Offs

[SpokeyDokey]

So - I had an 'off' yesterday; bike washed out on loose gravelly road surface. I didn't see it as I was transiting from dark underpass to bright sunlight.

I am smothered in bruises and weeping grazes today and my right hand is all but useless although I can obviously dab at the keyboard!

My saddle, pedal and, as I noticed this morning, my cycle helmet that has a large chunk out of it took the brunt. All easily replaceable albeit costly. My brifters have some light cosmetic scarring - they are 105's, they are a heck of a cost and I am figuring that if I ever come off again they will get damaged again as they are so vulnerable - so I'm not going to replace them. Bike is fine really, amazingly fine under the circumstances.

Apart from the physical aches and pains which are fortunately minor I have woke up this morning feeling totally disconsolate about cycling. Not as in loss of confidence but just a strange feeling of loss of interest - wind out of sails?

I was thoroughly enjoying my resurgent interest but right now I have no desire to get on my bike again.

Things that are going through my mind:

My helmet has a chunk missing. I didn't know my head had hit the ground although I have a few lacerations on my chin. The helmet did its job for me but I keep thinking 'that was a close call'.

I have the thought of what if a car etc had been following me.

But above all I think of the helplessness of the situation. I am a really careful rider, I'd like to think I have good awareness of situations and road conditions but nothing I could have done would have prevented this accident.

I guess I now realise that a cyclist is a very vulnerable thing indeed.

Anyway, bit disconsolate about it all at the moment.

Any shared experiences out there?

 

[Mo1959]

Sorry you are feeling a bit down about it Spokey. You must have got a real fright and, don't know about you, but the older I get afraid my imagination runs riot a bit and I go over all the what iffs and it does scare you a bit.

So far I have been fortunate apart from a skid on ice which only resulted in a grazed knee and very minor scratching on the brake levers but even that amazed me at how quickly you can go from pedalling along quite happily to being on the ground

Not sure what to suggest. Whether it is better to get back out as soon as you feel able and just potter around gently or to take a reasonable break and hope it re-enthuses you.

 

[ufkacbln]

I had a slight accident a few years ago (fractured skull, clavicle, ribs, pelvis and hip) so I have been there.

I was given the advice that as soon as I could just get back on the bike.... it worked for me, and I soon rediscovered the enthusiasm and enjoyment

The negativity is to be expected, but there are two things that you need to do. Firstly get back on the bike and simply ride round the block, then extend journeys as you feel safer. It will come back to you

Secondly go back to the accident site as otherwise this will become a place to avoid. It took me a few weeks after I was back on the bike, and the first time was unnerving, but it soon became just another part of my journeys.

In both cases the sooner the better

 

[Herzog]

GWS, Hopefully you'll be on the bike again soon. Perhaps start off by using low-traffic roads at a pace you feel comfortable with.

I agree that visiting the accident site is good idea!

 

[PpPete]

I first came off my bike at speed at age seven. (20 kph - I was being measured by a car on the adjacent road at my own request)
It's happened "a few" times since most recently in April, and the grazes on my knee are still not fully healed.
Occupational hazard.

Don't want to sound unsympathetic but "sh1t happens" and I can't help wondering if there is something else behind the way you are feeling?

 

[vickster]

I came off in September 2009, absolutely knackered my knee and needed 2 operations, lots of physio and injections to get me back to where I am now. I didn't cycle for ages, slowly got fitness and confidence back (with the help of a chunkier bike and tyres) and now cycle more than ever. The weight loss I can achieve and muscle strength are very good for my knee. Although I do keep getting overuse injuries, due to or exacerbated by cycling

Unfortunately, there is an inherent risk with cycling, but the good far outweighs the potential bad - so that's what you need to focus on. Summer's finally here so heal up and get out there

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Sorry you've come off @SpokeyDokey. I hope the hurt heals quickly.

I can understand feeling disconsolate about cycling straight after the event. It's never pleasant when doing something you enjoy comes back and bites you.

Stating the blindingly obvious for a moment, try not to dwell on what could have happened (I'm hopeless for doing this and it has never helped ). It's in the past now and speculating won't change it.

I've only had two big offs as an adult rider. The one was on sheet ice and at the time seemed like a laugh because I didn't get hurt and could see the comedy value of what had happened.

The other was a freak accident on a gravel trail (route 45 between Bridgnorth and Ironbridge) where a stick flicked into the spokes of the front wheel, bringing me down. I came out of that with gravel rash on my knees, both palms, and up my right arm and shoulder. It would have been on my face too but the helmet saved me from that particular pain and indignity.
The adrenaline took over and I rode to Ironbridge where I got some TCP and cotton wool, cleaned up the worst and finished the remaining 20 miles of the ride. ('Til then I'd never understood how pro riders can have a big off and just carry on racing.)

