On Rule #64: The Sudden Drop
The severity of a crash exists on two planes, the physical and psychological. The physical is the most obvious and one we busy ourselves with in the immediate vicinity of coming down. Our bodies need time to heal, our kits may need replacing or mending, and our bicycles may need repair work. For weeks and sometimes months, we may carry with us the scars that result when our bodies, bicycles, and tarmac momentarily occupy the same space.
We endeavor to reach a point where the mechanics of bike handling has moved into the subconscious. An experienced Cyclist no longer thinks in terms of steering or pedaling; instead, we exist in a stream of subconscious consciousness where our senses are heightened, yet none of our actions exist on a plane of explicit thought as we make subtle adjustments to our stroke, steering, and balance. As our experience grows, the bicycle becomes an extension of our physical selves; it is through finding this harmony that we are able to live on the razor’s edge between grace and disaster.
When disaster does strike, we are faced with scars beyond the physical that take much longer to recover than do our equipment and flesh. In the space of a single moment, the trust we felt in our machine and our ability to control it evaporates, leaving a hollow sense of betrayal that burrows away deeply into our minds. It stays there, far from view, only to surface during moments when we most rely on our confidence to avoid crashes; the sliding of a tire in a corner or the sudden interference of an object with our path – these situations require complete confidence in our machine and skills, yet during the time that our confidence is being rebuilt we doubt our instincts.
This is particularly true of cornering, where we are most prominently faced with the realities of our confidence, trust, and skills. Normally, we sense a crash approaching some time before it arrives. A problem with our trajectory or a slipping tire will give our minds a moment to react, even if our bodies are unable to. As we reflect on the crash afterwards, we’ll understand what happened, and what might have been done to avoid it; we use this knowledge to tell ourselves it was avoidable and tuck that nagging sense of doubt a bit farther out of reach. But a crash with no warning and no remedy sits naked in our minds and permeates every action and sensation as we struggle to regain our confidence.
This past December, I slipped on some black ice on a cold morning commute to the office. There were no signs of anything going amiss; there was only the crash. In the blink of an eye, I went from happily entering a corner to laying on the tarmac. The impact was so sudden, in fact, that the force of the fall was taken up by my hip and elbow – my hands never left the bars – and the impact so swift that my cleat tore apart as the impossibility of my occupying the same space as my bicycle and the road was resolved by my being separated abruptly from both.
My rides since then have suffered from nagging questions that flood my mind as I enter a corner, particularly in the wet; I no longer trust that I can judge the corner adequately or that my equipment will loyally carry me through. Logically, I know that while statistics suggest that one’s chances of crashing remain constant so long as environmental conditions don’t significantly change, I know shaken confidence ensures that crashes come in clusters as self-doubt overrides intuition cultivated over years of experience.
I must force myself to regain my confidence; the only path to doing so lies through ignoring my doubt and wrapping myself in the craft. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
Came off on Monday on some black ice myself. Successfully negotiated all the usual danger points and then wham, sliding across the tarmac. No time to register what was about to happen at all – a sort of quantum crash’ instantly flipping from upright to down. Bike was OK; I had been feeling a bit sorry for myself however, but after reading Wrench and Rob I am a little ashamed. Bruises will go, clothes can be repaired. Good luck with the recovery Rob. Don’t rush it.
@GT
Ha! Now THAT is an awesome line!
When it rains, it pours. Or something like that. Three crashes yesterday on Maui, none car related. Two from the damp slippery white line on a road that that does not get too much rain and the third from an overcooked damp corner. Two riders with broken femurs, one of them was Peter from the East Maui Cogal ride. Faaaaaaaack.
A lot of the cornering I do is on well washed roads and no one crashes there (well not many). I think it’s the roads that don’t get much rain are the really dangerous ones when it is a little wet out.
@wrench
That’s a chilling story, it could be any of us. I hope the recovery is smooth and your tyres are singing on the pavement soon.
@Deakus
He never used Speedplays, Gianni does.
@brett
Aha….Heresy I say!
@Gianni
I did notice when out on Tuesday some really yucky diesel on our roads…that stuff makes me roll and do absolutely nothing to change direction or speed for a good few metres after I have ridden over it!
@VeloVita, @TBONE
Good times, good times.
@Buck Rogers
That’s just good common sense; snow is a motherfucker when it starts sliding.
For a great account on an avalanche at my local ski area and possibly the best use of modern web technology to display interactive content, check this article out:
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek
@eightzero
As it turns out, you can do both of those things quite safely provided you don’t also add freezing temperatures into the mix.
@The Pressure
Overtaking vehicles who then proceed to turn are unbelievable; they know they passed you, so how could they think you’re not there? I am always looking for blinkers from my peripherals to see what a car might be doing. It’s one of the many hazards riding on the road.
I went through a rear window many years ago in the same situation; a woman passed me, then cut into the bike lane and slammed on the brakes. I had no alternative but to fly through her window. Massive suck.
@frank
Frank, what is your preferred rim/brakepad combo for rain?
