Coping with an annoying crash.

ben@31

I was cycling to work tonight, 16 - 17 mph, I had one lapse in concentration for a second, think I was looking down at the cycle computer and last thing I remember seeing when I looked up was drifting onto the grass verge at the side of the road before seeing ground swap with sky. Then having the funny sensation of still being clipped into the bike upside down with the bike on top.

Luckly there's no broken bones or dislocations. However my right leg is grazed and bruised, I can ignore the pain.

The bike has a few abrasions on the handlebar tape and rear derailleur but seems to work okay. Thanks to cleats keeping the bike connected to me, I think most of the impact was taken by my right knee and hip, not the bike.

But for me the most annoying thing thats getting to me, is in the past one or two months I've spent hundreds on cycle clothing and accessories and in a second the crash has burnt holes in my bib shorts, gloves, straight through a soft-shell jacket and through a two week old jersey underneath.

I keep telling myself it could be worse, I could be in hospital. But I can't stop feeling gutted that hundreds of pounds worth of clothing that I've worn only a few times is damaged in 1 second.

My question is, when you've had a stupid crash thats caused expensive damage, how do you get over it? I know that to some people this may seem such a small insignificant problem in the grand scheme of things and there's some people in the world with much bigger problems than mine. But for me it's been one thing after another recently and I can't stop feeling gutted about having to replace it all again so soon, on top of everything else I have to sort out at home. Or Is cycling with worn kit and road rash on your leg a good look :-) ?

majormantra

Damaged kit becomes the stuff you use in winter, or in wet, muddy events. Use it as an excuse to buy new stuff.

My last serious crash ruined my helmet (£90), glasses (£40), mech hanger (£15), tore holes in two jerseys, and messed up my face. Sh1t happens.

Btw if your mech took a hit it's likely the hanger got bent. Inspect it and if it looks off either get it straightened or replace it. A bent hanger will screw up your shifting and in the worst case could put the mech into the spokes.

DavidJB

Just MTFU and get back on the bike. Easy. I rode in to a van once because I was drinking a bottle and pulled one brake which didn't stop me in time. Rather than throw the bottle away and pull the other brake I just pulled a stupid face abd hit the van and dislocated my shoulder when I hit the floor. A week later I was back on the bike and will never make that mistake again.

Sh1t happens as they say.

Joeblack

ben@31 wrote:

I was cycling to work tonight, 16 - 17 mph, I had one lapse in concentration for a second, think I was looking down at the cycle computer and last thing I remember seeing when I looked up was drifting onto the grass verge at the side of the road before seeing ground swap with sky. Then having the funny sensation of still being clipped into the bike upside down with the bike on top.

Luckly there's no broken bones or dislocations. However my right leg is grazed and bruised, I can ignore the pain.

The bike has a few abrasions on the handlebar tape and rear derailleur but seems to work okay. Thanks to cleats keeping the bike connected to me, I think most of the impact was taken by my right knee and hip, not the bike.

But for me the most annoying thing thats getting to me, is in the past one or two months I've spent hundreds on cycle clothing and accessories and in a second the crash has burnt holes in my bib shorts, gloves, straight through a soft-shell jacket and through a two week old jersey underneath.

I keep telling myself it could be worse, I could be in hospital. But I can't stop feeling gutted that hundreds of pounds worth of clothing that I've worn only a few times is damaged in 1 second.

My question is, when you've had a stupid crash thats caused expensive damage, how do you get over it? I know that to some people this may seem such a small insignificant problem in the grand scheme of things and there's some people in the world with much bigger problems than mine. But for me it's been one thing after another recently and I can't stop feeling gutted about having to replace it all again so soon, on top of everything else I have to sort out at home. Or Is cycling with worn kit and road rash on your leg a good look :-) ?

I know how this feels, just keep your chip up, as others have said find a use for them and at least they won't have been a complete waste of money and give it a few days you'll feel fine

Secteur

You will never realise how glad you should be to have not broken a bone until... you break a bone! Believe me, just be glad it's the clothes.

