I'm so sorry that happened to you.

It happened to me a handful of years ago when I still lived in Orlando. It took me about 3 days before I got back on, but it left me with a healthy awareness every time I ride.

I don't blame you in the least for not wanting to ride on the road again. But if you end up wanting to again, I would just try to stay away from the super congested climbs at peak hours, i.e., Lookout at noon on a Saturday.

Good luck, man! If you need a good lawyer, Megan Hottman is seriously the authority on this and an asset to our community.

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@floathammerholdon | @partners_in_tri

That's horrible! I've been hit twice. First was intentional...driver side swiped me off the road. Minor bike damage, and I got back on and rode to Saturday morning practice (high school). The other time a driver pulled out from a cross street and hit me head on. I can still remember the terrifying feeling in the instance that I realized the driver did not see me. That one was 30 some years ago, and I haven't ridden busy streets since...only closed courses, paths, or way out in the country.

I appreciate that, I already have a lawyer involved who is an established PI attorney and a cyclist and friend of a friend. Unfortunately the woman who hit me has NO insurance and has a lengthy history of legal issues. Guessing I will never see a replacement bike paid for, but fingers crossed. Denver District Attorney also involved. I am unable to ride yet, due to my thigh issue, but am chomping at the bit to even get on the trainer!

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

Yep, terrifying and so instantaneous and surreal. It mentally plays over again on a regular basis. Glad you survived to ride again :)

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

I’ve been hit once, 20+ years ago a car coming from the opposite direction took a sudden left turn (I don’t remember if they signaled) into the gas station that I was riding past and I had no where to go but across their hood. Had I been a split second sooner, they would have hit me flush and I would have been f’d up pretty bad but thankfully I just came away with bumps and bruises while my bike got the worst of it.

I got back out the next weekend, taking my MTB on the roads while my other bike was in the shop. I felt I had to in order to get over the mental hump where I was nervous about riding again. I ride much more defensively to this day, always being aware of surroundings and looking ahead for potential hazards/car issues.

Ironically, my worst crash did not involve a car where my rear wheel got a slick stretch of wet road at a railroad crossing and went into the groove of the track, putting me on the ground before I knew what happened. Broke a few bones on that one but got back on the roads a few months later for the same reason to get past that mental hurdle. It is tough at first but it was something I had to do for myself.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I got hit like 7 years ago midday by a drunk driver. Took me a year or so to get on the road and not get semi freaked out anytime a driver passed me. But I basically only ride 1 day a week outside for a longer ride and do the rest on the trainer. But I don’t ride too much anymore because my area doesn’t have the best cycling and part of the fun was taken when I was hit. I know many will say the chances are so low but for me it isn’t worth the chance. When I do ride it’s super early in the morning to beat cars on the road.

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Twitter - Instagram

As mentioned:
Back on the horse ASAP.

You may want to minimize your risk (where and when to ride), ride more cautious and defensive, but don't let the accident make you live in fear.
It will take a while until you lose the paranoia, but in the end you'll be better off mentally, if you push through.

Also, every accident or close call had been a learning experience for me.
And more than once after anticipating a dicey situation, I since have said to myself:
"I knew that you (driver) would make that stupid/asshat/dangerous move".
It is helpful for me when around cars to keep in mind they’re operated by humans. It’s not us versus cars, it’s us against us.

If you have an uninsured/underinsured policy on your car insurance (or your legal partner does), there's generally recourse there (dependent on your state, policy, riders, etc.).

As for my personal experience, I was hit in broad daylight, while in a marked bike lane, by a driver making a turn into a parking lot in 2014. I broke my clavicle badly, got surgery, and then went into PT. After my physical recovery, my first ride was definitely like I was at the top of a double-black ski run. I leaped and it only got better from there.

I don't know if it's that incident or just aging and reduced risk tolerance, but I do absolutely avoid roads with no shoulder now and have a stronger preference for roads with active cycling infrastructure (e.g., bike lanes, or wide shoulders). At the end of the day, I understand the risks of outdoor vs. indoor cycling, but I think the benefits are there to accept the risk, for me. YMMV.

