First major off!

[GravityFighter]

As some of you may know from a couple of my introductory posts, I started cycling about a month ago at the ripe old age of 30, having never learned as a kid. Bought myself a knock-down price Cannondale CAADX and have been merrily hitting towpaths and off-road routes with my semi-serious cyclist fiancée. All was well.

Until Tues evening that is. Cycled through a woodland trail and was following my OH, who was building up some speed, crested a small, but very sharp hill with a big ditch either side. Had a wobble, braked to avoid the ditch and threw myself off.

Result: A cracked rib, a hairline fracture somewhere in my clavicle and a set of seriously bent handlebars. Oh, and a three mile walk back to the car before we could go to A&E!

So, I'm sat working from home and feeling sorry for myself. Due to the state of the bike I can't even get back on straight away. Trip to my LBS (a very friendly Edinburgh Co-op) at the weekend to assess the damage. Grrr.

No question here, just needed to vent as it's the first time I've come off a bike and I'm angry with myself as I was just starting to get properly into riding...

TL;DR - idiot newbie went too fast, broke himself and his bike and wants to shout about it on the internet.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Ouch I feel your pain!
I am wobbly at the best of times due to having Dyspraxia but have sustained nothing more than bruising!
I hope both you and the bike, mend quickly!

 

[vickster]

Ouch GWS...do as the doctors tell you and enjoy the pain meds

 

[Saluki]

Get well soon. I hope that you are back on the bike as soon as practical.

 

[GravityFighter]

Cheers all. I seem to have the opposite problem of most new riders, that being that I have the fitness to ride long distances and reasonable speeds, but ambition clearly outweighs talent sometimes!

Currently on a nice mix of naproxin (sp?) and paracetamol combined with regular icing of my shoulder. Hopefully I'll be able to do some form of exercise next week. Climbing the walls already!!

 

[raleighnut]

It'll take 6 weeks to heal properly but you'll be OK for some physio after 3-4, lucky not to have snapped the collarbone but I bet the ribs hurt.

 

[numbnuts]

OUCH GWS

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Hope you feel better soon and that you get your bike fixed ok.

 

[Big_Dave]

You're still a young pup yet so you'll heal quick, the naproxin is an anti inflammatory pain killer, the term pain killer maybe a slight exaggeration Slight pain reduction maybe a better description Get well soon buddy

 

[Lilliburlero]

GWS, buddy

Your username did make me smile though..... Gravity Fighter.

Looks like you lost this one, mate

 

[Doc333]

Sorry for your pain, but just have one question, and I'm not being flip as I don't know the answer.

Why towpaths and off road trails through forest etc. Being a former mountain biker I loved doing that stuff. Like you I bought a cannon recently but afraid to go off the roads and lanes because its a road bike and got enough punctures and slides out there without pretending I had wide grippy tyres on. Do many people do tracks on a roady?

 

[Sods_Laur]

Sorry to hear that. Rest up, good luck with getting yourself and your bike fixed.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

hope the bike and you mend soon.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Get well soon, accidents happen, don't be so hard on yourself

 

[Mo1959]

Sorry for your pain, but just have one question, and I'm not being flip as I don't know the answer.

Why towpaths and off road trails through forest etc. Being a former mountain biker I loved doing that stuff. Like you I bought a cannon recently but afraid to go off the roads and lanes because its a road bike and got enough punctures and slides out there without pretending I had wide grippy tyres on. Do many people do tracks on a roady?

I think the CAADX is a cyclocross bike so would have reasonably wide and grippy tyres.