Last weekend I hit a pothole, crashed and have now fractured my shoulder in 3 places (greater tuberosity). Also have a sore leg/hip, but it seems to be getting better.
September 2020 I got hit by a car, and got concussed. January 2021 crashed again, was just my face which came off second best (chin first).
I’ve had 4 concussions in last 12 years - only 1 from the bike. I’m self employed and have a 3 year old.
With my fractured shoulder I can’t drive right now and it has also affected my ability to work (insofar as typing etc goes) and help out around the home.
After my 2021 crash I just rode my trainer on zwift for around 7 to 8 months until finally venturing back on the road. I was really enjoying cycling outside until my most recent crash.
When do people consider cycling outside is just not worth it?
Before these last 3 crashes I had crashed on the road twice in 17 years without any real injuries.
I was hoping to do some races this summer here in NZ but next race looking very unlikely.
Currently 65 y.o, have been road racing for 32 years, with a smattering of mtb, cx, and track racing over the years. Outside of racing, I’ve only crashed twice on my road bike, one of which involved hitting a car that had pulled out in front of me at an intersection. Never crashed on the track, but used to fall off every now and then on the mtb and the cx bikes. Over the course of 32 years, I may have crashed in crits a total of 4 or 5 times.
That said, I’m about 3 weeks out from the 4th anniversary of a total shoulder replacement that was the result of a crash during a criterium the year prior, at the age of 60. At the time, I resigned myself to only doing TTs and foregoing mass start events. It took me a couple of years before deciding I want to do mass start races again, and another year to get somewhat comfortable with it.
But, through all of it, I’ve never once considered not cycling, not even sitting on the side of the crit course with all four rotator cuff tendons in one shoulder fully ruptured, waiting for an ambulance.
I’ve also crashed numerous times in Crits, I have had nitrogen peroxide poured all over me, and I’ve been hit by cars 3 times - the last one breaking my collar bone in three places with an ambulance ride to the ER.
Like Mudge, I will never stop riding.
I came home from Vietnam in 1970 and tried to drink myself to death. Somehow I got a cheap Peugeot and did a Forest Gump, only instead of running, I rode a bike. By 1972 I was a licensed ABLA rider and had joined a Club. Now, at almost 76 years old, I’m getting ready for the Local/State/National Senior Games TT’s.
What I know is that the simple, repetitive act of making circles with your feet thousands and thousands of times, is really, really good for your head! I’ve done a lot of “problem solving” while riding, but much more than that - it is not an exaggeration when I say that cycling saved my life.
I’ve also crashed numerous times in Crits, I have had nitrogen peroxide poured all over me, and I’ve been hit by cars 3 times - the last one breaking my collar bone in three places with an ambulance ride to the ER.
Like Mudge, I will never stop riding.
I came home from Vietnam in 1970 and tried to drink myself to death. Somehow I got a cheap Peugeot and did a Forest Gump, only instead of running, I rode a bike. By 1972 I was a licensed ABLA rider and had joined a Club. Now, at almost 76 years old, I’m getting ready for the Local/State/National Senior Games TT’s.
What I know is that the simple, repetitive act of making circles with your feet thousands and thousands of times, is really, really good for your head! I’ve done a lot of “problem solving” while riding, but much more than that - it is not an exaggeration when I say that cycling saved my life.
Swimming saved my life and I never have to worry about getting hit by a car in the pool.
Timely post, as I (32M) lay in the hospital. Never had a serious crash until Sunday. 5 broken ribs, some air leaking from my lug which requires a drain tube in my chest, and shattered clavicle which received surgery yesterday.
I was riding on a paved multi-use path through a forest. Going relatively slow, around 20-25kph probably, when I hit something. Either a pothole or maybe a root under the the pavement. Didn’t see it, hit it, tossed me up, came down on the pavement on my shoulder.
Feeling quite a lot of pain between pain killer doses and was told the ribs would hurt for a while. Sucks for just hitting a pothole while going slow. Don’t want to imagine the possible outcomes of faster crashes or collisions. I plan to keep riding outdoors but my risk appetite will probably change as a result. No more 90kph descents, more care to avoid busy roads, etc. Might even swap from a Venge to something slower and more comfortable with drop bars (i.e. gravel bike).
Sorry to hear that Fulla. And hope the recovery is swift - and to be slightly flippant, enjoy the ‘pass’ for not having to do housework or spring garden clearing.