The bike got away with scratches and a broken front mudguard. I suppose it's lucky it happened on gravel as with the extra grip on tarmac it would probably have ripped out spokes or damaged the fork.

I couldn't face getting back on the bike for about 3 weeks after the incident and sore tendons in my right hand meant that rides were short for a while after that. The longest lasting effect was a nervousness on gravel paths, which has taken a couple of years to get over. (Probably just me though.)

On the plus side, the accident led to discovering what was causing skin problems on my hands and sorting that out.

I hope you can get back on your bike soon. It will take a little while to get confidence in the bike back but it will happen.

 

[SWSteve]

I haven't had an off but the advice I would give you is the same as I would expect myself: get back on the horse.

If you're worried about your helmet this was posted in the bargain section - I would say if your helmet is damaged I would arrange a trip to your nearest one

From Saturday 1st June until Sunday 30th June Specialized Concept Stores have a Helmet Amnesty on where you can take in any old helmet and exchange it for a 50% discount on a new helmet.​

​

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=831​

​

Specialized helmets pass all the helmet regulations including the strict SNELL standard​

Sorry if it sounds like I'm preaching without any experience of it, but I would want someone to do the same with me.

GWS

 

[vickster]

As above, if the helmet has any sort of damage, it has done its job and needs to be replaced. The Specialized Amnesty is on two models, neither of which is terribly cheap (cheaper is £60 still)

 

[vernon]

I've had major spills on motor cycles and pedal cycles and in every instance apart from one where a motor bike was too bent to ride safely I remounted and continued with the rides.

Yes, it can be be painful and the bruises can be spectacular but I treated each incident as a reason to celebrate still being alive rather than seeking a reason to stop and pack it in. Scars on the bike are nothing more than an indication that you have a well used and abused bike. I've never replaced components because of cosmetic damage, I've waited until the function is impaired before replacing it, crash helmets being the exception.

Pre-occupation with 'what ifs' spoil life. Life is all about taking risks and just occasionally the unexpected happens - deal with it and move on.

I guess I now realise that a cyclist is a very vulnerable thing indeed.

Humans are vulnerable things. Yesterday my wife nearly choked to death eating in a restaurant and needed the services of first responder paramedics having failed to respond to the treatment administered by a nurse.

It hasn't put her off eating though it has modified her attitude to social airs and graces when it comes to disposing of a mouthful of unpalatable food.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

So more damaged pride & bike than you.thats a good thing.you are probably still in a bit of shock,couple of days it will be gone,you will be back on the steed with renewed vigour.

 

[Dave 123]

Sorry to hear about this.
I had a kayaking incident on the river Tees back in November. I won't bore you with the details (or relive it....) but I was comfortable on big white water.
Now I appear to have lost my bottle a fair bit. I'm nervous when I get on the water if it's grade 3 or above, and I seem to be wimping out a fair bit. The love of the sport has been dented a bit too which is a real bummer.
I was paddling in N. Wales last week, it was enjoyable, but not quite what it once was.
At present I am trying to keep my skills up without overdoing it.
Take it in small steps, ride with other people who will encourage you to get out there. Enjoy small challenges.
Thankfully though, like myself.... you lived to tell the tale.

 

[Crackle]

I think it's normal to have mixed feelings after something happens. I always picture this, which I had as a poster once

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Thanks all for your replies - food for thought.

Tbh I am wallowing in misery at the moment and am not thinking straight. My right hand looks like a small football and it is hard to do a lot of normal small things today. It hurts like hell.

I have ordered a new helmet (another Bell) - the damaged one has quite a chunk out of it although I have no head or neck pain at all. Glad I had it on tbh. Also ordered some new cycling glasses as one lense and one arm is shredded. I did not notice either the glasses or helmet damage on the 8 mile ride home from the accident.

It's not a confidence thing that's hacking me off it's just being disconsolate with the set-back. About 10 years back I had an accident on Tower Ridge Ben Nevis that has caused no end of problems with my right arm ie weak socket at shoulder (it was dislocated), tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger (I still have an operation to have on my ring finger). It's taken me all that time to get on a bike as my shoulder was in pain when I tried to ride my beloved old Pace MTB. So now I am sat here thinking that as my right side seems to have come off worse in this accident it will all kick off again.

We shall see.

On the perspective front I am pretty much a glass half full person most of the time. I do realise that there are poor souls that have just been diagnosed with something horrible who would gladly swap places with me. I am just feeling pathetically sorry for myself I guess! I'll buck up once the pain subsides and I can deal with a loo visit properly!

 

[Gravity Aided]

We're all thankful you weren't more seriously injured. Things like offs happen, and we all have some trauma from such things, both physical and psychological. Another challenge to overcome. You've gotten over many challenges to get to this point . An ice bag on that hand and a couple ibuprofen will start the healing process.