In 2013 coming from cycling but training for my first triathlon then Ironman a few months later in the season I had a similar incident but the car that came across in front of me I struck around the front wheel arch I imagine and did superman style across the hood of the car. I put my elbow into the windshield shattering it and the force rotated me so hard it ripped two transverse process off my vertebrae. I then smashed against the windscreen causing a brain bleed and breaking my left scapula. As I was travelling across the car as I crossed the pillar of the other side windshield a piece of glass was sticking up slashing my neck open and severing a nerve. Ironically I lay on the road and thought wow that is going to hurt tomorrow before getting up, walking to the grass by the curb and laying down when I realised I was in trouble and began sobbing ‘there goes my Ironman…’

I was only in hospital until they had reattached the nerve and sent home. Fast forward two and a half weeks of feeling sorry for myself and depressed as I had put in so much work I tried to think how I could get out the hole I was in and the only answer was don’t give up on my goal. So I got on road my bike and headed off thinking about my IM. I was living in the city of Melbourne Australia on busy roads and I can’t tell you how frightening it was just hearing a car that remotely came near me initially and how on edge I was but I rode two hours my standard easy ride reassuring myself the whole way to relax I’d done this course thousands of times but it was freaky. I couldn’t run or swim so the next day I got on my bike again and the day after riding further each day. With each day and the further I rode I was less on edge and it was probably wasn’t until I wasn’t feeling injured as the body was still in protection mode that I would just get on my bike as normal without fear and ride again.

Same thing could happen walking across a crosswalk or even a car slamming into your car door while driving and come off worse. Yes you are more exposed cycling but I love riding my road bike. I now wear fluro yellow not that it probably would have helped for my crash but I’m giving myself the best chance of being seen. Get back on the horse and enjoy the road…

Sent a PM

I would be a vote to get back out there. I am at 5 years from a driver running a red and me blowing up a knee. I am double extra cautious at intersections and do more mtb now that my knee can handle it. This is my first year back to racing and finally did my first century since the crash a couple weeks ago, on a fat bike!

Don't let some POS low life take this piece of you. If riding is that important for you, you have stay after it and keep slogging.

I've raced bikes since childhood and it really is the one thing that keeps me focused on anything. I have plenty of hobbies, but riding bikes defines me.

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This is not the same situation at all but I think my experience translates slightly. I hope it is helpful and causes some optimism.

Summary is: I think "get back on horse ASAP" is sound advice. Time appears important.

Both are examples of something being unpredictable and completely out of my control, causing fear when it happened, and the fear dissipating

The first: bobsled crashes.

It's well known in bobsled that if you crash in your first run of the day (usually 2 per day), it's a much better feeling psychologically than to crash on your second, especially if you're not going to be coming back to the track for a few days. Crashing in a bobsled and then sleeping on it is a jarring experience, psychologically. When you crash in a bobsled you and your teammates heads become an 80mph kickstand for the weight of your bodies and the 600-pound sled. Ice burn, concussions, and pulled/strained forearm muscles from death-gripping the inside rails of the sled to prevent ejection while upside down at 60-80mph in spandex. Suffice it to say: it's scary and causes anxiety.

Getting back to the top of the hill and getting in the sled is nerve-wracking and the exhilaration/relief of crossing the finish line on all four runners again after having crashed is a feeling that would be hard to replicate.

Usually results in hooting and hollering in celebration and high-fiving all your buddies and your pilot in the sled before you've even stopped. For some reason in this particular scenario, it only takes one run to regain confidence that you'll make it down alive.

The second: pole vault poles snapping.

It happens right when you get upside down usually and feels like a shotgun going off in your hands, usually resulting in wrist soreness, and a complete lack of faith that the next pole you get on is going to support your full effort without breaking. The pole breaks in 3 pieces with one of the pieces usually flying 50 feet away with the force of the explosion. The athlete usually lands on their head or back and not in the softest part of the mat. In pole vaulting circles it's commonplace to make the vaulter get back on the runway immediately after snapping a pole and get on a new pole to re-learn to trust that they can come sprinting down the runway and expect the next pole to support them.

When I did that, my next vault was very tentative, but it got better each time until it was totally normal again. It takes a few vaults. But full return to normalcy is possible.

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Dr. Alex Harrison | Founder & CEO | Sport Physiology & Performance PhD
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I was on a round the world solo bike tour and hit from behind by a pickup truck near Bend, OR. I had a concussion, 12 broken ribs, 2 collapsed lungs, 2 broken bones in my back and severe bruising over most of my upper body. I was on life support but survived and it's now been 7 years.

I have biked on the road once (on a touring bike) but only briefly and haven't really been on a bike since. Physically I can hike and bike (no running) but just have no interest in sharing the road with cars. I don't believe it will ever be safe and the cars will win so any biking I will do again will be strictly on trails.

