CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Thrills and spills

(30 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by crowriver
  • Latest reply from Uberuce

  1. crowriver
    Member

    Silly me, I had an accident on the way to the station this morning. A taxi was pulling out, I signalled to warn him I was about to turn left, while applying coaster brakes. Back wheel skidded on the greasy surface, front wheel wobbled and only one hand to try and stop it. Came off my bike, landed badly, cut above my left eye and scrapes and bruises. Very sore but nothing broken. Thank goodness there was nothing behind me. Just back from the doctor, been patched up and told to rest up for a couple of days.

    Damn.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Ouch, get well soon crowriver.

    And most important question, how's the bike?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    Thanks.

    Bike is okay, except that the front dynamo light got snapped off it's mount. That may be pesky to replace, as it has a switch that controls the rear light too. I was on the new wee folder, not even going fast.

    Ruined my bike jacket and a nice jumper, big holes in both, but they saved my left shoulder from a getting a chunk of flesh torn out. It could have been much worse.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    'And most important question, how's the bike?' :)

    I was wondering, which bike? My rear wheel skidded a bit this morning too, (perhaps because of a lot of weight on one side. Made me wonder if you were on the Kona, and if length made both more prone to rear skidding.)

    Glad you're okay.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Like you say, one of the first thoughts when these things happen is how lucky it was that there wasn't someone right behind you (and highlights how dangerous tailgating would be).

    Clothing and light mounts can be replaced more easily than flesh - although they cost more - glad it's no worse than a couple of days rest.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    I was on a new wee folding bike I just bought a week ago second hand. It has a rear coaster brake plus a front v-brake. I'm still not quite used to the coaster brake setup so it may be I braked too harshly, it came on too powerfully, locked the back wheel and went into a skid.

    It all happened very quickly and before I knew it a kindly taxi driver and a lady who saw me fall off were helping me and my bike, panniers, hat to the pavement. When I saw copious amounts of blood dripping from above my eye I knew I wasn't going anywhere but to a medic. I couldn't tell how bad it was, but it felt sore.

    Pondered folding the bike and taxi to A&E, but after 10 minutes I felt okay to walk. So I just walked my bike down to London Road and limped into the doctor's surgery.

    All cleaned up, dressings on sore bits, tetanus jab, resting with cup of tea in bed. So all fine really, just a bit sore.

    There are others on this forum who've suffered much worse injuries recently and my thoughts are with them. I realise I was very lucky that it wasn't more serious.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    Alas the lamp itself got damaged: the metal mount seems to be fine, but the plastic bit where various wires connect is all mangled. May still be functioning, I'll test it at some point. Need a new front halogen with 'master switch' capability, methinks.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    I have come off my folder a couple of times in braking incidents. Glad you (and bike) are okay.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Dave
    Member

    I've also had teething issues with my coaster brake - it's ironic that they don't have much of a reputation for effectiveness but seem to have plenty of bite in real life!

    My problems have been more things like- coming down the bridges I wanted to stand up (just for the joie de vivre), and I tried to level the pedals backwards, whereas you need to rotate forwards to the desired angle. As I was also standing up at the time, the combined effect was a little scary...

    I can easily lock my back wheel with the coaster brake, and it's quite interesting to listen to how the hum of the studs changes under different accelerations (they also 'rasp' when I power up).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. custard
    Member

    not good news. easy done though

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. steveo
    Member

    Good excuse to go digital, your better of with LED's any way ;)

    Glad you and your bike are ok, annoying your kit got ruined!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. crowriver
    Member

    Thanks folks. Painkillers have kicked in now, so feeling a bit better. Note to self: keep both hands on bars and be ready to use front brake too when applying coaster brake on a downhill, however short.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. amir
    Member

    hope you and your bike mend quickly

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. LaidBack
    Member

    Sorry to hear about... hope it all heals soon.

    Did Mr Taximan not stop - or anyone else?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. crowriver
    Member

    I have to say it was not the taxi's fault. I was just trying to signal well in advance so that he could see I was coming and about to turn across him potentially. Just being polite really. At the same time I thought he might turn across me if he didn't see me. Anyway I never got that far! Braking simultaneously with signalling is a risky manoeuvre at the best of times, so it was my fault, I should have concentrated on my braking. It might have been him, or one of the other drivers from the rank who leapt out and helped me. I'm not sure. A woman who was passing stayed for a bit to make sure I was okay.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Tags: accident bike fall ouch

    Glad you've not lost your sense of humour. Get well soon.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. DaveC
    Member

    Sorry to hear of you're fall but glad its nothing more serious. Even though the least serious fall can have an affect on you're confidence, and smart for a week or more.

