Does anyone think about the worse case scenario??
Discussion
Like many I enjoy riding my pedal bike, and I suspect many I like going fast. But as I get older and learn how painful falling off is, it's making me wonder if maybe I should just stop cycling for the sake of my family/physical well being.
Looking at my commute this week, and I've hit 40mph a few times. This isn't that fast, I wasn't even trying to go that fast, and certainly most of us here have gone much quicker when out on a proper ride.
BUT what if there had a pot hole, screw, nut come loss, chain failure, a tractor coming around the corner etc during the brief 40mph point.....hitting the tarmac at that kind of speed on a pedal bike wearing just a plastic helmet/work cloths doesn't really bare thinking about.....
I'll be commuting again on the pedal bike today, but maybe I'll freewheel the down hill bits rather than pedal, might even grab some brake, or maybe I should buy some life insurance for the sake of my family??
Never really thought about any consequences of coming off pedal bike at speed at all before, maybe for good reason? Does any one here ever wonder about it? Or am I just getting old, and mortality is becoming a more realistic event in all parts of life so am simply more aware?
Looking at my commute this week, and I've hit 40mph a few times. This isn't that fast, I wasn't even trying to go that fast, and certainly most of us here have gone much quicker when out on a proper ride.
BUT what if there had a pot hole, screw, nut come loss, chain failure, a tractor coming around the corner etc during the brief 40mph point.....hitting the tarmac at that kind of speed on a pedal bike wearing just a plastic helmet/work cloths doesn't really bare thinking about.....
I'll be commuting again on the pedal bike today, but maybe I'll freewheel the down hill bits rather than pedal, might even grab some brake, or maybe I should buy some life insurance for the sake of my family??
Never really thought about any consequences of coming off pedal bike at speed at all before, maybe for good reason? Does any one here ever wonder about it? Or am I just getting old, and mortality is becoming a more realistic event in all parts of life so am simply more aware?
Yes. Now approaching mid-40s and I am very conscious of the fact that I am the sole breadwinner of the house and never going to compete in anything serious, so the mental brakes are often applied. One of the big reasons I prefer gravel to roads, and when it has to be tarmac, as quiet as possible please. I don't mind riding in France as drivers are generally quite cyclist-friendly, but I've given up on Italy all together. UK is ok where I live, but would not fancy it down south.
My wife even said she would prefer I was on a motorbike than cycling on the road. At least on a motorbike I would be wearing more protective kit and travelling at the same speed as the rest of the traffic.
My wife even said she would prefer I was on a motorbike than cycling on the road. At least on a motorbike I would be wearing more protective kit and travelling at the same speed as the rest of the traffic.
gangzoom said:
Like many I enjoy riding my pedal bike, and I suspect many I like going fast. But as I get older and learn how painful falling off is, it's making me wonder if maybe I should just stop cycling for the sake of my family/physical well being.
Looking at my commute this week, and I've hit 40mph a few times. This isn't that fast, I wasn't even trying to go that fast, and certainly most of us here have gone much quicker when out on a proper ride.
BUT what if there had a pot hole, screw, nut come loss, chain failure, a tractor coming around the corner etc during the brief 40mph point.....hitting the tarmac at that kind of speed on a pedal bike wearing just a plastic helmet/work cloths doesn't really bare thinking about.....
I'll be commuting again on the pedal bike today, but maybe I'll freewheel the down hill bits rather than pedal, might even grab some brake, or maybe I should buy some life insurance for the sake of my family??
Never really thought about any consequences of coming off pedal bike at speed at all before, maybe for good reason? Does any one here ever wonder about it? Or am I just getting old, and mortality is becoming a more realistic event in all parts of life so am simply more aware?
Increased awareness of your own mortality is a natural part of ageing. It helps to keep you alive to age a bit more;)Looking at my commute this week, and I've hit 40mph a few times. This isn't that fast, I wasn't even trying to go that fast, and certainly most of us here have gone much quicker when out on a proper ride.
BUT what if there had a pot hole, screw, nut come loss, chain failure, a tractor coming around the corner etc during the brief 40mph point.....hitting the tarmac at that kind of speed on a pedal bike wearing just a plastic helmet/work cloths doesn't really bare thinking about.....
