How long to ride again after a crash?

bigmul

I had a pretty bad crash on Sunday riding my CX off-road. Lost grip on a fast corner and ended up hitting the ground face first. Cue ambulance, teeth pushed backwards, minor surgery and stitches and I'm starting to think when to go out again.

I'm a bit apprehensive now though, perhaps I'll slow down and stop pushing myself. Or perhaps I just need to MTFU...

Anyone else had similar experience and changed how they ride?

jgsi

Had a massive off in March.. similar scenario.. lost front wheel at over 25mph.. was racing again within 3 weeks.. but it has screwed up the season in the sense of being extremely wary. So if you want to keep at it, get back on but handle the risk assessment better.

Mikey23

Get back on the bike as soon as you can. My off really dented my confidence and it has taken me a long time to get back to where i want to be and still have issues with fast descents but life goes on...

mlgt

As others have said get back on the bike when you are healed up. I lost confidence when I crashed and had 9 stitches to my chin and smashed up front wheel

I eventually went back to cycling after my mates chipped in for a new front wheel. I was ready to sell my bike at that point. No idea why. Probably out of anger for crashing and the hindrance of having to get the bike fixed again etc.

After 3 weeks I was back on the bike. Albeit slower than before and loss of fitness. Take care!

cheschcat

Broke my collarbone and fractured my elbow at the beginning of July. Back on the turbo in a sling 5 days later. Back on the road in 2 weeks. Wasn't confident turning towards the injured side for a couple of weeks but found that just riding built the confidence back up. Came back stronger and managed to bag a 2nd place in a road race a month later!

Get back on the bike as soon as you feel you can in my opinion. The longer you take off, the bigger the issue that getting back on becomes.

ravenvrider

Broke my back 2 vertebra a year ago on my mountain bikr...started riding 11 weeks later...I am a mountainbiker through and through but have only ridden off road 3 times since...very nervous of coming off again...been riding road since ....miss the dirt...If you can get back into it asap

bigmul

Thanks for replies. Popped out tonight but was a lot slower than usual, but felt good to get out at the least.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

The sooner you can, the better, wish I was able to get back on a bike after 3 days (was ~3 months for me after the mess I got myself into on 23/12/2013)!

It really is a case of feel the fear, but do it anyway, I have to pass the accident scene every commute... But I'd love to get a racer with "proper" (not hybrid) hydraulic brakes, all the same!

blackpoolkev

I've had a couple of big offs( I hit a tree at 30 mph according to my garmin data) but I love riding my bike and couldn't let the injuries (not as severe as yours) stop me from getting back in the saddle.
Get well soon.