Total Posts: 63
1.7 Years Ago

Well yesterday just 4 miles into my ride I noticed the speed and cadence on my watch wasn't working. I stopped once to fix and it worked for awhile but quit working again. Excited to be riding I decide to fix it while in the aerobars. As I was fiddling around with the watch I didn't notice I was drifting close to the edge of the road. Before I knew it I was teetering on the edge still in the aerobars. I tried to balance out of it but the front wheel went off the road. When that happened the front wheel dug into the pea gravel and/or I hit the front brake (I really don't remember...it happened so fast) and the next thing I know I'm in the air and over the bars and landed on my back in the gravel. I broke the seat and scratched the frame a bit. Fortunately another cyclist came by and asked if I was alright. I said no...yes and he rode back to my car with me. It's difficult to ride a bike without a seat for 4 miles but I did manage to get back into the aerobars. A little weary of them but needed to do it. Fortunately the rails were still attached to the seat post so it wasn't that bad. An hour later I decided I needed to go the hospital and get x-rays. Found out I broke a rib on my back.

Needless to say my triathlon training has just come to quick halt. I did managed to ride on a trainer at the club today and felt pretty good. But no swimming and running for a few weeks at a minimum. Looks like I'll be doing a relay in 2 weeks for my first sprint of the year instead of the full. Oh well... better that then having a DNS or DNF. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm looking forward to ramping up my training again and still have a good attitude. I'm still looking forward to the Lake Stevens 70.3 in July and my first Ironman distance at The Grand Coulee Dam in September.

Anyone else have any over the bar stories?

Kevin

Total Posts: 667
1.7 Years Ago

Sorry to hear about that.

I was doing a relay on the 4th of July and I had the bike leg. heading back to T2 there was a slight downhill followed by an incline just before the entrance to T2. It is a low-key race so transition for the relays was sorta out in the road instead of turning into the park where everyone else had their bikes racked. Of course, being a downhill, I couldn't resist and I jack it up and fly down to our runner. As I start to break he is running from one side of the road back into the transition area and I am yelling for him because I figure I can just ride up beside him, tag, and he is off. Well, I should have been focusing on my speed because I soon realized I was running out of real estate and hit the brakes a little harder...back tire starts to fish tail and all of a sudden I am reliving my childhood by leaning left and sliding sideways with one foot on the ground. The bike gets perpendicular to the direction I am traveling and the tires grab so I go flying over to the right (still clipped in on the right) and yank my foot out and land on the right shoulder, roll over on my back, knee smacks the ground, BUT I carry the momentum into a standing position and run toward my teammate and tag him as the bike lays in the road. Luckily, only minor cuts and bruising and a little bit of torn handlebar tape. Witnesses said it looked "cool" like I planned it. Oh yeah, we won the relay.

Total Posts: 637
1.7 Years Ago

My worst over the handlebars was off road. Going a solid 18-20 mph downhill. NEVER coast downhill with ONE FOOT DOWN! Go parallel! I never saw the root of the tree. My down pedal hit the root, and the bike stopped on a dime and I was launched. I did tuck and roll as JC says, however, due to the steepness of the hill, It took a while to land and I over rotated. coming down on my back and left shoulder. 18mos later, and the rib fractures are healed, but the collar bone is still a bit out of place and limited motion.

If you have any joint pain, see a physical therapist, and they can work the joint back into position. Lots of fun 8o)

Jim C#2

Total Posts: 459
1.7 Years Ago

I fully expected to see the J's post here! Can't say as I have been over the handlbars, nor have I ever broke a bone in my body...but here's a funny one:

My wife and I went to Napa and biked there over a long weekend. We headed out and 1/2 hour in the ride my wife pointed out a strange sign. I was of two bikers going over a railroad. Before I finished taking in the sign, my wife's bike went down as she crossed the tracks which ran about 45 degrees to the street.

With her tires sliding on the tracks she flew into me and took me out. Fortunately for me I landed partly on her while remaining in my clips. Barely a scratch. She on the other hand took both our weight and some significant road rash in the process.

Later that day, with her wound still weeping, we were due for our massages. The masseuse was unimpressed with the would and called for a rather large bandage. Ha.

Tuck and roll... I'll remember that one!

Greg

Total Posts: 637
1.7 Years Ago

Total Posts: 33
1.7 Years Ago

positive attitude.

I haven't been into cycling long so I don't have any incidents to report, but I have done a lot of trail biking/enduro's/motocross (I know it's got a motor, so it's cheating).

I am certainly familiar with the above mentioned stories, &

could add plenty of my own. Imagine similar incidents at higher speeds

& trying to avoid a much heavier bike (110kg/242pounds) landing on you. Fortunately the worst I've done is fractured ribs.

The first time I came off my brand new bike, I was more concerned about the bike than myself.

Total Posts: 637
1.7 Years Ago

Jim C#2

Total Posts: 63
1.7 Years Ago

Kevin

Total Posts: 637
1.7 Years Ago

Jim C#2

Total Posts: 63
1.7 Years Ago

Yes there are. The Grand Columbian in Washington at the Grand Coulee Dam. I'm training for the Full Ironman and they offer 1/2 IM as well. It's Sept 15th. Here's the link: http://www.thegrandcolumbian.com. There is also one closer to Portland called the Hulaman. Here's the link. http://www.hulamantri.com.

K