@Mikael Liddy
I have spent enough time in the hospital to learn this fact very well: the thrill of a fast descent/corner is never big enough to outweigh how much a serious crash can suck.
I descend like a Schleck for the most part.
@The Pressure
This whole article smacks of a Rule #81 violation, but in my defense, as Velominatus, I abide by this. As a writer, it makes for an important discussion.
Proof that I didn’t discuss this, the crash was from mid December and even though Marko and I text on a daily basis, this article was the first he’d heard of my crash.
@G’rilla
And if they figure out how to do that, you can be sure a race promoter in the PNW will put on a CX race with a banked, iced corner.
@brett
On the subject, I’m having some knee issues and am seriously contemplating the move to Speedplay. Such an expensive move to make, changing all bikes out, but it may be necessary…
@frank
Does Time make a floating cleat like Shimano? I have all the float I want (3 degrees each way) on my SPD-SL’s. I would think Time has a similar solution.
@frank
If by quite safely you mean I’m a fucking pussy…yeah, well…I shant quibble.
@frank
I rock Bonts (charred) and Speedplays and my knees don’t hurt anymore – ergo make the change
@frank
@Frank as you have stated on several occasions on other reverance articles, sometimes the upfront costs can repay the outlay over time and I would suggest speedplays are a case on point:
1. The float thing is a little wierd for about 10 minutes, then it is pure joy
2. The cleats last…a lot longer! I know some complain that they clog easily but I have not found this, a little WD40 from time to time is all it takes.
3. The pedal is so simple, I have already dismantled mine and regreased them, they even give you the instructions in the box (which by the way is beautiful)
4. All parts are dismantable and replaceable seperately, you can get new bearings, shafts, outers, o-rings…the whole damn lot. I imagine this will appeal to your sensibilities.
5. Dual sided, I know we all love to think we clip in to our looks and time pedals everytime in split second..but really?
6. O..O….O…no creaking, squeaking….just a small contribution to the principle of silence
You know it makes sense!
@Gianni
Why do things like that always come in threes?
@Nate
I like the getto Kool Stop pads in Salmon on any alu rim; I’m rollin’ my Mavic Open Pros right now and they work great, but I don’t notice a performance difference between that and my old rain wheels which were Ksyriums.
I actually thought my carbon climbing wheels did pretty well in the wet – so long as I rode the brakes for a second before needing them so the works warmed up enough that there was enough heat for everything to work. Not ideal for a panic stop!
I hate that feeling when you hit the brakes and your bike appears to do nothing but speed up for a moment.
@itburns
Yup, they have float, and I’ve always been happy with them, but since the crash in question my right knee has been screwy and after Haleakala the other knee when wonky as well, but in a different place. Speedplay just seems like a good design as far as riding goes, but a shit design as far as being off the bike goes.
I’ll take the riding performance over the shitty mud-sucking cleat design…
@frank
Thanks on the pads. I’ve run that combo before. I’ve notice that when it’s really raining my braking performance is adequate, probably because there is enough water to flush the rims relatively clean. The real problem is riding in the damp, when it’s wet enough to slick and gunk up the rims but not get them clean-ish.
Re your knees maybe you should see a good fitter before you invest in a new pedal system.
@frank
Just remember to take the cafe covers and all is well
@Deakus
Irealise you use different shoes on different bikes but you could try a few pairs of cleats and swapping over the pedals as it would only take a few minutes to swap.
@the Engine
There are cafe covers that can stay on while riding.
I hope you like it.
@the Engine On topic of the speed-play, Did you set them up or have the LBS help out. I to roll with bonts but w/ look. I have run all three of there cleats, conceding to live with the out come. It’s time for change i think.
@Cyclops Now thats true sportsman ship.
@snoov
Ah – here’s a thing – always remember to take the cafe covers off before you get on the bike as the effect of not doing so – whilst hilarious to passers by – is less hilarious if you find yourself trying to pedal slippy pieces of plastic
I guess I’ll just have to replace the Bonts with these.
@Russ M
LBS – but then I’m utterly useless at spannering anything.
I wrote acres of pish about this last summer when I had a Speedplay failure (cleat tore away from shoe). Keep em clean because if they get sticky and you force your shoe out you’ll stress the attachment to the shoe and the cleat attachment will eventually break if it’s a cheap shoe – any lateral flex in the shoe makes things much worse – Bonts being super rigid don’t suffer from this fault but anything with a bit of play on the sole or a slightly baggy fit probably will – hope this makes sense.
@frank
These may be the perfect shoe – however my present Bonts are as indestructible as yours as well as comfortable so absent a sponsor giving me a pair there’s no fear of me being able to justify them to the VMH and my starving offspring
@wrench this sounds like the first month or so of my recovery last year, although on a slightly smaller scale. I ‘only’ broke my collarbone with the crash but know the feeling of reliving the accident in your head over & over. There were plenty of nights where I’d have what would start out as pretty cool dreams about riding end up waking me up when I’d crash & get the feeling of bone breaking again.
One thing I found that helped rekindle the fire was watching & reading about cycling, just stay clear of any crash compilations!