On my one short trip on the road (it was in Vancouver and I was biking around Stanley Park but left the park on a busy road) it never really bothered me. City driving is relatively safe since the cars aren't going fast (I was hit on a country road with the truck doing 50/mph. I don't think it's fear stopping me but I lost interest in biking up and down roads, which is why I changed to bike touring in the first place. I would go on another bike tour given the chance but would definitely aim for more remote roads, but that's not always easy.

If you don't fell comfortable, don't go on the roads. It's not worth it.

Very similar feeling here, being on the bike (almost any bike) is my happy place. Congrats on healing and finally getting back to racing!

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

I second this

I was run over by a bus in June 2018. Once body parts were working I was riding on the road later in the year. Every car or bus or truck that went by was nerve wracking but I got used to it again.

At this point I barely remember being run over while on the bike. I not worried about being hit by traffic. But I am worried about hitting pavement at high speed and dealing with ANOTHER ROUND OF REHAB. So I cut the risk on things that are higher risk of crashing be it solo riding or around vehicles

Damn brother, good for you for recovering from all of that! I work in the ER so I picture your injuries in one of our trauma bays. The human body can be so resilient.

I feel myself leaning towards that "ride the trails and gravel roads" feeling as people on the road seem more and more distracted, but love riding the mountain roads here so not sure where this experience will take me.

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

First, I’m really accident prone, so I may “get back on the horse” faster than others because I expect to have an accident.

I’ve been hit twice, once on a bike, I’ve had pole vaulting poles break at least three times. I’ve almost recovered from my bad crash in March. Ive had more than 250 stitches (first time I was six months old and climbed a ladder) and broken at least seven or eight “major” bones (can’t really remember).

As I said, since I kind of expect accidents, I don’t really wait to get back out. But there’s no shame in being tentative. You have to do what you’re comfortable doing. Take whatever time you need.

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Not a coach. Not a FOP Tri/swimmer/biker/runner. Barely a MOP AGer.
But I'm learning and making progress.

Glad you're mostly alright. I wanted to keep going. Get back in the saddle. Honestly I've struggled with my weight ever since. I raced my first half-ironman a year and change later.

I felt that I had some PTSD or at least anxiety related from the crash. My clavicle was shattered. Just get back on is all I got!

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

I was 50% weight bearing for 7 months ( shattered my femoral neck, emergency hip surgery, 2 rods inserted )

The day I was cleared to fully weight bear I rode outside.

Granted I am now a VERY defensive rider, I'm also a fairly confident in my abilities and limitations.

Sorry to hear about the accident, and glad to hear that you're as ok as you can be. Hopefully my backstory and perspective helps a little.


I was hit by a van that hit the side of my bars, then my knee, knocking me to the ground hard in 2014 when I was 11. Single track road, they didn't give any space at all or slow down at all, I brake slightly focused on the van, think I hit a pothole/bump in the road and go slightly towards the middle of the road (we're talking circa 5cm) and that's enough for me to be hit. Managed to break my femur clean in two just above my growth plate, as well as getting a cut just above my eye I still have a faint scar from and getting road rash up the whole of my side. I was in and out of hospital with having an operation to put a plate put in, casts on and off and check ups culminating in another operation about a year post accident to get the plate taken out as it was too close to the growth plate in my knee to be left in. All in all I ended up being unable to do any meaningful sport for about 2 years, and for the next 2 years after that although I got a bit back into sport it was much more hesitant and nervy, even in team games like football or hockey. Then about 3 years ago I started to do triathlons again, taking it very easy and just enjoying it, and I realized how much I missed the feeling of swimming, cycling and running. I got stuck back in and about 2 years ago started training seriously, and now am doing all that I can to see if I can get to a level to go somewhere in the sport with being off to uni at the end of summer.

Long story short, get back on the bike as soon as you can. It'll be hard to start with, but if you don't do it you risk losing something you enjoy, and the initial hardships of getting going again pale in comparison to the joy you can take from those climbs and descents once you've got your confidence back a bit. For me, it's a case of there's always a risk, but the reward of being on my bike, man and machine working as one to scythe through the countryside, is far better than the alternative of less risk but losing a part of my life I enjoy so much.

Head on collision with a semi truck making a left turn here. Happenned end of April. I still have some scabs, but otherwise all is good.

I stuck to gravel first. Then got back on the road with lights, a bright orange jersey and a Varia. I ride a if I'm invisible now. I sit up and hug the white line as soon as something shows up on the varia. I now also plan my rides with expected traffic volume and direction in mind depending on time of day.

