Bit nervous after accident, advice needed (Update)

Boy Lard

I have another 6 weeks to sit here and think about what I may or may not want to do with my bike when I finally get the cast removed from my leg.

First off, I'm am completely new to both my road bike and spds. I've probably only done about 500 miles on the bike since I got it back in October. I absolutely loved the feel of the bike when I was riding with spds. I bought the Shimano mountain bike (M520) pedals and the M077 shoes because I do a lot more mountain biking than road and I was considering clipping in for cross country stuff.

On the 10th January I cycled to work, it was about 4*C and it was raining. I assumed the roads would be 'ok'. The roads were ok, the car park at work was not. A very innocuous fall, almost gently, onto my side and shoulder resulted in a double fracture in my right ankle.

Consequently I am now a bit apprehensive of getting back on the bike and clipping in. Everyone I know who rides with spds says that it becomes instinct to unclip and in the case of a fall or crash they always manage to unclip. I didn't. Especially in light of how often I crash when on my mountain bike, (I am of the opinion that if I don't crash every no and then I'm not trying hard enough), I certainly won't clipping to that any time soon.

Should I get some nice big flat pedals for my road bike, or should I just assume I will get better at using the spds and stick with them? I realise the poor weather caused my earlier crash, but surely even in the best weather there will still be times when you hit a patch of oil, leaves in a shady part of the road, wet man-hole-cover etc?

MikeWW

I'd put SPD's on your mountain bike and for now and the flats on your road bike. There are more importunities to clip and unclip off road and generally the falls are slower and softer.
Once you are comfortable putting the spds back on the road bike won't cause any anxiety at all.

simon_e

It's your choice, no-one can tell you what is the right decision for you.

It sounds like you couldn't have anticipated the ice and may well have gone down regardless of the type of pedal used. If you're nervous get some cheap flat pedals. Swap them over when the weather is warmer and you're feeling more confident. Loosen off the tension on your SPDs with an allen key (wind it towards the - symbol), they'll clip in and out more easily.

desweller

Why don't you ride one-legged?

Honestly, people want it handed to them on a plate these days. Pull yourself together.

racingcondor

Keep the SPD's on both, if you find it hard to unclip then I'd loosen the tension bolt on the pedal.

One thing you don't say in your original post is if the crash was caused by the pedal (e.g. not being able to clip out) or if you think the injury was worse because you didn't. If the answer to both of these is no then try to concentrate on what did cause the crash (easier said than done I know).

After a crash you've just had your confidence knocked and your brain is suddenly seeing danger where it wouldn't before. Over time though (and plenty of miles) you'll regain the confidence that you had before. At least that's what I'm hoping because I'm currently terrified of cornerning after losing the front wheel a few weeks back...

EDIT - Tough love from Des. But ultimately correct.

P_Tucker

DesWeller wrote:

Why don't you ride one-legged?

Honestly, people want it handed to them on a plate these days. Pull yourself together.

Boy Lard

The crash was entirely due to the ice, and I would have crashed irrespective of what pedals I had on the bike. It was such a small tumble I can only assume that the break was caused because I was still clipped in.

Like I said above, I fall off my mountain bike a lot

andyoh

Check the tension setting on the pedals and set it to the minimum, this is the best advice.

I taught my 13 year old son how to use spd pedals in about 15 minutes and he is fine with them, his words were, 'this is a sinch'.

I appreciate you came off on ice and had a bad result from the fall, however, can you apportion the blame entirely to being clipped in?

It will take a while to get back to being clipped in but I wouldn't ride a road bike without being clipped.

Best of Luck.

Boy Lard

I actually found the spds really easy to use. From the first time putting them on the bike and riding around the car park outside the lbs, to the first proper ride through traffic at peak times. Never really seemed an issue.

I want to make it clear that I don't attribute the crash to the spds in any way. I just feel that the actual damage caused can only be attributed to the fact I was clipped in. Broken both tibia and fibula from falling over at nearly zero speed. To be honest, I still don't understand how I've done so much damage.

Mike67

It seems that you were quite unfortunate to suffer those injuries from such an innocuous fall.

I did similar on ice a few weeks back, in fact fell off three times in one ride...one at fairly high speed....luckily came out with just bruises. Each time my feet came out of the pedals whether by instinct or chance I'm not sure.
Since then I am also very 'twitchy' especially if it's damp and going around bends, noticably so when in a group as I drop off the back and have to catch up.