    I rode in all week on my Cotic all week with snow tyres and only when I rode the Dawes yesterday did I knotice the slippery surfaces. On the muddy sections of my commute the Cotic is very stable with disk brakes and knobbly tyres, but the Dawes, whilst smooth and great on tarmac, was a tail happy snake on the muddy bits. I certainly know which bike to take over the winter, and similar to anth's post about brakes, I have become too accustomed to the excellent braking of disks, so that without them I have to be more carefull and causious.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. crowriver
    Member

    Good old SJS Cycles. Ordered this replacement/upgrade light from them, reduced price:

    The light I had on which snapped looked more like a B&M Lumotec (but wasn't). So visually neater, but more expensive to replace with the same/similar functionality.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. crowriver
    Member

    Bang goes a planned weekend ride. I'll mend and recuperate first: as others have noted here, confidence has taken a knock. Actually cycled (slowly) back from the doctor's, but after this will be ultra-cautious next time I'm out on a bike.....might even wear a h****t.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    In all honesty/fairness a cut above the eye is exactly the type of injury that a helmet may well have protected against.

    Well done on already having turned it into the opportunity to buy some shiny new stuff!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. custard
    Member

    I never used to wear a helemt
    however havng a kid made me review that choice
    I'm 100% convinced my recent accident would have been a lot worse without the helmet

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Let's just nip this one in the bud, cut to the chase, and keep this one inside its box.

    "You should wear a helmet it could save your life"

    "No it won't and it makes things worse for everyone else"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    "No it doesn't"

    "Yes it does"

    etc etc etc

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. crowriver
    Member

    Some of my minor injuries, head and elbow. Left knee and shoulder took a hit too but less serious. You can see No.1 son trying to get in on the action.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. Uberuce
    Member

    Aye, it's a man's game, this cycling thing. And also a women's, them having that pain tolerance thing. And children's, them being rubbery and healing in about a millisecond...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. LaidBack
    Member

    before I knew it a kindly taxi driver and a lady who saw me fall off were helping me and my bike, panniers, hat to the pavement.

    I'd missed that bit crowriver. That's good that they helped... hopefully it wasn't just because you were blocking the road! (joking you know).

    We will follow your progress - hope it's not too bad. Should be a thread just called Casualty.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. crowriver
    Member

    hopefully it wasn't just because you were blocking the road! (joking you know).

    Come to think of it they did bundle me over to the pavement sharpish. Maybe there was a bus behind me, or an HGV, or a Mad Max Deathmobile.

    We will follow your progress - hope it's not too bad.

    I was toying with the idea of a gentle pootle on the hybrid tomorrow, with No.1 son on tagalong: he needs ferrying to his music class. However I'm going to see how I feel in the morning.

    I've already added to my injuries by falling and sustaining a big nasty bruise on my back in the living room. The old "sitting down while forgetting where the chair actually is" trick beloved of circus clowns and variety acts. Embarrassing and painful in equal measure!

    Now staying in bed unless nature or fridge calls.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. gembo
    Member

    Seems like loads of us have been off this winter [myslef included]. Even Super Rob from my commute was telling me in a little new year convention outisde my house that he had come off. THis was on the long dalmahoy, I had noticed this lunchtimne that it still had ice on it. They are spreading muck on the fields and must be a leak somewhere as big puddles at some of the corners. I'd say avoid Long Dalmahoy just now.

    Rob has new Boardman cyclocross machine - internal cabling very slick except chunky wheels.

    Commiserations to all my fellow tumblers. It is not the falling off that is difficult it is the getting back on.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Ooof! Sorry to hear this crowriver. Hope you and the light heal quickly. It's another fun thing to bodge I guess. (silver linings)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. crowriver
    Member

    Well I was out on the Globe Vienna this morning to Portobello and back, No.1 son on the tagalong. We took it gently, and it was fine.

    I was a bit stiff to start with, and did feel every single bump in the road in my sore bits, especially the left elbow which took quite a bit of a battering yesterday. I wore a h****t, which provided some kind of psychological reassurance.

    I feel a lot better now I've had a bit of exercise, and overcome that issue of the knock to confidence that an accident creates.

    Hopefully I'll be fit enough for the CTC ride on 22nd. Might get a new 'sporty' h****t for the occasion.

    Jumper has been darned, just the jacket to be stitched/taped/patched and wee folder new front light to install and things will be back to (almost) normal.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. Uberuce
    Member

    Glad you're mending fast, crow.

    I took a dent to the pride on my way to the shops; couldn't extract my left foot from the strap at the lights. Timber! Luckily I was turning left and the pavement was empty, so I had no problems breaking my fall and no moment of fearing that I'd be killed in the middle of the road while mounted by an amorous racer.

    That'd be some speculation on the forum my ghost would like to avoid...

    "I hear it was on him like a dog in heat...."
    "I did think he looked a little lonely last PY meet, but not *that* desperate..."

    Posted 12 years ago #

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