On August 24, 2017, 8 months after beating throat cancer, I was on a training ride and on a main road. I've been told this woman coming off a side road which did have a stop sign did not see me. The paramedics that showed up after she call 911 found me unconscious on the pavement and hemorrhaging in three places in my brain. I don't remember the ambulance ride, staying in the hospital for two days and everything is real foggy from that time. It caused some serious memory issues that now has evolved into what I call brain lag, eventual I'll remember what I was looking for in my head but sometimes it takes a few seconds to minutes. She also rang my bell, inner ear damage from the impact, that I now have tinnitus so bad that I have to wear hearing aids to drown out the ringing. The up side is I don't remember anything about the accident so getting back on the bike was easy. I could not drive or ride my bike for 40 days after the accident because of equilibrium issues. I do ride with a Garmin RL 515 radar unit even though I was not hit from behind. It just gives me a better feeling of being safe.

While riding is a vey comfortable thing for me I know it wouldn't be if I remember the accident.

I was run off the road by a sod spreader truck that crossed over 2 lanes to get to me. I remember just before it happened the horror of the woman in the left hand turn lane...her look was that she was about to witness someone being killed. I managed to evade and ended up in a ditch with cuts bruises a broken helmet and a thankful woman from the left hand turn lane that stopped, glad that I wasn't dead.

Sold my road bike and tri bike after that and went years without thinking about them.

Then got the bug again, but the only time I am ever on a road is at an event (race or large charity ride). I am fortunate to have miles of greenways and a state park for gravel riding and mtb riding around the corner.

Have not been on a solo ride on a road since that day well over a decade ago. It may be the wrong thing to have done, to never go back the way I was, but I feel like the driver of that truck was out to murder someone that day and that someone happened to be me and I still think about it.

Biggest thing is to do what's in your power to reduce risks. Ride aware, radar, good routes, good times of day, etc.... My roadie buddies can't stand riding hills and will ride some busy high speed limit roads sometimes.

Next thing is to recognize incidents that would maim or kill a person whether they were in a car or on a bike or on a motorcycle. Running a red light or stop sign kills people often no matter the vehicle involved.

There's a bad stop sign near our house that tees a main 45mph road. People gamble all the time running that stop sign and lose their lives or kill another.......in cars.

Once recently around here a driver crossed center and nearly killed a dude's wife he was riding with. Thing is, I'd bet money if it was a car it would have been a square hit instead of a hard glancing blow and killed the car's occupants.

Do what you can, always.

The bolded. I'm definitely a lot more cautious and slower on the downhills - even in races :(

With regards to her having no insurance, your auto insurance probably has uninsured motorist coverage if you have full coverage. Good chance it covers you on a bike.

Same thing happened to my wife. Hit by a car without insurance, and our auto insurance policy ended up paying out maximum amount of our coverage to cover all medical bills, bike replacement, and pain and suffering.

I would recommend calling your insurance and possible lawyering up.

Already done and done. My insurance (reputable, State Farm) is telling me I would pay a $5000 deductible on a claim, which is more than my original S-works frame new, and would likely raise my rates too. City District Attorney office involved with multiple charges against her, and I have my own attorney involved. Frustrating, but happy to be alive and with less trauma than many others who have posted on here!

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

Interesting on your rates. We were told (and it was true) that our rates would be unaffected because we were not at fault and were not driving our automobiles.

Good luck. Glad you’re OK - most important thing.

Not quite the same, but about 18 months ago I was hit by a truck while running (I stopped at a crosswalk and then proceeded because I thought he was yielding to me; he then hit the gas to make the left turn when I was 2/3rds through the crosswalk).

Honestly, though I'm a bit better every month, I'm not sure when I'll ever be as confident as I was before. I've run through that intersection many times since I was hit, but it's always stressful. And it's not just cars and trucks that scare me, but bikes that come too close on a shared use trail, or even fast runners passing. Anything moving fast and approaching me makes me tense. From what I've learned, this is normal. Your mind goes into a hyper-defensive mode and reacts to perceived threats that may or may or may not be similar to the initial incident.

I've worked through it with professional help, but to some extent it is what it is. I honestly wasn't that sympathetic to compensation for pain and suffering before my incident, but I sure am now. It's very hard to put a price on exactly what I lost that day. I settled for a decent amount of cash, but I'd trade it in an instant if I could enjoy my early morning runs as much as I used to.