@the Engine
It sure does thanks, Comfort is a big thing for me, not just in the actual feeling of the way it fits but peace of mind. To know that every aspect of my machine and accessory’s are in good working order will allow me to lay down full “V”in pursuing the man with the hammer!
@frank
Van driver’s first words, “Where did you come from? (He had just past the two of us).” Then, ” Look at the damage to my van!” As my riding buddy proceeded to rip into the douchetard, all I wanted to do was ride home. Shaken, but almost un marked, I learned to re-focus my “spider-senses”!
@frank
Just a shot in the dark here;
Could it be a biomechanical issue that you’ve developed rather than a component issue? I presume that you have been riding with the same setup for a number of years.
I have been very fortunate over the years never to have had knee problems (touch wood). However, a couple of months ago I began to have twinges in my right knee, primarily when climbing stairs. It never seemed to bother me whilst riding though. What I discovered was that (through the wonders of the interwebs) that I had a tightening ITB. I found that with some focussed stretching over a three week period, the issue has disappeared.
Have you had any advice from a biomechanical perspective? (ie. Physio, Osteo)
@mouse ahh the old ITB, one of my faves…have you introduced yours to a foam roller yet? New definition to the word pain.
@Gianni
@Mikael Liddy
@Deakus
Thanks for replying. Through sites like this I’m somehow maintaining a sense of humor and trying to focus on the riding that is to come, even if I won’t be pining on a number anytime soon.
Banksy pretty much says it all…
@wrench
Yes. He was channeling the Buddha, there, wasn’t he? It’s Dukkha-ville, bitches, and we get to apply Rule V.
Wishing you (and @Rob) the fullest, most comprehensive, and speediest recovery.
Wow, my crash story is completely inadequate when compared to what some of you guys have been through. Chapeau for getting back on the bike at all.
My only major crash involved a porsche 911 pulling out of a side street as I was coming down hill. He saw me and stopped but it was too late for me to pull up and I went over the handlebars of my MTB landing flat on my back on the bonnet of the porsche before sliding off onto the bitumen. Needless to say all 188cm and 85 odd kg of me did a number on the porsche’s bonnet while a bottle opener I had in my pocket (was riding to my uni bar job) put a beautiful white scratch 3/4 of the way across said bonnet.
Apart from a bruised arse and some knee and elbow skin donated to the road I was ok while my 80s steel framed MTB was untouched except for a slightly buckled front wheel.
The driver was beside himself and thought he’d killed me, couldn’t believe it when I rode off to work. Thankfully I got the day off and a couple of free drinks from my boss to calm me down.
@frank
Frank does your love affair with Bonts know no ends! Well I guess if you have found that armchair feel in a shoe, you would probably be pretty loyal. Just one point to note, the next time you crash, and there will be a next time, those Boa buttons will be destroyed and another fine set of £200+ shoes will be totalled…………….and you are worrying about the cost of Speedplays?!
It was one feature I liked about the Lake shoes, they put the Boa on the heel which not only kept it out of the way in a crash (and was just as easy to adjust on the fly) but also meant the tightening extended around the side of the foot as well to give less pressure points.
Anyway in the end I went Sidi again but went from a 46 to a 47 mega and peace and traquility are starting to be restored to my feet at last!
If you insist no falling off, then may I recomend!
@Deakus last sentence *on
@Deakus
That helmet has the unfortunate side effect of emasculating the wearer.
However, if it turns you into a really hot chick, it could have its benefits.
http://youtu.be/3U8SKJwMNA8
We’ve all been there. As cyclists it’s a matter of when not if we’ll prang, crash, shunt. It’s when you lose your mojo is the biggest problem is recovery. It took me ages to corner hard in the wet after Id’ broken my elbow, and skinned my face, arms and legs. The worse is being clobbered by negligent drivers who say SMIDSY! Fucked my front wheel and my ankle.
@Frahnk at least you can bore your office with tales of your crash and squeeze the pus out of your road rash.
@wrench was that photo taken near Commercial Rd/Limehouse?
@the Engine
This is what I mean.
I’ve seen them somewhere for sale but the ones above are home made. Here’s the article.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/article/budget-bike-tech-add-some-grip-to-your-speedplay-zero-cleats-33506/1
@snoov – Good idea although it doesn’t stop shit getting into the mechanism
@the Engine
Its interesting; everyone talks about how simple and light the pedals are, and then discuss at length the various issues with the big, heavy, complicated cleat.
The complexity is going to have to come out of the length or the width, I suppose.
Interesting side note, no pain whatsoever on yesterday’s commute home. Odd.
@mouse
Could well be; the issue started after this crash; my hip has been in various states of recovery since then. No pain yesterday, as I just mentioned, so maybe I’m just over-thinking this thing.
@Deakus
Actually, the buckle was destroyed on the Bonts I currently have, and they were clever enough to make them easily replaced. Good point though, those puppies, if not replaceable, will be truly fucked.
Sidi went to a Boa now as well – massive sex here too.
Another gift given the world by the Dutch!