Any advice on how to fall off?

[Addict]

Upon recently finding myself confined to a wheelchair with two broken feet a broken collar bone and some skin grafts i can't help reliving my unfortunate accident and wondering if i could have done it differently:
I was riding into an S bend after a long straight to find a car coming at me on my side of the road. Without any thought I jerked the bike left towards the footpath and tried to jump the bike over the gutter like you would a BMX. Yay! got past the car ! bugger here comes a tight squeese between a post and tree. My right shoulder hit the post (broken collar bone). At this point i believe my steering became a little one sided, and i somehow returned to the road where (i think) the bike laid down on the left with my foot under it (broken ankle). the Bike (and me) carried on to the opposite side of the road where the wheels dug into the gutter and flipped the bike over and launched me clear to land face down on the grass. Funny - My first thought was "just wait the pain will subside and you will be able to walk it off " - how wrong i was. After two surgeries and three weeks in hospital I have plenty of time to think about the bike racing guys who seem to just slide along then jump up run to their bike and take off again. I wonder what do they know that i don't?

So.

Can anyone tell me where i could have done it differently or where i can learn to fall safely, or maybe this is something that just comes with experience?

Any input appreciated
Mike

[vifferman]

After two surgeries and three weeks in hospital I have plenty of time to think about the bike racing guys who seem to just slide along then jump up run to their bike and take off again. I wonder what do they know that i don't?
Well, for a start they have the very best gear, and no curbs, gutters, trees, posts, or cars to contend with.

[yungatart]

Racers don't usually have to contend with oncoming traffic, gutters, trees or posts...
I suggest learning to NOT fall off in the first place...it reallly makes your recovery much easier!
Good luck wih the healing...

[Crasherfromwayback]

All luck or lack of mate. I've biffed race bikes away at 200kph + and had no nasty injuries...but fallen off road bikes at 20kph and half fucked myself!

[caseye]

Doesn't sound like you had too many options, was your own speed a contributing factor to not being able to comfortably steer around them and carry on your way?
Not a trick question and I'm not going to throw it back in your face if the answer was yes.
My point would simply be, if your speed was a factor in not being able to get around the oncoming(albiet in your lane) car then quite simply, slow down and ride to the conditions.
If the answer was no, then again simply, sorry you ended up crashing and doing so much damage, when you get back on your feet and onto a bike again, go do an advanced riding course or two and make sure you are prepared for this sort of crappy scenario.
Why, because mate most often it's us riders who come off worst as you've just discovered, I'm glad you're going to be Ok and sincerely hope you get back on a bike when the time comes.
by the way, did you or anyone else manage to make sure the driver of the cage got theirs?

[firefighter]

Yeah dude, if your gear holds together your sweet if you don't hit stuff.

I came off at 80kms, nearly highsided, saved it, up bank toward a farmers fence, was wondering how I had'nt gone down as the tank-slapper started, then thrown down low-side onto elbow and bike on knee just as I thought i'd saved it.......

Narrow country rd (woodcocks I think). High speed and my only injuries were a massive set of bruising on my knee, thigh, ankle and loose cartilage in my elbow (no armour just the soft 'CE' shit) and a written off bike.....

Luck, and if you can control as best you can during the slow-mo to a safer area (away from fence) t'was all that saved me........just aim for where stuf is'nt and hope for the best!

I was so lucky I did'nt even need to see a doc. In fact I worked that night.

In your case, well, sounds like you probably did as best you could all considering........No special type of slide gonna save you from a pole/curb etc.....

[grusomhat]

After two surgeries and three weeks in hospital I have plenty of time to think about the bike racing guys who seem to just slide along then jump up run to their bike and take off again. I wonder what do they know that i don't?


That's exactly what they do. They just slide quite nicely into a nice and gentle stop. The longer you slide, the more energy that's not going to have to be dissipated when you are forced to stop.

If you dump the bike, try and relax into a flat position. Maybe lifting your legs and pray that you don't hit anything. Sounds like you were pretty much out of luck though and tried the most you could to save yourself.

[YellowDog]

Hey Addict, well done for surviving.

Only you know the situation and there is no point in having regrets. Maybe you will learn something from it in case you are ever faced with a similar situation. I am presuming that you were fully suited and booted?

My experience of 30 plus years of road using tells me that unless you know you can avoid an accident, then don't try. A glance may well put you into the path of something else and kill you where as a square hit is less likely to (unless it's a truck).

If I know I am going to crash, (I had a few when I was a kid) I pick my spot and hit it square. Let the vehicle take as much of the force as possible (rather than your body). Just before the moment of impact, everything slows down to a more managable speed.