Glad to hear you’re ok OP all things considered. I was also hit by a car a week and a half ago while out riding and reading through all these replies helped me feel I wasn’t alone in the way I felt about getting back on the bike (whenever that time comes). Thanks to the rest of you for sharing.

Yes, I agree, really helpful to read about others experiences and feel like I’m not alone in processing this. Hope you are well and without any significant injuries!

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

The best piece of advice for getting back on the road came from our very own Dan Empfield. I was talking to Dan about how I was afraid to get back on the bike. His advice was simple. Paraphrasing, since it's been over a decade now, but he said two things:
First, you need to understand that bike riding is no more dangerous now than it was before you were hit. You are just now aware of how dangerous it has always been. And yet, before you were hit, you accepted this danger willingly. It's good to be a bit afraid. Because it will help keep you safe.
Second, and most importantly, you need to decide which is more important. Being afraid or being a bike rider. If you want to be a bike rider, then ride your bike. If you want to be afraid, then be afraid. But you get to decide which of those things is MORE important to you.

Ultimately, I decided being a bike rider was more important to me. I'm still afraid. But not enough to stop riding. I've gone through periods of only gravel. Zwift was a revelation for me as well. Lately, though, I've been enjoying being back on the road. I've been hit twice since my initial accident. Once moderately badly, in 2013. And once a couple years ago that was quite minor. They both shook me. A lot. As does every close call. But they are just reminders to never stop being cautious or being aware. But they are also not reasons to get off my bike

Getting back to it is a lot of two steps forward and one step back. And sometimes even one step forward and two steps back. But I still fundamentally believe in what Dan said. You decide what is MOST important to you.

Best of luck. And stay safe.

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

3 years ago I was hit from behind by a 20 year old kid going 60mph. Miracle that I didn’t have any broken bones. But my shoulder and foot are still not right. It took a while for the rest of my body to heal all go through physical therapy. I was pretty nervous the first time I went back out, and still get a little anxious on the road. 95% of my rides are Inside now, and I will ride outside leading up to races when I need to get that “road feel” back. But even on those rides, 1hr56 minutes of a 2 hour ride will be fine, but there is always at least one incident that takes up like 2% of the whole ride that leaves you questioning whether riding outside is worth it anymore.

Garmin Varia is a really great piece of tech. At least gives you a heads up when a car is approaching from behind so you can be aware. I also have front and rear facing cameras (Cycliq). It’s hard to block out the memory like it never happened. As you know, in the blink of an eye, your life can change forever.

I was hit by a car nearly 20 years ago. They pulled out from a driveway hidden between parked cars on the side of the road. I hit the front quarter panel, flipped onto the hood, and regained consciousness as I was being wheeled into the ambulance. Nothing broken, helmet saved my life, lots of soft tissue injuries and a few broken teeth.

In many ways, I was lucky, not just because of the lack of major injuries, but also because I have no memory of the event (I think the car was blue or green?). That made it easier to get back on the bike and ride again. Pair that with the fact that I was 22 at the time, so I wasn’t mature enough to really reflect solidly on how close to serious injury/death I was.

That being said, the last 20 years of riding have been different than the years before my accident. Every car makes me anxious. I ride much more defensively and actively look for potential risk. My hands are on my brake levers and I am looking around for potential exit paths all the time (how soft is that ditch next to the road, is there a car coming behind me at the same time as a car approaching in the opposite lane, etc). Am I safe? No. Cycling on roads with cars involved risks, always. I am safer, however, than had I not been in that accident.

How do you get back out there? Slowly, cautiously, with respect for your own feelings, your fear, and your enjoyment. You don’t have to rush it, you shouldn’t expect to feel safe tomorrow, or maybe ever again, and you might decide it just isn’t worth it. There isn’t a right answer. Just take care of yourself, be careful, and reach out to the people close to you (and far from you, like on here) for support.

All good advice, thanks! For me its not if I mentally get through it, but how... Cycling of ANY kind is my happy place, and I could never git it up or just ride the trainer. The "What the F..." moment just before impact is still very clear in my mind though, and I hope to never go through that again. I DO think I will lean more to gravel and MTB now, but find it hard to think about not owning a light road bike and riding up the long climbs here outside of Denver. Just a matter of time, I suppose, but will probably now look 7-8 times before going through major intersections, or avoid them altogether. The rest of the stuff I already do... cognizant of traffic, bright jerseys and socks, blinking rear light, etc etc.

