also teaches you how to fall, which is a useful skill. Once you get used to falling off, and nearly falling off but recovering, it will help you understand how close (or not) you are to falling off in road and traffic situations, and you will have a lot more confidence in evaluating those situations as well.

+1 My thoughts as well.
There are certain skills you can learn regarding "balancing" a mountain bike, which can be transfered to normal road-bike use.
Last autumn i had several weekends dodging trees around thetford forest tracks (man made).
I had a few falls during the early rides, but became quite adept at "preparing" the approach to various obsticles, right to the point
of realising a particular tree root would catch the pedal ... and making sure that pedal was up out of the way as i hopped over it.

Plenty of videos on youtube regarding "mountain bike skills" ... these may be worth watching just to pick up a few tips (for road-bike use).

 

[Pat "5mph"]

+1 My thoughts as well.
There are certain skills you can learn regarding "balancing" a mountain bike, which can be transfered to normal road-bike use.
Last autumn i had several weekends dodging trees around thetford forest tracks (man made).
I had a few falls during the early rides, but became quite adept at "preparing" the approach to various obsticles, right to the point
of realising a particular tree root would catch the pedal ... and making sure that pedal was up out of the way as i hopped over it.

Plenty of videos on youtube regarding "mountain bike skills" ... these may be worth watching just to pick up a few tips (for road-bike use).

really? Thanks for the tips, I'm one that needs the learning!

 

[jogray]

im so greatfull for all the tips and advice. to cut a long story short i broke 2 bones nd have no feeling in the front of my mouth. i fell off because it was wet and i went through a puddle, something must have been in the puddle that threw me over the handle bars. it happened so fast i didnt have time to react or 'fall properly'. i am going to enter the burnham sprint in june as incentive and i will be giving it another go this weekend . ill let you know how it goes!

 

[jogray]

Fell off mine 3 weeks ago. I eventually got round to inspecting the bike yesterday. Planning on getting back on again this week, but I'm sure I'll be quite tentative at first. Determined not to be put off though. If it feels too daunting at first, then take yourself off to a very quiet road and begin to build back the confidence.

good luck

 

[sdr gb]

i will be giving it another go this weekend . ill let you know how it goes!

Good luck. Soon, after a few rides, you'll be wandering what all the fuss was about.

I had an off in 2007 which resulted in 8 months off the bike. To get my confidence back, I put the bike in the car and drove to a local industrial estate. Being a Sunday, it was quiet so I could ride round without worrying about traffic and just concentrate on riding.

im getting a new tri bike next week for some motivation

Retail therapy, nice.

 

[jefmcg]

im so greatfull for all the tips and advice. to cut a long story short i broke 2 bones nd have no feeling in the front of my mouth. i fell off because it was wet and i went through a puddle, something must have been in the puddle that threw me over the handle bars.

This is good news (not the bit about the broken bones). You discovered the hard way what I discovered the easy way: don't ride through puddles. My encounter was a boneshaking bounce into and out of a pothole with no lasting ill effects. Now I take the attitude that there is pothole at the bottom of every puddle, and would no more ride through one than I would run into the back of a car.

This means I take a lot of lane on rainy days so I have escape routes, and sometimes slow down or stop, but there is so many deep potholes on my route, and they will always be full of water if there are any puddles about, so it's worth it. I find under those circumstances, drivers are pretty patient: no one has tooted or got agressive, even though I am often slowing their progress.

 

[Lisa21]

Iv got nothing to add that hasnt already been said, just have a and Im sure you will get your confidence back--just dont push yourself too far too soon, and dont be too hard on yourself.

 

[jogray]

hey everyone!

i just managed 2 whole miles on very flat empty roads. im not ready to do any hills yet but i felt good today and it is thanks to all your advice so thankyou

 

[GrasB]

If you're nervous best to go out with a confident cycling friend, hardcore audax/rando cyclists are the best. Loads of experience & not going to go blasting off in to the scenery or hammer up any climbs. Simply build up the miles & riding pace slowly.

As for the original off. Never, I repeat NEVER, ride through a puddle you can't see the road surface under. Motorists be damned, your safety is much more important than them arriving at their destination a few seconds earlier.

 

[jogray]

yes your right.....i will never ever go through a puddle again!!
i just went out with my husband whos an experienced iron man he was very patient with me surprisingly!!

 

[fossyant]

Well done on getting out.

I mistakenly went through a puddle last year - flipped the bike and I went straight into the back of a Taxi. Big dent in Taxi and bent bars for me.

 

[Badgeroo]

Whilst not on a bike, I recently had a fast and heavy fall on my coccyx when snowboarding... Turning in on an edge too quickly had me off my feet and several metres down the slope before landing hard. Result, an impressive bruise and a sore tail bone (which made sitting or getting up painful). First thing I did when I got to the bottom of the slope was hit the lifts and do another run...

Had I not done that, I honestly think I'd not be snowboarding for a long time...

 

[jogray]

ive been back on 3 times now and got my new baby yesterday (bike that is!!) good times ahead i feel

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

ive been back on 3 times now and got my new baby yesterday (bike that is!!) good times ahead i feel

Can't get a new bike without posting pics

 

[jogray]

not that im thick but how do i do that???!