I broke my scaphoid earlier this year as well as putting holes in all my layers, however I still wear the clothes a sign of my hardness ;-) ;-)

However I will now have a big fat scar where they operated and a stiff sore wrist for the rest of my life.

Omar Little

Some brands offer a free repair service, worth checking out.

BowtomePhil

Buy Muddy fox clothes from Sports direct, then don't worry about cost.

But as has been said, you are not seriously injured, so revel in that.

I have found at my age(48) that the most important thing in life is health, fast or flashy cars, the latest and greatest TV, gadgets etc mean nothing if you don't have your health.

And live your life to the full, don't think about saving for retirement, apparently(don't quote me) 80% of people who retire at 65 die before they are 70. So spend you money now and enjoy life while you have your health.

Bustacapp

ben@31 wrote:

I was cycling to work tonight, 16 - 17 mph, I had one lapse in concentration for a second, think I was looking down at the cycle computer and last thing I remember seeing when I looked up was drifting onto the grass verge at the side of the road before seeing ground swap with sky. Then having the funny sensation of still being clipped into the bike upside down with the bike on top.

Luckly there's no broken bones or dislocations. However my right leg is grazed and bruised, I can ignore the pain.

The bike has a few abrasions on the handlebar tape and rear derailleur but seems to work okay. Thanks to cleats keeping the bike connected to me, I think most of the impact was taken by my right knee and hip, not the bike.

But for me the most annoying thing thats getting to me, is in the past one or two months I've spent hundreds on cycle clothing and accessories and in a second the crash has burnt holes in my bib shorts, gloves, straight through a soft-shell jacket and through a two week old jersey underneath.

I keep telling myself it could be worse, I could be in hospital. But I can't stop feeling gutted that hundreds of pounds worth of clothing that I've worn only a few times is damaged in 1 second.

My question is, when you've had a stupid crash thats caused expensive damage, how do you get over it? I know that to some people this may seem such a small insignificant problem in the grand scheme of things and there's some people in the world with much bigger problems than mine. But for me it's been one thing after another recently and I can't stop feeling gutted about having to replace it all again so soon, on top of everything else I have to sort out at home. Or Is cycling with worn kit and road rash on your leg a good look :-) ?

The answer is simple. Don't spend so much money on unnecessary kit. An old pair of shorts and t-shirt is more than adequate. If it rains take a cagoule.

My kit cost me nothing. Although I do admit I need to purchase a helmet.

karlth

I wonder this about a lot of things. Folk who spend hundreds on desirable exotic tropical fish for their aquaria - they die just as easily (often more easily) as any common guppy costing a couple of quid. It's just a risk you have to take if getting satisfaction from your hobby involves spending lots on specialist items. Personally I buy most clothing from Decathlon where I could replace the lot and have change from £50.

desweller

I deal with it by jumping up and down like Yosemite Sam by my crashed bike for a solid 60 seconds or so. That comfortably deals with any surplus rage.

seanorawe

DavidJB wrote:

Just MTFU and get back on the bike. Easy. I rode in to a van once because I was drinking a bottle and pulled one brake which didn't stop me in time. Rather than throw the bottle away and pull the other brake I just pulled a stupid face abd hit the van and dislocated my shoulder when I hit the floor. A week later I was back on the bike and will never make that mistake again.

Sh1t happens as they say.

Stupid awaiting collision faces are awesome

cougie

Go out and have a worse crash? Then your smaller ones don't seem so bad ?

Its only a bit of kit at the end of the day. A mate of mine got mown down in a TT the other week - so it can always be worse. Get over it and move on.

Graydawg

DavidJB wrote:

...........I just pulled a stupid face abd hit the van.......

This made me physically laugh out loud!!!!!

daviegb

Firstly, sorry to hear about your crash, at least you're ok, even if some kit has been wrecked.