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Colorado Triathlon Company, CO2UT 2021, Crooked Gravel 2022, Steamboat Gravel 2022

Don't forget front blinking daylight light.

During the winter when I bike at night through rain etc, I even mount a couple on my forks, pointing 45 degrees off forward to have side visibility heading to intersections or driveways etc. . I think mini day lights facing side ways could help visibility

Mirrors add a lot of ease of mind where you might be tempted to keep checking over shoulder, cateye bm-45 for road, cateye spy for tt, they really add confidence training on open road. I was hesitant putting one on, but ended up getting a second one for the other side cos liked it should much

Sorry it here this happened to you. I hope you are able to get back to what you love.

That aside have you looked into bike insurance of you own? Maybe this was addressed in the thread already and if so my apologies for the redundant info.

I have coverage for all my bikes through velosurance. It won't help you in this instance obviously but may be worth looking into in the future and is a good lesson for others to be sure their covered in an accident or if their bike is stolen.

I hit a car once. In a race. During the run. No damage to me, I'm not sure about the car.

The run went up to a T intersection with a right turn. The car was stopped, signaling left, and a police officer was directing traffic. As I ran by, the car decided to turn right and I ran right into it, hard. I thought it was funny and took off to finish the race. I don't know what happened between the police and the driver.

Just got hit 3 days ago on a french rural road. I had no memory of the crash when last night, as i was backing up from my driveway, i saw a flash image of me trying to avoid a car that was backing up on the road. That s the only explaination for a suden fall at 20 mph. Crazy thing is, according to strava, i imediately got back on the bike and rode 10 miles at 20 mph to get to closest town where someone called the firetruck that took me to ER. I am left with foogy head, fracture rib and painfull shoulder. Racing Milwaukee AGN as well as Almere world is history. At 53 it s also my second concusion in 2 years so i wll have to seriously weight the pro s and cons of returning to cycling.

Not a car accident but I had a horrendous bike crash in 1996 during a bike club training ride. I was 26 yrs old, fearless and was back on my bike 2 weeks later. I did the Killington Stage race that year and did well.

I think it depends on how much you love and need road riding in your life. Back then it was everything and defined me so the thought of giving up road riding was not an option. Now that I'm in my early 50s, I don't love road riding the way I did back then. And I really dislike how my neck feels on those long rides on my tri-bike. I hate traffic and have had countless bad experiences with cars (but no accidents). As a result it was easier for me to give up road riding due to the present day dangers. I am happy splitting up big trainer rides and then immediately finishing up my training on my gravel bike on quiet dirt roads or on the mtn bike on trails. Zwift plus gravel bike = good solution for me

I'm in awe of everyone getting back out there on the roads so quickly after being hit by a car. I've said this in the past I know someone where I live who's been hit by a car 7 times and rides during the busiest time of the week where many tourists drive. This person is fearless. Everyone is different.

So sorry you got hit. I hope you feel better quickly!

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Death is easy....peaceful. Life is harder.

Wow, hadn’t considered this.
Concussions are shite.
If you had a couple severe ones where you actually blacked out, that would even get me off the roads.
Dementia risk and such.
But even riding on trails, this risk exists.
Riding partner going downhill went head-first into a tree. Didn’t black out, though.

I too, was hit by a car in 6/2018. I was riding at a good clip (Around 24 mpg--according to my Garmin), and an 85 year-old woman in a Mercedes made a left turn in front of me (She was cited by the police and was insured). Incredibly, my neighbor was nearby and witnessed the entire thing. All I can remember is coming up on a driveway on my right and seeing a car inching forward--the next thing I remembered was I was on my back in the street. The neighbor said as the Mercedes made the left in front of me I hit the right side of her car, I flew up and off my bike, did a 360 in the air, and landed on my back in the street.

I was "Lucky" in that other than extensive road rash, some severe bruising, and a permanently deformed finger, I recovered through the help of excellent physical therapy. Now? I have some issues moving my neck to the right, but otherwise I am back racing.

Since the accident I have not ridden through that same intersection-nor do I plan to (Despite it being 1/4 mile from my house). My road biking is now 90% Zwift, and 10% hanging with friends on group rides. My racing and riding has transitioned to MTB. I miss the old days, but there are just too many people getting hit by cars these days.

... and that's my story.

Do whatever feels right. It's different for everyone.

I don’t know that I agree with all this.

