First crash - lessons

[LewisLondon]

Very sad time. Having ridden the road bike for 8 months and feeling comfortable (not in any way that good or fast), I bought a new bike last week, a lovely Giant TCR. Took the gf out on one of her first road bike rides this weekend around RP, with her on my old bike.

Halfway round the first lap, she swerved into me, we both got stuck together and went down, onto me. Had to then walk 2 miles to a bike shop to true up both wheels, and straighten the rear mech. Luckily for me it all seems fine now, but i'm closely listening to/panicking about any tiny noise or vibration

Lessons I learnt:

RP was probably a bit busy for a new cyclist, so many quicker people flying past her

I shouldn't have ridden alongside her (even a few feet away) until she was comfortably going straighter

I wonder if I should have let her go out on her own first

Expensive bikes are brilliant but scary if you think they've broken

Always put your phone in the back pocket with the screen facing you! A few scratches on the back, so glad it wasn't the screen down...

Richmond cycles were massively helpful, and squeezed me in while I waited, and even knocked some off the price.

Any other lessons I should learn? (I appreciate not much info given, but if there is anything, feel free to ask more!)

If any of you were the cyclists behind us that helped us up and pick our stuff up, massive thanks!!

 

[mjr]

Riding alongside is fine IMO, but ideally more than an arm's length, level or slightly behind (never ahead unless you can accelerate really really fast) and ready to take avoiding action. If you ride behind, she may try to look back for you and so wobble. If you ride ahead, it's harder to see what's happening.

All the safety gaps should expand as you go faster.

I've ridden alongside a child on the London Free cycle and we didn't end up in a heap, despite a few crashes happening nearby with so many nervous new riders on crowded streets.

 

[LewisLondon]

Was definitely originally more than an arms width, until she swerved/wobbled!!

Thanks for that though, appreciate the advice. Just an unfortunate incident I think, hope it doesn't put her off!

 

[guitarpete247]

I went out with GF the other year along a busyish road and she started to panic at cars coming past quite quickly. I had been in front but dropped behind and slightly outside her rear wheel. She didn't like me there either as she had the feeling my position might antagonise drivers. I've always felt comfortable with my road position so stayed where I was and kept talking to her (loudly) to calm her down.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Start with you riding in front. When she is comfortable, let her take the lead. Eventually both she and you will become aware of each other's presence and riding alongside will come naturally. Without realising it while chatting you are start the ride alongside.

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

Given that I'm trying to encourage my partner into cycling, given it's a non-impact sport, I've cycled ahead, behind and beside her.
Whatever position she is happy with, stick with, and be supportive, but if you're ahead, take frequent stops to check on her, or stay within talking distance.
The longer she sticks at it, the better (we've just bought a tandem), so it can be done.

If you can ride somewhere quieter, I'd definitely go for that. We have a reservoir nearby, which I took her to, to help encourage her into the sport, and we've since ridden a few trails and other areas, which she enjoys. I'm hoping given some more tandem riding, she'll soon increase her stamina and climbing abilities, so she can ride solo (otherwise I do the frequent stops to check on her).

 

[MichaelW2]

but dropped behind and slightly outside her rear wheel. She didn't like me there either as she had the feeling my position might antagonise drivers.

That is exactly the right placement for a rear-most rider to enforce a safe overtaking clearance on the whole group. When the the rear-most rider is closer to the curb than forward riders, drivers judge overtaking clearance on the rear-most rider, then pass the group with smaller clearance.

I get nervous when a rider behind me hugs the curb.

 

[PK99]

RP was probably a bit busy for a new cyclist, so many quicker people flying past her

Far too many experienced cyclists hurtle round RP at the weekend passing too close/too fast. I'm not at all surprised a novice finds it intimidating.

 

[sidevalve]

Just a tiny thought - if you were side by side and people were 'flying past her' and she was the less experienced / more nervous one of the two I think somebody was on the wrong side.
I agree about new bikes though They can be more of a worry than they are worth. I had a mate who bought his dream m/cycle [principle's the same] but sold it inside six months and bought a second hand Honda. In the end he found he was just too scared of scratching / dropping it or getting it pinched. You just have to bite the bullet and ride.

 

[LewisLondon]

Just a tiny thought - if you were side by side and people were 'flying past her' and she was the less experienced / more nervous one of the two I think somebody was on the wrong side.
I agree about new bikes though They can be more of a worry than they are worth. I had a mate who bought his dream m/cycle [principle's the same] but sold it inside six months and bought a second hand Honda. In the end he found he was just too scared of scratching / dropping it or getting it pinched. You just have to bite the bullet and ride.

Don't worry, happy to ride it! But I panic over any noise, I do teh same with cars! Probably comes from not being technically minded.

With regards to side by side, if I was beside her I was always on the right. It was when I rode behind her that people were flying past. i tried to stay behind as much as possible (lesson learned should maybe have been in front), it was just going up the mini slope I got up next to her

 

[mjr]

That is exactly the right placement for a rear-most rider to enforce a safe overtaking clearance on the whole group. When the the rear-most rider is closer to the curb than forward riders, drivers judge overtaking clearance on the rear-most rider, then pass the group with smaller clearance.

This is a source of arguments as someone I ride behind sometimes always complains that I'm obstructing their look behind before we pull across to the right-hand lane (as we must at one point on a frequent trip). I complain that they're riding too close to the damn kerb and inviting dodgy overtakes (although some motorists really don't need any invitation on a crap road layout there) so I won't ride directly in line behind them else we'll both get squished against the kerb or the intermittent evil fencing. Oh well - it's not caused a crash yet - just some shouting...

But I panic over any noise, I do teh same with cars!

Blooming heck - how do you survive in London?

 

[martint235]

This is a source of arguments as someone I ride behind sometimes always complains that I'm obstructing their look behind before we pull across to the right-hand lane (as we must at one point on a frequent trip).

If I'm at the back I tend to decide when the shift right will take place as I move out, it leaves space for everyone in front to move across. Worked like a dream at a nasty little junction just outside Rochester yesterday although I did get left behind at the lights.

To the OP, if you've got an expensive phone consider investing in a cheap cycling phone. I've got a Note 3 for day to day use and a cheap Lumia for cycling with.

 

[Yazzoo]

I ride with my son a lot and I always ride behind him and slightly to the right (unless very quiet lanes with good visibility) that way cars can see that there are two of us and give plenty of room for a safe overtake in case he were to wobble.

When the roads are quiet I pull up beside him but am always ready to drop back should the need arise. He prefers being side by side but its not always an option. Nice to chat your way along and miles flyby!

I hope your partner isn't put off by the experience and sticks with it

 

[steveindenmark]

You are correct, you shouldnt be alongside her until she is very confident. Even then, only on very quiet roads and paths. You cannot really plan for crashes as they all different.

In the summer I had a big crash and the 2 things I learnt as a touring cyclist is to make sure all your bags, especially bar bag are fully fastened. My bar bag wasn't and my gear was all over the place. Camera, glasses, phone etc, all the expensive gear.

The other lesson was to carry a very small first aid kit.

 

[mjr]

I agree with @Yazzoo and disagree with @steveindenmark about riding alongside. I wouldn't limit it to "very confident" and "very quiet". Just averagely quiet and confident is fine.