I’m Tauranga based, and so there’s a constant challenge with not just ‘when’ but where to ride. I got a bit too addicted to Zwift and needed to remember why I got into cycling in the first place after I had a couple of moments with nutter drivers and ‘hid’ inside for way too long.
So last Saturday, pouring rain, and was clearly a zwift day. The risk vs reward was clearly on the risk side. Equally I won’t ride by the Mount after 8am in December/January as all the Jaffas are trying to find a park outside the coffee shops and none ever look in the mirror as they dive into the parking bay through the cycle lane. So self protection.
But then tomorrow will be chilly, but clear sky and the route will take me into the hills and so most of the ride away from traffic, and the fresh air, views of Kaimais and waterfalls will be really soul filling.
So to answer your question - I ride inside when the risks of unhapiness or injury exceed the mental health benefits. It’s why I’ll never do Round Taupo, but have ridden 200km from Tauranga over to Rotorua leaving at 4am, up to blue lake, and back on SH36. Nad I make that call myself on a weekly basis according to my mood, and the weather.
When do people consider cycling outside is just not worth it?
All the time - every time I don’t need too…
I cycle to work on my fold up commuter bike every day (in this case ‘I need to’) so think I have a higher probability of an accident (last one a few years ago, messing my face up a little) but for training on the race bike, its all in doors on my SB20 for me (zero risk) - the road bike can wait for closed roads and race days where getting involved with traffic and oncoming traffic is low.
The roads around me are too dangerous (and mostly dual carriage ways of 80kph+) with too many cyclists getting injured - I just don’t need that risk.
Now some will say ‘all you zwift boys aren’t getting road experience’ and I agree to some extent, but hope my commute is enough to keep my ‘road feeling’ from going rusty.
I read these cycling risk/reward threads with an extreme amount of trepidation. I am a new triathlete, and one of the things that brought me to the sport was my love to ride my (mountain) bike. Gravel roads snaking through large national forest are my jam, virtually no traffic, fast, fun, some challenging terrain, but mostly just fun and a great workout.
When I decided I wanted to do tri’s I quickly realized I needed some road experience, but was still too scared to commit to getting a road or TT bike and hitting the pavement, so I got a smart trainer.
After having done my first official tri, I also realized that on top of zwifting and mountain biking, I need to get actual road experience. Especially since all the races I’ve competed in, or signed up for, have been open courses with traffic. There’s also an aspect of “use it or lose it” in my mind, and I feel like as a triathlete it’s part of my job to ride a bike in the outdoors and own the rights that are given to us cyclists, because if everyone stays indoors those rights will quickly erode, and bikes on the road will be seen as even more of a nuisance.
All that being said, I just took delivery on my new QR x-pr yesterday, threw a varia on the back, and am ready to hit the roads soon. Wish me luck bc it sounds like I may need it. My state is what one would consider extremely bike unfriendly, but it is what it is.
I read these cycling risk/reward threads with an extreme amount of trepidation. I am a new triathlete, and one of the things that brought me to the sport was my love to ride my (mountain) bike. Gravel roads snaking through large national forest are my jam, virtually no traffic, fast, fun, some challenging terrain, but mostly just fun and a great workout.
When I decided I wanted to do tri’s I quickly realized I needed some road experience, but was still too scared to commit to getting a road or TT bike and hitting the pavement, so I got a smart trainer.
After having done my first official tri, I also realized that on top of zwifting and mountain biking, I need to get actual road experience. Especially since all the races I’ve competed in, or signed up for, have been open courses with traffic. There’s also an aspect of “use it or lose it” in my mind, and I feel like as a triathlete it’s part of my job to ride a bike in the outdoors and own the rights that are given to us cyclists, because if everyone stays indoors those rights will quickly erode, and bikes on the road will be seen as even more of a nuisance.
All that being said, I just took delivery on my new QR x-pr yesterday, threw a varia on the back, and am ready to hit the roads soon. Wish me luck bc it sounds like I may need it. My state is what one would consider extremely bike unfriendly, but it is what it is.
Don’t let the weekly we’re-all-gonna-die threads distort your perception of risk. There are certainly risks to cycling but there are many of us here that have logged thousands of miles over decades without incident. Add me to the list of old guys that have never crashed outside of a road race other than bouncing off the ground on a mountain bike trail or a CX race.
Timely post, as I (32M) lay in the hospital. Never had a serious crash until Sunday. 5 broken ribs, some air leaking from my lug which requires a drain tube in my chest, and shattered clavicle which received surgery yesterday.