Many years ago I hit a car that pulled out infront of me (I was doing around 80kph in a 50kph zone). It was a no hope situation. My unlocking and locking of my skidding wheels had slowed me down a fair bit and I recon I hit at about 30kph (maybe slower). I jumped in the air (deliberately) and hit the roof of the car as I flew over it and then hit the ground.

I don't know how much time passed between the impact and me regaining my senses, but my helmet did a great job. My gloves were not done up and my hands were messed up a little, but other than some H U G E bruising to my hip and shoulder, I was fine.

My lesson was to make sure I do my gloves up before I move off and also to be more careful about where I speed. Apart from a recent fall off due to something on the road, I have not had an accident with another vehicle since that time (fingers crossed).

I hope you learn something from this. Mounting the kerb may not have been a good plan however only you know if you had any other choices at all.

Heal well.

[firefighter]

If you dump the bike, try and relax into a flat position. Maybe lifting your legs and pray that you don't hit anything

Lift your legs? I'd rather hit a curb with my feet rather than hip/ass.....a broken pelvis is a horrific thing to see.

[CookMySock]

What about jumping over the car? I have heard stories about this, but never heard from anyone who has done it - maybe theres a good reason why.. :whistle:

I've landed flat on my back on the grass at 100k.. slid for friggin forever - what a noise! Hit nothing thankfully, stood up and walked away. nine lives gone..

Steve

[YellowDog]

I don't think you could jump over a car coming towards you (Steve Austin Six Million Dollar Man).

Most likely to end up under the wheels or through the windscreen.

[Laxi]

just aim for where stuf is'nt

Dude! You aim where to crash????

[P38]

My advise on how to fall off.


Don't


It bloody hurts! :doctor::yes::yes::yes:

[grusomhat]

Lift your legs? I'd rather hit a curb with my feet rather than hip/ass.....a broken pelvis is a horrific thing to see.

I figure it would stop your feet digging into the ground causing some pretty painful breakages. However you bring up a good point. Maybe tilting your feet up enough to stop them digging in.

Hmm, I''ve never crashed though so any advice I offer should be taken pretty lightly. I imagine you don't get a lot of time to think when your in a crash so most of this would need to be pretty straight reactions.

[firefighter]

Dude! You aim where to crash????

LOL. Only the once! The road looked like a better option than the fence! 99% luck! (was more a direction if I came of/and I knew i was gonna)


I imagine you don't get a lot of time to think when your in a crash so most of this would need to be pretty straight reactions.

Yeah, it does seem to happen in slow-mo. Dunno why. Then you either get up and it's not as bad as you imagined, or worse like the OP!

[p.dath]

Dude! You aim where to crash????

That is exactly what you should do! You should look where you want to go. Haha.

[CookMySock]

Yeah, it does seem to happen in slow-mo.Not mine. Around the corner leaned over, short straight right-hander coming up.. (*)whats that on the road.. a stick.. a big one.. I'll go around the outside of it.. swerve.. clip the stick.. slip-slip.. into the gravel.. stand the bike up - steer verrrry gently back towards the seal.. no go.. brain locks.. hit culvert harrrrrd WHOP!!! Airborne!(*)THUDDD!!! crash-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-clatter-shh-shh, silence. Pause, time starts up. I'm alive - stand up! Walk! I can walk! Fucken arse you dumb CUNT!!! Bike is fucked. GRRRRRRR.

All time between the (*)'s squished into about 1 second. Slow-mo, not.

Steve

[sunhuntin]

What about jumping over the car? I have heard stories about this, but never heard from anyone who has done it - maybe theres a good reason why.. :whistle:

ive done it, but the car wasnt on coming, it was side on. i made up my mind as soon as i saw the car pull out from my left [everything went into slo-mo] that i would jump on impact and leave the bike to its fate. i dunno whether i aimed where i landed, but i was damn lucky to land just to the left of the white line instead of in the oncoming traffic lane. much as the wreck ruined my legs for good, i did enjoy the sensation of flying. i made sure to keep my eyes open so i would remember it. i can recall seeing sky/bonnet/sky/bonnet and eventually sky/road/shit this is gonna hurt before landing and rolling a few times. i musta rolled in the air as well. bet it looked pretty neat from a spectators point of view.

i have aimed where to crash once however, when out riding with a buddy. he overtook on a corner and left no room for either of us [it closed up faster than expected] i had the choice of a wire fence, or the wooden posts. i went for the posts and, by some miracle, it was two posts together so the front tyre ended up wedged between the 2. i lifted right out the seat, likely being right above the handle bars, before coming down again. had bloody sore arms afterwards. needless to say, any invites to ride with him have been met with a "not today, im busy, maybe another time?"