With smartphones and texting, IG, FB, etc., drivers are distracted now more than ever. It’s like being on roads where 50% of drivers are drunk. I think it is more dangerous now than ever.

Regarding the “fear”, it’s less about fear and more about accepting responsibility. You’ve been hit and know it happens in the blink of an eye. It’s less about fear than it is about a risk assessment. Sure, the odds of having an incident may be slim. But the consequences could potentially be horrific. I like riding my bike. But I like seeing my family more.

Yeah, there’s no other solution than to
condone and participate in driving distracted and texting and just ride indoors.
Just no alternative other than to support Scofflaws and Criminals and to give up your rights and freedom.

Cyclist Lives Matter!

I agree with you. I’m not saying to give up. I’m saying we need to be honest and realize that it is in fact more dangerous now than before, and encourage change so the roadways can be a safer place for everybody.

Everyone who rides, in or outside, should raise his/her voice when it comes to the tolerance/acceptance of driving while ‘logged-in‘.
Paint on the road doesn’t safe lives, fines and making it socially unacceptable to drive and operate a device, do.

Yesterday I was almost taken out by some full-kitted cyclist (prob in his 20s) texting using both hands while weaving all over a technical single lane road. WTF?

I’d bet he does the same while driving…

I agree. I was hit by a car in 2012(bad). I came back and completed an IM in 2015. Have pretty much quit riding now, not so much out of fear, but I don’t trust the distracted drivers in our area now. It is so much worse than even 5 years ago. I just can’t get comfortable with the increased risk now.

I was struck last year on July 4 2020 and sustained moderate injuries. I'm still skidish and do a significant more riding on Zwift. Let me offer some advice. If you haven't done so already, at the very least consult and attorney. These cases are extremely difficult to navigate and you need an expert to help you work through the complexities of the process, get a police report, and avoid discussing your injuries or the details of the accident on social media and internet forums. Civil courts are back logged right now due to the pandemic last year and this favors defendants in cases like this because the insurance companies and lawyers know that plaintiffs like us are not going to want to pursue litigation due to the time it will take for cases to reach court. Protect yourself, be smart and mindful about what you say and where you say it, and I wish you all the best. This is a shitty thing to have to go through but it can be made significantly better or worse depending on what you do going forward.

I had a similar case with a destroyed bike and only minor injuries in a t-bone situation.

This was before 4 months before my first IM. Since then I've had other buzz type situation which concerned me.


Each new season I have to psych myself up to go riding. I find myself making excuses not to ride and instead go for a run, swim, or even yoga instead.

Now what I am retired from IM having done 5 I can't imagine having the mental wherewithal to put many miles on my bike.

Best of luck.

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Swim - Bike - Run the rest is just clothing changes.

I too went through the windshield of a negligent driver. Knocked unconscious, fractured scapula, 4ribs, dozens of stitches, overnight hospital stay, and approximately 6months of PTSD.
My recommendation is to get back on a bike as soon as physically possible. I was riding within 10 days, swimming in 30.
At that time, I had never been more angry at the entire world, and riding was the way for me to TAKE control of my life again. Bike and pool were my therapists. That driver had taken something from me, and I was taking it back.
Be extra careful to avoid confrontations with drivers due to anxieties when they again come too close. Overreacting one night, I did not, and wound up in an old fashioned street fight with a guy who outweighed me by 60lbs. during a late night run. I hit him with 4 overhand rights that felt really good. After that, he gave me a bit of trouble. :)

Fight back! Go ride! The roads are not, will not, were not completely safe, and everything you feel during and after a hard ride belongs to you. TAKE those feelings back!

I’d wish you luck, but you won’t need it.

Here's what getting hit by a car is like: you are strolling through town. You come to a crosswalk. Look both ways. There are no cars coming. So you begin to cross and get hit by a low flying airplane.

Not sure what this post achieves. There’s been a fair amount of people on these boards that have been hit recently, far too many.

And yeah some are freak accidents and psychologically it may be best to treat them as such. It does take individual mental fortitude to get back on the road.

Signed someone tagged one month ago today.

it wasn't about the danger of bike riding on a macro scale, e.g., whether bike riding in 2021 is more dangerous than in 2001. It was about the perception of danger before/after. Like, you ride your bike on Friday. It's fine. You ride your bike on Saturday and get hit. On Sunday, your perception of the dangerousness of bike riding is almost certainly different than it was on Friday. That was Dan's point.