I was riding on a paved multi-use path through a forest. Going relatively slow, around 20-25kph probably, when I hit something. Either a pothole or maybe a root under the the pavement. Didn’t see it, hit it, tossed me up, came down on the pavement on my shoulder.
Feeling quite a lot of pain between pain killer doses and was told the ribs would hurt for a while. Sucks for just hitting a pothole while going slow. Don’t want to imagine the possible outcomes of faster crashes or collisions. I plan to keep riding outdoors but my risk appetite will probably change as a result. No more 90kph descents, more care to avoid busy roads, etc. Might even swap from a Venge to something slower and more comfortable with drop bars (i.e. gravel bike).
Assuming 32M = 32 y.o. male, I would expect you’d be a lot more resilient to injuries such as you’re describing and far less risk averse.
A gravel bike will be more comfortable, but not necessarily safer than your Venge. Won’t belabor the point, but I lost a friend and riding partner who was instrumental in my development as a beginning racer to a drunk driver on a gravel road in NE.
Assuming 32M = 32 y.o. male, I would expect you’d be a lot more resilient to injuries such as you’re describing and far less risk averse.
Lol. Ok
I had my second surgery yesterday and I’m looking at minimum 6 weeks of no cycling. Maybe this is just a pessimistic period and I’m definitely having some reactionary thoughts around safety. I can’t wait to ride though… Maybe I’ll get over it sooner than later.
At the time, I resigned myself to only doing TTs and foregoing mass start events. It took me a couple of years before deciding I want to do mass start races again, and another year to get somewhat comfortable with it.
Assuming 32M = 32 y.o. male, I would expect you’d be a lot more resilient to injuries such as you’re describing and far less risk averse.
Lol. Ok
I had my second surgery yesterday and I’m looking at minimum 6 weeks of no cycling. Maybe this is just a pessimistic period and I’m definitely having some reactionary thoughts around safety. I can’t wait to ride though… Maybe I’ll get over it sooner than later.
At the time, I resigned myself to only doing TTs and foregoing mass start events. It took me a couple of years before deciding I want to do mass start races again, and another year to get somewhat comfortable with it.
I guess you got me there.
5 shoulder surgeries in 4 years, missed ~6 weeks of riding following each of the surgeries. I went through what you’re going through. You will most likely get over it. My suggestion would be to get back on the horse sooner rather than later.
6 years and 2 months ago I hit the broad side of a truck that ran a red light as I entered an intersection. Broke my wrist, had a seized AC joint, both of which were minor compared to my knee, 3 torn ligaments (ACL, LCL and popliteus), surgery had to wait 5 weeks for my fibular head to heal enough to drill new holes in it to anchor a couple ligaments. After surgery it was 10 weeks before I could walk with out assistance, the first 6 weeks were non weight bearing.
That was my one and only major injury from bike riding, and only real crash on the road. I know my day is coming in a crit or road race, but thus far have been able to avoid them.
I am not sure what your riding background is, but a lot of time on an MTB and now cross has me rarely out of sorts from pot holes. I’ve hit pot holes in group rides so hard my hands have been blown off the bars, but still kept the bike upright.
The risk reward is all for you to evaluate, but you can reduce the risk a lot by building a robust bike handling skill set. Plus MTB and cross virtually eliminate the vehicular side of the risk calculation.
All that to say, heal up and hope you can get back after it sooner than later!
I 100% endorse the gravel bike. I don’t even do tri anymore, primary races are crits/road races, and probably 50% of my time or more over the last two years has been on my gravel bike, even when I’m just on the road. Big tires are wonderful, I love how hard I can push road corners on that thing too and feel completely in control, and potholes are pretty much no bother either. If you’re not road racing or doing fast group rides, IMO a gravel bike is the bike people really want, and even if you do both of those, a gravel bike with a road wheelset will pretty much get you there.
I’m building up an allez sprint for crits, but tbh my next road bike will probably be a specialized crux, and I’ll just swap a road/gravel wheelset back and forth.
That being said, I’m also sorry to hear about your crash and good luck with your recovery.
IDK how to answer that. Where I live we have hundreds of miles of trails. I just do my power workouts on the trainer, and a long weekend ride on trails. If we didn’t have the trail network IDK where I’d be. Had a bad crash in 2015. That’s when I mostly stopped riding on roads.
I ride my gravel bike on the road more than I do on gravel roads. IMO it’s the superior bike for both if you’re not racing. I agree, the problem is cars, infrastructure, and attitude.
