First 30 mile ride and a crash

romastino

Well ive been doing a 19.7 mile route since i got my road bike and last night thought i'd add to it.
I've got into this annoying habit of looking over my right shoulder far too often and within 5 minutes of setting off at around 20 or so mph i turned back and couldn't avoid the kerb, up i went bottles left there cages and i landed with a head thump on someones front wall.
I've got a slightly cut and bruised knee and shoulder and my thumb, after the shock and a fella pulling over to check i was ok (hats off and top man) i got up thumped my out of line hood back into place checked the wheels and brakes and decided to crack on.
It felt good getting 30 mile in and i want to go further and further all the time now, the best thing ive ever done after not being on a bike for 27 years is buy a bike, hybrid last year and in July 2014 the defy 3, it feels great to be out cycling getting fitter , losing a bit of weight (diet needs attention) but most off all it is the most enjoyable form of getting fit ive come across.
I'm already looking at what bike i can get after this one.
Stay safe and thanks Glenn

http://www.strava.com/activities/190757072

craker

Ooh, hard times with the fall, glad you got up and cracked on with the ride.

If your helmet took a bash then it needs throwing away. Most helmet manufacturers have a crash replacement policy.

desweller

Ah, the old blind drift. Done it myself riding to work, wound up turning turtle on the scalpings by the side of the dual carriageway. Would have been fine if no-one had seen it, unfortunately one of my colleagues was not far behind me on his Synapse; cue a day or two of emails of bicycle mirrors.

StillGoing

My last crash was at 26mph, through a hawthorn hedge and end up upside down still clipped in. We thought the only damage was the numerous cuts from the thorns, but two weeks later I suffered a stroke in my sleep the cause of which they think was a partially torn artery in the neck which couldn't be seen. Thankfully, I've got my speech back and am expected to make a full recovery.

sloppyschleckonds

romastino wrote:

I've got into this annoying habit of looking over my right shoulder far too often and within 5 minutes of setting off at around 20 or so mph i turned back and couldn't avoid the kerb,

Try looking over your left shoulder, and you'll end up veering into the middle of the road

romastino

craker wrote:

Ooh, hard times with the fall, glad you got up and cracked on with the ride.

If your helmet took a bash then it needs throwing away. Most helmet manufacturers have a crash replacement policy.

Thanks mate and i will look into the replacement helmet its an RH zero , few aches and pains but i will mend

romastino

DesWeller wrote:

Ah, the old blind drift. Done it myself riding to work, wound up turning turtle on the scalpings by the side of the dual carriageway. Would have been fine if no-one had seen it, unfortunately one of my colleagues was not far behind me on his Synapse; cue a day or two of emails of bicycle mirrors.

I wouldnt care i had a close escape the week before, but i went out last night and it didnt affect me and no more pointless looking

romastino

philthy3 wrote:

My last crash was at 26mph, through a hawthorn hedge and end up upside down still clipped in. We thought the only damage was the numerous cuts from the thorns, but two weeks later I suffered a stroke in my sleep the cause of which they think was a partially torn artery in the neck which couldn't be seen. Thankfully, I've got my speech back and am expected to make a full recovery.

Sorry to hear about your crash mate but glad your on the mend, cant imagine what you went/going through, are you going to be able to get back on the bike ?

romastino

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

romastino wrote:

I've got into this annoying habit of looking over my right shoulder far too often and within 5 minutes of setting off at around 20 or so mph i turned back and couldn't avoid the kerb,

Try looking over your left shoulder, and you'll end up veering into the middle of the road

Thanks for the advice i will remember that one

StillGoing

romastino wrote:

philthy3 wrote:

My last crash was at 26mph, through a hawthorn hedge and end up upside down still clipped in. We thought the only damage was the numerous cuts from the thorns, but two weeks later I suffered a stroke in my sleep the cause of which they think was a partially torn artery in the neck which couldn't be seen. Thankfully, I've got my speech back and am expected to make a full recovery.

Sorry to hear about your crash mate but glad your on the mend, cant imagine what you went/going through, are you going to be able to get back on the bike ?

Yes. In fact they advocate keeping up exercise for those who suffered strokes because of a blood clot. Last thing they want is a chance of the clot building up. Mine was due to an injury and not a clot as such, but I'm not allowed to do red lining or anything that is overstraining, no pack riding with a risk to having someone else's accident as a bang on the head could have disastrous consequences because of the drugs I'm on for the next 6 months minimum.