[YellowDog]

Not mine. Around the corner leaned over, short straight right-hander coming up.. (*)whats that on the road.. a stick.. a big one.. I'll go around the outside of it.. swerve.. clip the stick.. slip-slip.. into the gravel.. stand the bike up - steer verrrry gently back towards the seal.. no go.. brain locks.. hit culvert harrrrrd WHOP!!! Airborne!(*)THUDDD!!! crash-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-clatter-shh-shh, silence. Pause, time starts up. I'm alive - stand up! Walk! I can walk! Fucken arse you dumb CUNT!!! Bike is fucked. GRRRRRRR.

All time between the (*)'s squished into about 1 second. Slow-mo, not.

Steve
You should have tried it in slow motion instead.

Just like on 'Miami Vice'.

There's a special button on the bike you need to press just before it happens!

(not sure if Hyos have them as standard)

[Drew]

I imagine you don't get a lot of time to think when your in a crash so most of this would need to be pretty straight reactions.

It's funny you should say that, because in early crashes, I what was happening didn't register till after it was all over.

Now it is kinda different.

Some folk around here can attest to my, ahem, "experience" in these matters.

Most of the time it's totally luck, as Crasher said, but there is shit going on you can control. Slide on your back for example, this only works with a flat surface to slide on though.

If you're wearing knee sliders and the bike slides out, front or rear, you can mash your knee into the ground, if it doesn't save you, it lessens the impact.

There's no way to teach it, and no good way to learn it. So take it as it comes I say.

[grusomhat]

It's funny you should say that, because in early crashes, I what was happening didn't register till after it was all over.

Now it is kinda different.

Some folk around here can attest to my, ahem, "experience" in these matters.

Most of the time it's totally luck, as Crasher said, but there is shit going on you can control. Slide on your back for example, this only works with a flat surface to slide on though.

If you're wearing knee sliders and the bike slides out, front or rear, you can mash your knee into the ground, if it doesn't save you, it lessens the impact.

There's no way to teach it, and no good way to learn it. So take it as it comes I say.

And too sum it all up

Wear good quality gear all the time!

[vifferman]

The best 'off' I've seen was many moons ago. A friend of mine was riding another friend's dirt bike offroad. He went flying down this hill on it, got to the bottom, and realised he couldn't stop in time, so turned and skidded at the same time. As the bike came to a halt, he still had some momentum, and was basically highsided off, and catapulted into the fence (an old 7-wire farm fence). As he flew through the air, he somehow turned his body, so he landed flat against it, back first. The fence was pretty loose, and stretched quite a bit before catapulting him back the way he'd come, where he landed neatly on his feet.
It was absolutely classic! If it had been scripted, practiced and choreographed, he couldn't have done it better!
Oh how we laughed.

And no-one (including the bike) was hurt in the making of the stunt.

[sleemanj]

opposite side of the road where the wheels dug into the gutter and flipped the bike over and launched me clear to land face down on the grass.

Up to this point, you could have been OK, as long as your gear is abrasion resistant, a low side slide on it's own isn't too bad.

Sliding dissapates all that kinetic energy you are holding nice and gently, just like braking. Maximize contact of your gear with the surface, the more contact you have, the better braking you get.

The trouble is when you either hit something while sliding, or you wind up airborne.

If you get airborne you are not dissapating energy until the sudden stop at the end. Ideally when airborne you want to "land" so that you dissapate the energy into your limbs first then your body, rather than your head. Think of your arms and legs like shock absorbers.

Of course, there probably isn't time to really think about things like getting into the right position etc when it's happening, so you need to think about it before then, mental rehersal, so that your brain knows what to do without you having to conciously decide.

Oh, and let the bike go once the sliding starts, bike = big, heavy, lots of inertia, lower sliding resistance means it will slide longer and faster than you would on your own. Let it cut the path for you. For a demonstration of how much more energy there is in the bike...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xpWxLWQcwQ
watch how far the bike goes compared to rider, watch how he is landing.


slide along then jump up run to their bike and take off again.

Sliding is the key there, lots of open space on a track to slide on, skilled riders behind to avoid you, soft(ish) barriers to impact, gravel etc... roads don't have this stuff.

[James Deuce]

Land on fat people.

[JacksColdSweat]

All luck or lack of mate. I've biffed race bikes away at 200kph + and had no nasty injuries...but fallen off road bikes at 20kph and half fucked myself!