Back in July I hit a pothole descending the Cormet de Roselend at about 30mph, which threw me into a cliff face. I broke my left collar bone & scapula, resulting in a night in Annecy hospital as well as losing 5 days of planned cycling. My collar bone hasn't healed correctly - it's displaced, so I have an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon on Thursday to discuss how to resolve the problem - op & pin seems likely according to my GP.

My Trek Madone 5.2 frame was wrecked, so has to be replaced, my helmet is wrecked & I burned holes in the shorts & jersey. Total cost in the region of £2k. Unfortunately none of my insurances cover this situation.

However, I still have my health & am back on a bike trying to regain some level of fitness before winter &/or the op (currently using my 5 year old steel framed Trek 1000) - my injuries could have (& probably should have) been far worse.....material can be easily & quickly replaced, skin & bone takes a bit longer!!

There are many people in worse situations than me & I feel fortunate that I escaped with relatively minor injuries. It sounds like cycling is a release from some other issues - don't loose sight of the enjoyment you gain from your riding.

robbo2011

Bustacapp wrote:

The answer is simple. Don't spend so much money on unnecessary kit. An old pair of shorts and t-shirt is more than adequate. If it rains take a cagoule.

My kit cost me nothing. Although I do admit I need to purchase a helmet.

Or alternatively, buy kit which offers free crash damage repairs.

BowtomePhil

daviegb wrote:

Firstly, sorry to hear about your crash, at least you're ok, even if some kit has been wrecked.

Back in July I hit a pothole descending the Cormet de Roselend at about 30mph, which threw me into a cliff face. I broke my left collar bone & scapula, resulting in a night in Annecy hospital as well as losing 5 days of planned cycling. My collar bone hasn't healed correctly - it's displaced, so I have an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon on Thursday to discuss how to resolve the problem - op & pin seems likely according to my GP.

My Trek Madone 5.2 frame was wrecked, so has to be replaced, my helmet is wrecked & I burned holes in the shorts & jersey. Total cost in the region of £2k. Unfortunately none of my insurances cover this situation.

However, I still have my health & am back on a bike trying to regain some level of fitness before winter &/or the op (currently using my 5 year old steel framed Trek 1000) - my injuries could have (& probably should have) been far worse.....material can be easily & quickly replaced, skin & bone takes a bit longer!!

There are many people in worse situations than me & I feel fortunate that I escaped with relatively minor injuries. It sounds like cycling is a release from some other issues - don't loose sight of the enjoyment you gain from your riding.

Hope all will be well with your op. As I have said before, health is your most precious possesion.

meursault

Also sorry to hear about the off.

One minor point, about the concentration. Don't spend so much time (any in my case) looking at your computer. I record my rides then have a look after. When I ride, that's all I do, ride.

desweller

Bustacapp wrote:

The answer is simple. Don't spend so much money on unnecessary kit. An old pair of shorts and t-shirt is more than adequate. If it rains take a cagoule.

My kit cost me nothing. Although I do admit I need to purchase a helmet.

I used to do this. Then I got caught in a thunderstorm 60 miles from home. Bloody freezing ride to get back. Horrific saddle sores from the wet shorts.

It was a lesson I only had to learn once.

I'd never wear a waterproof on a long ride. That way you're guaranteeing that you'll get soaked.

johnnicebutdim

BowtomePhil wrote:

Buy Muddy fox clothes from Sports direct, then don't worry about cost.

Good shout...gets my vote!

I nearly did the same thing recently when looking behind to see who's chasing me down...one little wobble and hello grass verge (and almost a dirty ditch!).

Chin up, you're in one piece and, more importantly, so is your bike! tee hee.

lef

I crashed some months ago and snapped both bones in my forearm. It is now as strong as ever and some nice battle scars to show off. The bike had a very slightly scratched lever cover and rear mech. My preference would have been for the bike to be written off rather than being broken myself. Be thankful you're unscathed, get back on the bike and practice riding in a straight line