Any advice on how to fall off?

**Addict** · 3rd September 2009, 15:17

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** · 3rd September 2009, 15:20

Originally Posted by Addict

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** · 3rd September 2009, 15:21

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** · 3rd September 2009, 15:33

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** · 3rd September 2009, 15:57

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** · 3rd September 2009, 15:59

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** · 3rd September 2009, 16:38

Originally Posted by Addict

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** · 3rd September 2009, 16:41

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** · 3rd September 2009, 16:43

Originally Posted by grusomhat

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** · 3rd September 2009, 16:51

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..

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** · 3rd September 2009, 17:17

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** · 3rd September 2009, 17:25

Originally Posted by firefighter

just aim for where stuf is'nt

Dude! You aim where to crash????

**P38** · 3rd September 2009, 17:37

My advise on how to fall off.

Don't

It bloody hurts!

**grusomhat** · 3rd September 2009, 18:25

Originally Posted by firefighter

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.