I say to myself though that it was the ice that caused the fall. Under normal circumstances, even on wet roads I have ridden thousands of miles before that without falling off.

I will keep saying that to myself until I can get my speed round bends up again, which will hopefully coincide with the nice, warm and dry Summer days.

As has been said above, I'd loosen off the pedals, maybe even get the double entry/exit type cleats, but most importantly keep getting on the bike (not if there's a chance of ice though )..it's the only cure.

briantrumpet

Mike67 wrote:

It seems that you were quite unfortunate to suffer those injuries from such an innocuous fall.

I did similar on ice a few weeks back, in fact fell off three times in one ride...one at fairly high speed....luckily came out with just bruises. Each time my feet came out of the pedals whether by instinct or chance I'm not sure.

I could have written almost the same post. I've had two offs in the past six months - once on wet leaves in the dark, once on the ice on the icy Sunday a couple of weeks ago - and both times both of my feet have unclipped from the M520 pedals, and I've just had minor scrapes to show for it. Both times I expected worse as I went down.

racingcondor

Damn that's a bad set of injuries for a small crash. I was pretty lucky, hit the deck hard at about 20mph and all I had to show for it was a 4 inch bruise, headache (alright, probable concussion, thank you helmet that could have been worse) and the little silver bit of plastic on my right Ultegra brifter snapped off.

Heal quickly and best of luck getting back to full fitness.

V5ade

Good luck, with getting back on the bike. It seems that you were very unlucky to do that amount of damage from a slowish speed crash.
Hopefully you'll loose the nerves soon after your get back out.
I'm going to do my first ride for a loooong time at the weekend, I've been unable to ride following shoulder surgery (got knocked of by a green-laner motorcross bike). I must admit that I'm a bit nervous about it as the surgoen said I'll be fine as long as I don't come off! Probably more likely to crash if I'm over cautious so I'll just have to MTFU as people say on here (a lot easier said than done ).

Lycra Man

Boy Lard, I too fell recently - well, mid Novenber actually. I hit a wet manhole cover at 28 mph, and fell on my head, smashing my spectacles frame, and bruising down my right side. Needed four stitches sin my forehead, and the helmet was completely unmarked!

My instinctive 'get back on the bike as soon as possible' was prevented by the arrival of the pre-Christmas ice and snow.

Since then, I've done two 200k Audaxes, and re-started my commute. I still can't bring myslef to lean into a corner, and go round wet corners like a very nervous rider.

My advice is to ride as often as possible, using the SPDs you have, with the tension set at the slackest, so your foot will come out without difficulty.

Good luck,

Lycra Man

nferrar

It does sound a bit of a freak accident and possibly it's one scenario where SPDs did contribute to the extent of the injuries. However, on balance, the type of crash you'll have shouldn't usually be a completely unexpected bike sliding out underneath you. I've crashed plenty on my road and MTB but still actually feel safer riding SPDs, the only exception being in deep mud (I don't ride on ice) where you can have the bike sliding quickly and unexpectedly and you really want to be able to dab almost instantly.

But if most of your riding isn't on ice or mud then you have to think to yourself why SPDs would be any worse than flats (once you get used to them after a few rides). Provided you haven't over-tensioned them you should be able to unclip relatively easily.

bluesparx

Spds have caused 3 of my 4 falls in the last six months even with tension set at it's lowest. They have been very slow comical falls to the side as i lose balance at very slow speeds (1 because of ice, 1 wet leaves 1 because i stopped abruptly behind a car)and desperately try to twist my foot out (the action of trying to unclip might even be the cause of losing balance sometimes)
I still feel very nervous and unclip a lot for icy patches, tram lines, manhole covers. I feel if there is a little slip or wobble i can just put one foot down to save myself.
Maybe I'm just a clumsy get but its not funny when there's the potential of a HGV running over your head after you've come off. I know deep down I should change back to flats to be on the safe side but I haven't yet.

andrewjoseph

Try the multi release spd cleats (if you don't have them already).

I had a silly little fall in september, on my road/touring bike, on a cyclepath, and broke my right arm in six places, needing plates. I was hoping to be riding again now but it didn't heal so have another few months before i can get back on the bike.