I'll be commuting again on the pedal bike today, but maybe I'll freewheel the down hill bits rather than pedal, might even grab some brake, or maybe I should buy some life insurance for the sake of my family??
Never really thought about any consequences of coming off pedal bike at speed at all before, maybe for good reason? Does any one here ever wonder about it? Or am I just getting old, and mortality is becoming a more realistic event in all parts of life so am simply more aware?
If you worry that you are going too fast then you probably are. Slow down a bit, no need to stop cycling entirely.
Life insurance for those with family is generally a good idea anyway,so yes get some.
That is a spirited commute I must say, props. Whereabouts are you?
ETA Apols for quoting the whole OP. Made my modest post fill up half a page;)
Edited by dontlookdown on Thursday 7th April 07:29
I rode on the road for the first time in a long while yesterday, within 5 mins I was nearly knocked off on a roundabout. Stick to mountain bikes and off roading, at least it’ll be your own doing then! In all seriousness, yes you’re not alone in your thoughts, and the injuries and strains take longer to heal. Make sure you’ve got some level of income protection, at least if you do take a tumble the financial side is covered for a bit. Enjoy the cycling the benefits we’ll outweigh the risks!
The short answer is no.
I'm 52 this year and i still like going fast. The faster the better. When I'm on the MTB on the trails going down flowy blue trails I've got to get them done as fast as possible. What a buzz. When I went to the Alps, on the gravel bike, the only thing that restricted my speed coming back down was the speed I could pedal. If I had more gears I would have gone faster.
Fortunately, I've not had any major incidents - touch wood...so maybe this is the reason that I still like going fast.
I'm 52 this year and i still like going fast. The faster the better. When I'm on the MTB on the trails going down flowy blue trails I've got to get them done as fast as possible. What a buzz. When I went to the Alps, on the gravel bike, the only thing that restricted my speed coming back down was the speed I could pedal. If I had more gears I would have gone faster.
Fortunately, I've not had any major incidents - touch wood...so maybe this is the reason that I still like going fast.
TheDrownedApe said:
yeah i should, but in the moment; no.
Fallen off at 20mph on wet roads and it didn't hurt much at the time (that adrenaline is awesome stuff) but cleaning the wounds and the next 24hrs hurt.
However the more painful aspect is the ruined clothing and blood stained bedding
Falling off doesn't hurt any more at the time you do it than it did when I was 25, what changes is the recovery time. Last time I fell off (icy patch .ca 20mph) I clattered my ribs and was off the bike for a month. Back in the day would probably only have been a week or two. Fallen off at 20mph on wet roads and it didn't hurt much at the time (that adrenaline is awesome stuff) but cleaning the wounds and the next 24hrs hurt.
However the more painful aspect is the ruined clothing and blood stained bedding
So it makes sense to take a bit more care. But I don't alwas remwmber to take my own advice;)
No, but I’m not doing 40mph around a blind corner on a single track road which is what you appear to be suggesting OP. I don’t mean for that to be a dig but I do like to think that I take basic precautions and that would mean I avoid a situation like you outline.
I often ride along a busy NSL road and a vehicle could crash into the back of me and crush me to death but if I worried about that, I’d never go on my road bike again. Plus, I have a reasonably generous life insurance policy.
I often ride along a busy NSL road and a vehicle could crash into the back of me and crush me to death but if I worried about that, I’d never go on my road bike again. Plus, I have a reasonably generous life insurance policy.
I have a history of horrible accidents, nearly all were my own fault,, nobody else involved. Going too fast for the conditions was the main culprit.
Started in 2015 on the Dartmoor Classic, a great event by the way, and not far behind the Fred in terms of difficulty and beauty. 25 miles from the end, on the moor, long downhill with a corner at the bottom and then a climb out. Was doing 55 mph before the corner, got the line wrong, went on the grass on the outside on the exit, managed to get back on the road, actually thought "Phew, that was close" and then managed to crash on the near side. Lots of road rash, knee bleeding profusely, but had to get back to the finish. I still remember the faces of some of the people looking at me before I cleaned myself up!
2018, 2 days before driving to Italy, descending Steyning Bostal which is a mile from home, got the corner wrong, broke my scapula. When I was signed off from the hospital, wasn't given physio, so it still doesn't move properly and that arm is as weak as a baby.
