It crashes well!

[EebStrider]

Got caught out on Friday. What I thought was level ground, going round a tree, saw a root sticking out at the last minute, and it was too late, down I went. Bent handlebars, bent gear lever, the bike wouldn’t go into the top 5 gears. Luckily, it was on soft ground, so no cosmetic damage, other than a tiny chip of paint at the top of the forks, which I reckon I can touch in with some matte hammerite.

Took it to a local specialist yesterday, who dropped everything, and fixed it within an hour. It turned out that the cable in the gear lever had snapped when the bike went down, twisting the lever out of alignment. He replaced the inner cable, adjusted the derailleur (which wasn’t bent, surprisingly!), re-torqued the stem properly, and all was sorted.

Tbh, at the speed it happened, and the way the bike cartwheeled away from me, I was expecting a very big bill. These bikes are bloody strong, and can take a real hammering. I now have a new found respect for my Cube!

Just need my shoulder to stop aching now, so I can ride again. Nothing broken, just a bit battered and bruised. Ordered another 10kg of Epsom salts, so will have hot baths for a few days to sort it.

 

[GazzerT]

Similar thing happen to me, but the bike is totally fine, but i didn't bounce as well.......double break to the collarbone, cracked ribs and a touch of concussion

 

[iainc]

Not on a Cube, but last October on my first ride on brand new Orbea Wild a simple tumble with an unfortunate outcome. Shoulder dislocated backwards and ripped all the tendons to bits. Full reconstruction surgery and 7 months of physio later and still can’t lift arm above horizontal. Bike didn’t have a mark and I sold it. Road and gravel riding is fine now but MTB remains on a distant horizon..

 

[simonk]

I interfaced with the terrain this week too. Exploring some new stuff, lost concentration and took my eye off what was right in front of me ?‍
No serious damage but my shoulder has been really stiff and painful the last couple of mornings.
Bike was fine.

 

[EebStrider]

Glad I’m not the only one, and it could have been so much worse. I’ll slow down a bit in future. Well, we all say that afterwards, don’t we?!

 

[EebStrider]

I interfaced with the terrain this week too. Exploring some new stuff, lost concentration and took my eye off what was right in front of me ?‍
No serious damage but my shoulder has been really stiff and painful the last couple of mornings.
Bike was fine.

Sounds similar to me. What are you doing to sort your shoulder?

 

[GazzerT]

I'm 56 and no longer made of rubber! wasn't so much a bounce more of a dull thud!

 

[iainc]

I feel your pain, 54 here and don’t bounce... I do wonder whether eMTB crashes are worse that on regular bikes, given the extra momentum of the bike....

 

[Beezerk]

I came off on Thursday, going too hard when I approached a smallish jump and wasn't set correctly. Luckily I saw it coming and managed to push the bike left and I bailed right landing on my back. Not only is there the risk of getting hurt of hitting the deck, having a 24Kg bike landing on my head is a bigger fear

 

[Cyclingwilly]

I'm 56 and no longer made of rubber! wasn't so much a bounce more of a dull thud!

You were lucky, with me, it's a resounding "splot".

 

[simonk]

Sounds similar to me. What are you doing to sort your shoulder?

Hot showers, keeping it mobile and a bit of ibuprofen gel have sorted it. It’s just a dull ache now and hasn’t stopped me riding... got back in the next day.

 

[simonk]

And yes, I agree with the getting old sentiments. I’m 50 this year and don’t bounce back as readily as my 20 year old former self. Getting old is a bitch!

 

[Zimmerframe]

I'm lucky .. I never fall off ......

But if I did .. I'd definitely use Pharma Arnica Ice ... it's for horses .. but hell it's amazing ! You only need a pea sized blob on a puny human.

One important bit of usage advice. Thoroughly wash your hands after applying it - especially if you plan on going for a pee - otherwise you'll spend the next 30 minutes thinking your todge has been viciously frozen off.

 

[Cabby.]

Was the kiox still in place once you retrieved the bike ?

 

[simonk]

I'm lucky .. I never fall off ......

 

[Doomanic]

Nice little OTB today for me on a nasty little chute that's now an overhang.

Oh, how I missed riding/crashing* in the FoD...

*delete as applicable.

 

[EebStrider]

I'm lucky .. I never fall off ......

But if I did .. I'd definitely use Pharma Arnica Ice ... it's for horses .. but hell it's amazing ! You only need a pea sized blob on a puny human.

One important bit of usage advice. Thoroughly wash your hands after applying it - especially if you plan on going for a pee - otherwise you'll spend the next 30 minutes thinking your todge has been viciously frozen off.

I‘m Googling that right now. Was that tongue in cheek, or is it actually suitable for humans?!

 

[EebStrider]

Was the kiox still in place once you retrieved the bike ?

yep, that stayed put.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I‘m Googling that right now. Was that tongue in cheek, or is it actually suitable for humans?!

I use it... Regularly.. And it's not hand eyni nugativ afecks

 

[steve_sordy]

I interfaced with the terrain ..........

I love that euphemism.

 

[steve_sordy]

I went OTB, the full Superman, when descending Jacob's ladder (a very rocky and steep trail in the Peak District, UK for those not blessed with a British passport).

I was fortunate to convert the Superman into a full forward roll and landed on my feet totally unmarked (I still can't believe it). I watched my bike bouncing end over end down the trail, hitting rock after rock before eventually coming to a halt upside down and laid against the side of the track. With my heart in my mouth I hurried after it to find not a single mark on it, apart from a few minor marks on the saddle.

Bikes only get damaged when we are aboard.

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

Four days ago, I was going up a very narrow almost goat-trail carved out of the side of a steep embankment. I've made that pass many times before, not realising that vegetation growing on the opposite side has lulled me into a false sense of security. I was just doing a slow steady grind on my 42T cassette cog (about walking pace), when I misjudged a newly formed rut and lost my balance. No biggie, I expected to just dismount and walk the rest of the way up. The trail itself is also pretty steep so there's no way of getting back on the bike. Put my left foot down and it just went straight through the vegetation because there was nothing there! Before I realised what had happened I was tumbling down, only to be halted face down by the same vines that masked the ravine. I was just thinking how fortunate that was, otherwise I would've kept on falling. Then... I heard a couple of thuds coming at me. Then bang... my tumbling 54 pound eBike landed on my back! Mark on my jacket shows that only the rear tyre hit me, and all the nasty protruding metal bits had missed. Had to gingerly lift myself and my bike to safety... and staggered back home. Thank goodness, nothing broken or dislocated - but SORE for days.

Glad no one was there to see it, because for anyone else that whole thing would've been comical... but no laughing matter for me. My doctor's instructions - no more aggressive MTB because I'm now on permanent blood thinner/anti-coagulant medication. In my defence, I wasn't being aggressive - the track was the one who attacked me!

Anyway, bike and I crashed well too and only got some minor souvenirs...

Moral of the story:
If you're on a trail that's been cut along a near vertical bank going up on one side, chances are it also has the same near vertical bank going down the opposite side - even though scheming plants trick you into thinking it's flat, wide and level.