I'll be starting off on my mtb on easy fireroad to get my confidence back, before i get back on my road bike.

kieranb

try the spd pedals with one side flat, I use them on my commuting bike as sometimes I cycle in ordinary shoes!

Hoopdriver

What's wrong with using flats? People used them for well over a century, and still do. Yes, I know that clipless offer certain percentage gains in efficiency, but frankly so what? Were you racing to work? What were you going to do with the - what? - minute you might have saved with your super-efficient pedals?

I just don't see the point.

rjh299

Hoopdriver wrote:

What's wrong with using flats? People used them for well over a century, and still do. Yes, I know that clipless offer certain percentage gains in efficiency, but frankly so what? Were you racing to work? What were you going to do with the - what? - minute you might have saved with your super-efficient pedals?

I just don't see the point.

Don't think he's just cycling to work, cross country riding aswell.
Personally I feel 'dodgy' using flats. Don't know why, just feels very inscure and like I have far less control. Although as you said, nothing wrong with flats if that's what you prefer.

nickel

I've got M520s which i fitted to my dad's road bike for a few rides when I was back from uni for xmas, I too came off on black ice but my feet seemed to unclip by themselves, I think is because i have the tension set to it's lowest, so I'd try lowering the tension

wyadvd

you can get special spd cleats that release really easily

cyco2

You may have weak bones. May be worth it to get a Bone Density Test. I had one done in Spain some years ago and was pleased to know that my bones are denser than the average. I would have thought that any Doctors Practice could carry it out. Exercise is supposed to strengthen bones but I guess you need to do a lot over many years for that to happen.

antlaff

Try the Shimano A520 double sided spd's - i use them on my commuter - unclip when a bit wary especially at this time of year. they are concave so your cleats are not obstuctive when on the flats - can get for about £30

peejay78

it's not the SPDs, it's the ice. i'd be more worried about the loss of nerve that always accompanies a fall.

some advice here.

http://traumradfahren.wordpress.com/201 ... /the-fall/

Boy Lard

Just an update.

I already use the M520 pedals and I do have them at their slackest setting. I've not had problems unclipping, until the accident that is. If it wasn't for the fact that I really like the feeling of riding clipped in I'd just stick flats on and not worry about it. It will be just a matter of getting my nerve back I think.

Also, after a 'check up' to make sure everything was healing properly, the doctors were concerned that the ankle wasn't stable and I was booked in for an operation. I now have a screw through the joint and a metal plate in the side of my leg. Probably in more pain now than when I first broke it, but I have been assured that I will regain full strength and mobility.

I've always thought it important to get straight back on the bike after a crash. This forced layoff is, I think, contributing to my concerns. Too much time to think about it. I will probably treat myself to some nice anodised flat pedals and some new 5 10 trainers when I first get back and see how it goes from there.

dilemna

Boy Lard wrote:

Just an update.

I already use the M520 pedals and I do have them at their slackest setting. I've not had problems unclipping, until the accident that is. If it wasn't for the fact that I really like the feeling of riding clipped in I'd just stick flats on and not worry about it. It will be just a matter of getting my nerve back I think.

Also, after a 'check up' to make sure everything was healing properly, the doctors were concerned that the ankle wasn't stable and I was booked in for an operation. I now have a screw through the joint and a metal plate in the side of my leg. Probably in more pain now than when I first broke it, but I have been assured that I will regain full strength and mobility.

I've always thought it important to get straight back on the bike after a crash. This forced layoff is, I think, contributing to my concerns. Too much time to think about it. I will probably treat myself to some nice anodised flat pedals and some new 5 10 trainers when I first get back and see how it goes from there.

Ouch! GWS. But don't hurry things, allow your body to heal fully as if you don't it could set your recovery back considerably or you will have recurring symptoms, when if you had waited longer before getting back on your bike or doing any strenuous exercise, your body might have healed fully. If as your docs have advised your injuries will heal and once they have, there will be lots of time to ride again. Oh your injuries will take longer to heal than the docs predict, mine did, a lot longer. Fortunately now I am more or less ok but still get some pain on cold and damp occasions.

Take it easy. I had no qualms about using cleats when I started riding again even though I was using them when I was taken down.