Ask OutForADuck if he's around - he knows how to do maximum damage at minimum speed ;o)

just winding you up if you read this G.

;o)

[NighthawkNZ]

Any advice on how to fall off?

basically and simply put... don't fall off...

[Mom]

Any input appreciated Mike

Hi Mike, glad to see you still able to post. You did well. My advice on how to fall off is dont! :yes:

Useless now for you I agree, but that is my aim every time I get on my bike, not to fall off.

Frankly, a tree and a pole versus a head on to a car, I think you did well. You avoided the biggest potentially hurty thing.

Hope you heal up well mate, and insurance is kind. I see Crasherfromwayback has given you the odds of injury stats his style, I can assure you, you can damage yourself plenty at walking speed too :yes:

Speed has nothing to do with it really, though the sudden stop from great speed is deadly. You managed to scrub off speed with your limbs is all.

[erik]

Careful how you put your hands down if you're sliding on your front/side to get onto your back, it's easy to sprain thumbs (and maybe fingers?) if you put your hand down while sliding. At least, I think that's how I hurt my thumb when I fell off.

Like others have said, a lot of it is due to luck. Sounds like you did well avoiding a car and almost avoiding a lamp post and tree.

[Paul in NZ]

Land on fat people.

So thats why you ride with me?? Bastard!

Dude - you are alive, you could have been dead, you did well avoiding the car, we should asking you for lessons...

[phaedrus]

basically and simply put... don't fall off...

if you can't manage that, fall up.. the sky isn't as hard as the ground so try and hit it instead.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Falling ups a great idea, except what goes up, always come back down. Ouch:argh:

[beyond]

Can't plan it unfortunately.

You've learnt that coming off is not planned and never can be and when you do it normally bloody hurts :(

[ready4whatever]

A biker can slide for fricken forever. its sudden impacts that does it. they should invent sensors on bikes that sence if your are going too fast to stop when something is infront of you and giant airbags are deployed as well as a rear parachute!

[Addict]

Thanyou all for your fine advise, i will certainly look for a fat person to remove my kinetic energy next time i find myself going to fast for the conditions, either that or will grab the skyhook and swing off the bike and aim for the big blue sky:laugh:.
All joking aside i have decided its time to start going on rides with more experienced riders and learn from them - probably the most fun way to learn.

[Squid69]

Upon recently finding myself confined to a wheelchair with two broken feet a broken collar bone and some skin grafts i can't help reliving my unfortunate accident and wondering if i could have done it differently:
I was riding into an S bend after a long straight to find a car coming at me on my side of the road. Without any thought I jerked the bike left towards the footpath and tried to jump the bike over the gutter like you would a BMX. Yay! got past the car ! bugger here comes a tight squeese between a post and tree. My right shoulder hit the post (broken collar bone). At this point i believe my steering became a little one sided, and i somehow returned to the road where (i think) the bike laid down on the left with my foot under it (broken ankle). the Bike (and me) carried on to the opposite side of the road where the wheels dug into the gutter and flipped the bike over and launched me clear to land face down on the grass. Funny - My first thought was "just wait the pain will subside and you will be able to walk it off " - how wrong i was. After two surgeries and three weeks in hospital I have plenty of time to think about the bike racing guys who seem to just slide along then jump up run to their bike and take off again. I wonder what do they know that i don't?

So.

Can anyone tell me where i could have done it differently or where i can learn to fall safely, or maybe this is something that just comes with experience?

Any input appreciated
Mike

pull your arms in, you wont break them off as you tumble, same goes for legs, BEND THEM!!!!! If your legs are straight and you impact you run the risk of ligament damage in the knee.
im still hobbling after my operation,
take it easy, Have a beer, get some isle of mann dvds and a pizza... NO point going too hard too soon and stuffing everything the Doc fixed...

[varminter]

[QUOTE=Addict;1129403087]Thanyou all for your fine advise, i will certainly look for a fat person to remove my kinetic energy next time i find myself going to fast for the conditions, either that or will grab the skyhook and swing off the bike and aim for the big blue sky:laugh:.

If it's a fat person you require look no further you'll be spoiled for choice here in Rotovagas

[hospitalfood]

the don't crash approach is all fine and dandy but it fails when you do.

i support the jump theory if you have time, it has worked for me before when i have reached the stage where there is no chance of avoiding impact. i leap up off the bike before impact and as i do push myself towards a clear flight path.
on touchdown/landing a roll or two before the slide can work, but then again it may not.