Post-crash tips

markshaw77

I recently joined the ranks of SMIDSY-dom and wanted to pick the brains of those who have been there before...

I got away with remarkably little lasting damage, despite a trip via bonet, windscreen and underside of rear wheels! The bike is repairable (new forks, bar tape and wheels) and I have police/BC solicitors/etc on the case, so that is all in hand and there are other threads dedicated to that so don't want to go there or duplicate efforts.

however, what I am struggling with is the mental side of things.

I am now twitchy even when driving a car and while I really want to do it, the prospect of getting back on my bike at all at the moment gives me the shivers, let alone getting back into a central london commute.

Any tips from those who have been there before, or is it just something I am going to have to live with and get over (however slowly)?

CiB

Someone will be along soon to tell you to MTFU I expect.

Not much I can offer; I suspect you have to have been there to know how to deal with the aftermath.

Agent57

markshaw77 wrote:

is it just something I am going to have to live with and get over (however slowly)?

That, I reckon. You can try mental games such as thinking about all the times you rode without anything happening, and reminding yourself how infrequent and unlikely such incidents are. But in the end, it's just a matter of time. I was a very nervous car passenger for a while after I had my first big crash; and I was very wary of going out into town at night after I got beaten unconscious one New Year's Eve. But those feeling pass, and before too long you'll be back at it and happy as Larry.

Pufftmw

Its something you can either (mentally) deal with or not. They say that the best recourse is to jump straight back on a bike and get out there again as otherwise your fears will build and become all consuming. Do get on your bike and if necessary, take it slowly. Its your head and only you know whether or not you can manage it.

What I would say (on the insurance side) is that you tell your solicitor about the mental anguish you are going through and the additional costs/losses that you may be incurring. If you don't have an APIL registered solicitor but instead one of those Claims Direct type companies then go and get one.

deptfordmarmoset

I've never been under the rear wheels but I have done some unscheduled bonnet and windscreen valeting. Personally, I found I had to do quite a lot of side-street cycling before I could reassess getting back onto busy roads. And when I got back to busy roads, I found that I would often stop at a potentially dangerous junction/roundabout, etc, and do a very thorough assessment of the traffic and the risks before completing the manoeuvre. So, for me, I had to go through a slow reinsertion with a lot of analysing traffic. Basically it came down to riding in situations where I was in control and gradually building up confidence from there - there was a strong sense of re-empowerment that came along with the progress I made.

nich

I had a `smashing` time with a moped chap last week.

I had to get back on my bike because I detest public transport that much!

I'm more aware than what I was before. I go slower. I cover the brakes a lot more.

The worst bits are junctions, especially when cars are edging out. I hate it!

Overall though, the benefits are far too strong to make me want to stop

bigmat

Think positively - you've had the accident and it wasn't that bad . You already knew the risks, now you know that even if an accident happens, you can get up and walk away.

drawblood

That which doesn't kill you will make you stronger...or something like that. +1 to all of the above.

I was shakey for the first couple of times using the left turn where I got clipped by a car in a hurry - lots of gravel rash but back on the bike 3 days later and after a week I had my confidence back.

Go for it - you will be fine.

lost_in_thought

After I got knocked off I was very much in the ' get straight back on' school of thought. You're bound to be more cautious, take that as a good thing and perhaps do some country riding and build up to the commute. Just go at your own pace, and try to be objective.

Good luck!

spasypaddy

when i got hit the only thing i wanted to do was get back riding. a cast on my knee, rehab and no bike put paid to that for close to 4months.

as soon as my bike was fixed and my physio said i was able to i was back out riding.

i just have that kind of mindset. its done. move on. wish you well, and hope you get back on soon.

EKE_38BPM

After my accident I was laid up at home for two weeks and then after that I couldn't cycle for about another 6 months (whiplash) so I was driving everywhere. As I gradually healed I realised that the time I could ride again safely was getting nearer and I just couldn't wait.

When the day actually came I was straight back on with no extra concerns really. I ride primary a lot more and stay even further out of the door zone than I used to (even though it wasn't a dooring), but basically, no real mental aftermath. Maybe having to drive past the spot 14 times a week for 6 months was a kind of immersion therapy?

I reckon you'll be back on straight away with no real issues.

unixnerd

I had a wee self inflicted accident on my mtb once and was surprised how much it affected my confidence, maybe being the wrong side of 40 doesn't help. I can only imagine what you're going through is a good deal worse! The trick is likely to start gently and build back up again.

Remind yourself why you like cycling, go for a few nice rides at the weekend on quieter roads and just take it easy. Enjoy yourself and build from there.

I recently got a friend into mountain biking and he's not as fit as me by some margin. Just going round my normal 20 mile off road route at a much more relaxed pace was a real revelation. Take some time and remind yourself of the good things cycling has to offer :-)

fossyant

Get back on as soon as you can. Same happened to me, almost two years ago - taken out at a roundabout, had to ride home, then ride to work next day. The main thing, is a now avoid that particular roundabout from the direction I was travelling - was a shooting gallery really. Still ride it from other directions though.

As for being nervous of junctions - that eventually goes over a few weeks/months. What can be stressful is sorting out the injury/legal side.... mine is still 'on-going'.... still stubbornly riding the bike, and doing stuff the specialist says 'oh that won't help'....

gordon861

As said above, the best thing you can do is get back out there.

You will be more cautious for the foreseeable future even if it wasn't your fault in the first place, but eventually you will relax again.

A bit off topic but relevent.
What's odd though, I had an accident four months ago with a cab turning in front of me, admittedly this was on a motorbike. After accidents in the past I've had sort of flashbacks/recalls of the incident, and worries about if I could have avoided it. But this time I had a camera fitted to the bike so I've been able to view the incident as often as I liked, this has helped me a lot as I've watched so often I KNOW there was nothing I could do to avoid the incident which does make me feel better. Otherwise there is often the doubt that you might have missed something obvious. This might be worth cyclists bearing in mind if you've considered getting a bikecam.

greg66_tri_v2.0

markshaw77 wrote:

I recently joined the ranks of SMIDSY-dom and wanted to pick the brains of those who have been there before...

I got away with remarkably little lasting damage, despite a trip via bonet, windscreen and underside of rear wheels! The bike is repairable (new forks, bar tape and wheels) and I have police/BC solicitors/etc on the case, so that is all in hand and there are other threads dedicated to that so don't want to go there or duplicate efforts.

however, what I am struggling with is the mental side of things.

I am now twitchy even when driving a car and while I really want to do it, the prospect of getting back on my bike at all at the moment gives me the shivers, let alone getting back into a central london commute.

Any tips from those who have been there before, or is it just something I am going to have to live with and get over (however slowly)?

Time.

This is bound to dominate your thoughts. Over time, it will recede, and it will become easier to get along.

A trivial comparison: I shortened my chain and couldn't relink it. The LBS "repaired" it. The next day, I'm riding up a short sharp rise in a big gear and it snaps. I go keeling over with bruises and scraps. Nothing serious, but disconcerting.

Next week I shorten the chain on my other bike. I don't make a hash of it and am able to put it back together.

I hit the same rise on that bike. I gear down to a granny gear, stay seated, and ride up as tentatively as I can. I'm expecting the chain to snap any moment. It holds. Next day, I push bit harder; day after I go up slowly in my regular gear. Within a few days I've forgotten to try to be tentative, and I'm riding that rise normally.

The more I rode, the more I realised that the same thing was not going to happen again. Now I never think about it.

itboffin

Am I too late? sorry i've been busy

MTFU

cjcp

+1 for time and getting back out there.

What I noticed was that I rode much more defensively following my SMIDSYs.