If you want to make the assessment that, in general, because of distracted drivers, SUVs, cellphones, etc that bike riding is too risky, that's a fair assessment to make. Dan was more stating that simply being in an accident doesn't actually change the dangerousness (or lack thereof) of riding a bike.

AKA "recency bias" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recency_bias

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

???! Metaphors are too hard?

I was agreeing with the person I replied to. I've been hit too and it was instantaneous and unexpected. Meanwhile the 'close calls' I saw coming were not that close and resulted in no accident.

My main advice is to be very selective of where you ride. Avoid highly trafficked areas. No matter how careful you may be as a cyclist, you have no control over the drivers of cars, and they often don’t see us.

I got run over by a car as a kid 40 years ago and I still have PTSD about the one mitigating factor that could have prevented it. If that thing is present, all street activity is a no-go for me. Otherwise, I have no problems, even riding on country highways with no shoulders, cars going by at 70mph speed limit. You can definitely get over it, but can take some time. Depends on how much you want to get back to it.

On the other hand, I got lucky and narrowly missed being killed by a head on collision while driving. The truck missed me and killed the guy in the car right behind me. Took me maybe a year to drive comfortably without freaking out every time a car passed by me going the other way on a two-lane highway.

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Zen and the Art of Triathlon. Strava Workout Log
Interviews with Chris McCormack, Helle Frederikson, Angela Naeth, and many more.
http://www.zentriathlon.com

I was hit a few years ago during a Half IM by the USAT official on his motorcycle. I didn't hear him coming up beside me in my lane, and when I reached down for my frame bottle, I zigged a little and he clipped me with his outboard mirror. I woke up on the road with people standing over me and what was diagnosed a few days later as a fractured collar bone plus road rash. Once I stood up, I felt mostly okay, but the cracked helmet DQ'd me from continuing. The bike was okay, but I ended up with expenses because of the shoulder. Ironically, had I been hit by anyone else, I'd have had better insurance support. But the USAT guy was covered by the race waiver. And I found the USAT "insurance" process onerous, unsympathetic, and nearly worthless. It's great umbrella coverage for the race-directors, but for the athletes, not so much.

I had never thought before about the possibility of crashing during a race. Due to anxiety, it takes me a little while after T1 to feel comfortable enough to get into my bike race-pace. I'm hyperaware of all vehicles now, particularly that USAT official whom I've subsequently seen cruising the courses. I can run marathons without having to tithe to USA Track and Field. But I now resent paying that USAT fee every time.

Twice.

First was when county Sheriff driving an unmarked SUV ran me into a ditch. I came out of the ditch taking my helmet off ready to use it on him. Then I saw his badge and just started an argument with him. We were on a very rural road, not another car in sight for 5 miles. He told me that he was in hot pursuit (someone stole a grand piano) and I should have gotten out of way. He asked me if I recognized that he was driving a LEO vehicle. I told him, as I was standing in front of the vehicle that I could not tell it was a police car, no plates, no markings, all black. He told me I was lucky that he did not arrest me, I told him I was lucky that I was still alive! With that he got in his vehicle and drove off in hot pursuit.

Second, going down a one lane two way mountain road very fast, just around the bend met a vehicle coming up the road. I was doing in excess of 30 MPH, speed limit on the road 35 mph. Locked the brakes and went over a cliff. Broken shoulder, cracked ribs and cracked helmet. Ironically no damage to the bike.

The first was a Deputy Sheriff showing me who was boss. The second was just as much my fault as the vehicle driver’s.

After both incidents got right back on the road, but with a greater understanding of the risks. Either someone else was going to kill me, or I was going to kill myself.

Where I live going 20 MPH on the strait road and a deer jumping out of the woods would be catastrophic. My experience with deer is you first see them when you hit them while driving a car.

Add me to the list of being struck by a car. I was riding Wednesday evening and a truck mirror struck me in the back and sent me flying ass over teakettle. Lots of broken ribs and separated shoulder I’m now home from the hospital and consider my self very lucky as 3 inches to the left the accident could have been much worse.

Driver did stop and was cited. Told me he never saw me. He said he wasn’t paying attention not that it helps now.

I’m not sure how I'll feel about riding on the road once I heal. I’m very careful but in this case there was nothing I could do to prevent the accident as I was as far right as I could have been. Might start with gravel and work my way up to road riding.

I have been hit couple of times. I have no car, so it's really not a choice for me. I am much more cautious than ever, don't do hard training rides on road, don't ride in rain or at night. So yea I get PTSD here and there, I just slow down