Had two crashes on cold roads this winter, banged my left knee really badly both times. It got better then something else happened. As you get older, I'm 57, recovery is not guaranteed and it takes longer.
Started in 2015 on the Dartmoor Classic, a great event by the way, and not far behind the Fred in terms of difficulty and beauty. 25 miles from the end, on the moor, long downhill with a corner at the bottom and then a climb out. Was doing 55 mph before the corner, got the line wrong, went on the grass on the outside on the exit, managed to get back on the road, actually thought "Phew, that was close" and then managed to crash on the near side. Lots of road rash, knee bleeding profusely, but had to get back to the finish. I still remember the faces of some of the people looking at me before I cleaned myself up!
2018, 2 days before driving to Italy, descending Steyning Bostal which is a mile from home, got the corner wrong, broke my scapula. When I was signed off from the hospital, wasn't given physio, so it still doesn't move properly and that arm is as weak as a baby.
Had two crashes on cold roads this winter, banged my left knee really badly both times. It got better then something else happened. As you get older, I'm 57, recovery is not guaranteed and it takes longer.
LimaDelta said:
My wife even said she would prefer I was on a motorbike than cycling on the road. At least on a motorbike I would be wearing more protective kit and travelling at the same speed as the rest of the traffic.
Difference being that on a road bike you might hit 40mph for a second on a ride, but your normal speed is going to be 15-25mph. On a motorbike, 30-40mph is going to be your minimum speed.What speed would you rather be doing when someone pulls out on you, or a car appears on your side of the road? 20mph or 60mph?
I sold my motorbikes last year, here in the SE it's just not worth the risk. I don't cycle much the road much either tbh, all MTB for me. If you come off, worse case is a broken bone or 2.
Having had a few tumbles and some high speed lycra surfing, I can confirm it's far from comfortable. But 'doesn't bear thinking about'? Nah. It's not likely to be life threatening** While the peak speed on a bike may be impressive, but your average is probably <20mph, so the odds are it's unlikely to be a 'fast' accident.
Also ride motorbikes (fallen off that too, but only at a racetrack touchwood..) As others have said, you're rarely going slowly, the accident is likely to be a lot larger.
(**) The big problem with either is not sliding along the floor. It's the other solid objects you may encounter mid slide/flight. Faster you're going, the further you're going.. more chance of wrapping yourself around a lamp post/finding a car coming the other way etc.
I'd wager that the ipmact on your "physical well being" would be greater from not cycling/getting the exercise. By far *my* biggest concern is being cleaned up by someone else doing something stupid/inconsiderate. Most likely in a car.
On the other hand, there are a multitude of unfortunate ways one could prematurely end. I don't plan on sitting at home on the sofa avoiding everything/hoping nothing bad happens then dying of a heart attack.
Also ride motorbikes (fallen off that too, but only at a racetrack touchwood..) As others have said, you're rarely going slowly, the accident is likely to be a lot larger.
(**) The big problem with either is not sliding along the floor. It's the other solid objects you may encounter mid slide/flight. Faster you're going, the further you're going.. more chance of wrapping yourself around a lamp post/finding a car coming the other way etc.
I'd wager that the ipmact on your "physical well being" would be greater from not cycling/getting the exercise. By far *my* biggest concern is being cleaned up by someone else doing something stupid/inconsiderate. Most likely in a car.
On the other hand, there are a multitude of unfortunate ways one could prematurely end. I don't plan on sitting at home on the sofa avoiding everything/hoping nothing bad happens then dying of a heart attack.
Its all about risk perception and management, you are far more likely to die from a heart attack or get injured doing DIY at home than you are doing serious injury on, or falling off you bike. you have just chosen to accept the risk of having a heart attack so don't think about it.
so the answer is to just crack on and take the usual precausions
You will probably also find that there is a far higher risk of injuring yourself on a mountain bike than on a road bike (note I said injuring your self, not being injured)
so the answer is to just crack on and take the usual precausions
You will probably also find that there is a far higher risk of injuring yourself on a mountain bike than on a road bike (note I said injuring your self, not being injured)
I dislocated a shoulder at 0mph in a 'failure to unclip' accident. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff