Fell off. Dont feel 'right'
Discussion
So I fell victim to the dreaded 'clip in curse' last week and over I went. Was kind of squeezed off the road by a learner, but it was entirely my fault I shouldnt have put myself in that position. But anyway, over I went and right into the path on on-coming, angry, rush hour traffic. Fortunate the leading car was a young lad who read the situation early and stopped. I didnt panic, just unclipped myself (while lying sideways) as quick and as calm as I could then shifted myself and the bike off the road. On goes the traffic, up goes my heart rate and I cycled the rest of the route in record time (another car nearly punted me off about 30 seconds after getting going again, but that happens when cycling... doesnt it?)
I didnt tell anybody (close to me) about it because, well I'm going to cycle again and no one needs that idea whizzing around their head while I'm out. Esp as my family have a history of getting squashed by cars while riding bicycles.
So that evening, feeling slightly disconnected, or dazed, or something, I take myself on a massive massive cleaning binge. This isnt like me at all, i'm tidy but this was something else. I put it down to stress.
But then came the flashbacks, and the next few days I felt REALLY disconnected, dazed and listless. Getting back onto the bike has been a mental hurdle, and I get a shiver whenever I think about stopping the bike while clipped in.
I've no history of being a fanny, quite he opposite, I'm usually concerned over my lack of fear of the road and... well, it's a car forum, you know, pushing your luck. So this all comes as quite a shock.
Has anybody else been through anything similar?
I didnt tell anybody (close to me) about it because, well I'm going to cycle again and no one needs that idea whizzing around their head while I'm out. Esp as my family have a history of getting squashed by cars while riding bicycles.
So that evening, feeling slightly disconnected, or dazed, or something, I take myself on a massive massive cleaning binge. This isnt like me at all, i'm tidy but this was something else. I put it down to stress.
But then came the flashbacks, and the next few days I felt REALLY disconnected, dazed and listless. Getting back onto the bike has been a mental hurdle, and I get a shiver whenever I think about stopping the bike while clipped in.
I've no history of being a fanny, quite he opposite, I'm usually concerned over my lack of fear of the road and... well, it's a car forum, you know, pushing your luck. So this all comes as quite a shock.
Has anybody else been through anything similar?
Yes, I saw a nasty accident happen and I thought I was fine with it, it was only when i did a monster tidy up and the house and garage was looking like a show home that I concluded that I was in some kind of shock, Funny, during the immediate aftermath of the accident and the drive home I was fine, it was about 3 to 4 hours later i got restless and started to do things to keep me occupied.
It passes, I had a few nights of disturbed sleep, I talked about it to a mate and I conclude that the wise buggers that say "Time is a healer" are right.
Chin up chap ! It will be ok.
It passes, I had a few nights of disturbed sleep, I talked about it to a mate and I conclude that the wise buggers that say "Time is a healer" are right.
Chin up chap ! It will be ok.
MocMocaMoc said:
Has anybody else been through anything similar?
Before you just thought you might be invincible, now you have evidence that you might actually be. If anything you should start riding with less care and attention, rather than more. Glad to hear you didn't die, now MTFU while repeating rule 5.
Serious answer: yes, it may be shock, yes, maybe you need to talk to someone just to straighten it out in your head and file it away properly, or it might come back like any painful/stressful experience. It does sound like you have thought it through yourself though: you know what you did that was wrong (putting yourself in a dangerous position) and won't do it again.
Unserious answer: MTFU, pansy.
Unserious answer: MTFU, pansy.
my brother got knocked off his bike by a pedestrian who just stood in the road after blindly walking out in front of him. He split one of the bones in his forearm and now he has a titanium plate with 7 self tapping screws in his arm, its pretty cool tbh...
aaaanyway, He now has really horrific nightmares and things and he hasnt ridden a bike since the accident, 2 years ago. Yes, he is seeing a mental person to help him and he is having therapy as he still cant move his wrist fully. He is a photographer and couldn't hold a camera for around 8 months so no income, he got screwed over pretty bad.....
just my 2ps worth
aaaanyway, He now has really horrific nightmares and things and he hasnt ridden a bike since the accident, 2 years ago. Yes, he is seeing a mental person to help him and he is having therapy as he still cant move his wrist fully. He is a photographer and couldn't hold a camera for around 8 months so no income, he got screwed over pretty bad.....
just my 2ps worth
I spent five days in hospital and two months off work after coming off my bike at speed due to a mechanical. Tbh I didn't have the inclination to reflect on the accident itself as I was in too much pain and on morphine etc. It was all about getting on with the there and then.
I couldn't ride for 3 months and when I did get back on fast descents scared the brown stuff out of me. Descending literally sent shivers down my spine. It took about 4 long rides before I felt settled. I now have what I consider a more healthy respect for speed
As long as I was physically able to, not getting back on was not an option. I like riding my bikes too much. I don't honestly know how I would feel about cycling if I had another bad one though.
Have a chat with a mate
about your 'off', get back on the bike and move on. I mean that in the nicest possible sense.
I couldn't ride for 3 months and when I did get back on fast descents scared the brown stuff out of me. Descending literally sent shivers down my spine. It took about 4 long rides before I felt settled. I now have what I consider a more healthy respect for speed
As long as I was physically able to, not getting back on was not an option. I like riding my bikes too much. I don't honestly know how I would feel about cycling if I had another bad one though.
Have a chat with a mate
about your 'off', get back on the bike and move on. I mean that in the nicest possible sense.
I think this is a normal reaction to a traumatic situation.
I crashed heavily on one of my MTB's in May last year and did a lot of damage, I was heavily concussed for a couple of weeks and according to my wife and kids was hell to live with for months - obsessive about insignificant things, short tempered and overcautious (not something I was known for). Due to numerous broken bones it was 3 months before I could get back on a bike, which gave me far too much time to brood over the accident, which in turn ebbed away at my confidence - I wish I could have jumped straight back on and got back into it.
Over a year on and I feel better, but don't think my 'off road' confidence will ever return to its 'pre-crash' level.
I crashed heavily on one of my MTB's in May last year and did a lot of damage, I was heavily concussed for a couple of weeks and according to my wife and kids was hell to live with for months - obsessive about insignificant things, short tempered and overcautious (not something I was known for). Due to numerous broken bones it was 3 months before I could get back on a bike, which gave me far too much time to brood over the accident, which in turn ebbed away at my confidence - I wish I could have jumped straight back on and got back into it.
Over a year on and I feel better, but don't think my 'off road' confidence will ever return to its 'pre-crash' level.
I had a big off an a motorbike in my 20s. Came off doing about 70mph down a b road and got away with only a bruise on my calf where the peg clipped me as I went over the bars. There was so much stuff I could have hit that would have killed me instantly yet I missed it all. Never ridden a bike in anger since, and still get the odd flash back years later. That said my OH did the CBT a while back so I did it with her for a laugh and really enjoyed it.
I've had a few big - trip to A&E - offs on my MTB too but I still keep climbing back aboard that as the perceived risk of death is much less for me. Each time it happens though, if it's a big off, it gets harder to get your confidence back to pre-off levels. My last biggie was knocking myself unconscious after landing a jump badly and I was on my own too. Don't jump now, and don't have the nerve to do so either.
You'll get over it if you keep plugging away at it. And think, you won't put yourself in that same position again. Whilst painful, those lessons are ones you don't forget.
I've had a few big - trip to A&E - offs on my MTB too but I still keep climbing back aboard that as the perceived risk of death is much less for me. Each time it happens though, if it's a big off, it gets harder to get your confidence back to pre-off levels. My last biggie was knocking myself unconscious after landing a jump badly and I was on my own too. Don't jump now, and don't have the nerve to do so either.
You'll get over it if you keep plugging away at it. And think, you won't put yourself in that same position again. Whilst painful, those lessons are ones you don't forget.
I think its a common mentality, my Mrs went into the back of a cab that had pulled over, and smashed her face in. She's not ridden since.
I've fallen off many times over the years (although not since I've been commuting) and its never bothered me. Your crash doesn't sound that bad to be honest, its certainly not something I'd let worry me.
I've fallen off many times over the years (although not since I've been commuting) and its never bothered me. Your crash doesn't sound that bad to be honest, its certainly not something I'd let worry me.
rhinochopig said:
You'll get over it if you keep plugging away at it. And think, you won't put yourself in that same position again. Whilst painful, those lessons are ones you don't forget.
^^^^^^^^Well said.I am up to 4.5k miles this year (poor I know), I have had the odd wobble, the odd bit of gravel rash, the odd cut elbow or forearm but I am doing something I love, enjoy, and am enthusiastic about - all of which helps you chalk your 'off' up to experience, and makes sure you do everything you can to avoid putting yourself in a similar situation again.
Cheers for the replies, fellas.
Seems it's a common thing after an 'off'? While my little 'wobble' wasnt anything terrible (I've bounced my hatless head along the ground before, opening it up, and knocking my shoulder out of joint - that hurt!!!) it seems the whole traffic thing proved more traumatic.
That said, it hasnt been anywhere near as crippling as some stories on here. Just an unexpected reaction!
Seems it's a common thing after an 'off'? While my little 'wobble' wasnt anything terrible (I've bounced my hatless head along the ground before, opening it up, and knocking my shoulder out of joint - that hurt!!!) it seems the whole traffic thing proved more traumatic.
That said, it hasnt been anywhere near as crippling as some stories on here. Just an unexpected reaction!
GBDG said:
Before you just thought you might be invincible, now you have evidence that you might actually be. If anything you should start riding with less care and attention, rather than more.
Glad to hear you didn't die, now MTFU while repeating rule 5.
You sound just like my inner-monologue.Glad to hear you didn't die, now MTFU while repeating rule 5.
I landed hard off a 6ft drop at the weekend doing 20mph, snapped my arm in two places...
I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
GSP said:
I landed hard off a 6ft drop at the weekend doing 20mph, snapped my arm in two places...
I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
Fack.I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
Bet that hurt?
GSP said:
I landed hard off a 6ft drop at the weekend doing 20mph, snapped my arm in two places...
I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
Most important question of all though........I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
...did you damage the bike?
Surprisingly it didn't hurt that much initially, I think maybe the shock of my arm not being straight and the orrible crunching removed that.
After the first cast went the pain was horrendous and I've not slept much since.
Bike didn't have a mark on it, you could drop it off a 10 story building and it would be fine.
After the first cast went the pain was horrendous and I've not slept much since.
Bike didn't have a mark on it, you could drop it off a 10 story building and it would be fine.
GSP said:
I landed hard off a 6ft drop at the weekend doing 20mph, snapped my arm in two places...
I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
I sympathise. I spent months trying to get back on a bike after tearing a bicep tendon thinking "surely it's healed by now", only to promptly start wimpering like a girl because it hadn't.I can not wait to get back on a bike, infact it's depressing me not knowing when I will be able to as I'm going to slowly start loosing fitness I've spent ages building up. I'm contemplating just getting out on the hardtail with road tyres one handed lol
The only slight upside to my situation was that I didn't have your hard-won fitness to lose in the first place!
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff