I thought I was the only one. It was a truth I admitted to myself only in the darkest hours of the night, when you lie awake and are faced by those haunting thoughts that are otherwise whisked away before they float to the surface.
But now, I can say it: I am afraid of crashing. Especially of equipment failure. I never climb aboard my bike without having made a cursory check of all important parts: inflate the tires, check the headset, check the brake pads, bolts and cables, check the quick-releases. (There is something in the name “Quick-Release” that unnerves me and forces me to harbor a doubt that they will release suddenly and unexpectedly.)
I’ve been particularly nervous about it the last week or so. This year, I’ve noted that I’m descending and cornering faster; my confidence in my bike handling skills having skyrocketed since picking up mountain biking again. In the last week, I switched to a new pair of shoe (the White Ladies, passed on to me by John), and since doing so I’ve occasionally been clipping out of my inside pedal when leaning into a turn. It turns out that having your foot attached to your pedal contributes considerably towards staying upright. (On a side note, I wonder what the connection is there?)
Crashing is part of cycling and, like most of us, I’ve spent my time on the tarmac. Sometimes bad, sometimes not so bad. Like the time when I borrowed an English friend’s bike and pulled on the front break instead of the rear. And the time I overshot a corner racing my sister down a mountain in New York. Sometimes you pick yourself up and ride home, other times you head to the hospital.
The risks increase when racing, of course, and the scariest of all my crashes was the first time I went down in a bunch during a race. (I’d like to take this moment to thank the guy who thought he’d win the race by going through a non-existent gap from the middle of the field in the middle of the race.) The first time you find yourself suddenly laying on the road being hit and fallen on by other cyclists is a moment that is occupied not by any realization of what is happening but instead by trying to assemble the fragments of information being sent to your brain. You first become aware of what happened after you stop moving and continue to hear the wheels whizzing by your head as the rest of the riders (hopefully) avoid the carnage. The feeling of helplessness is particularly acute as the desire to remove yourself from the road washes over you.
But watching the Pros, they seem to take it in stride. I long held the view that after crashing so often, they have grown accustomed to it and generally don’t mind hitting the deck. They are hardened by the reality of their occupation and get on with their job. But I was happy to read a piece in the New York Times that said otherwise. Jens Voigt, cycling legend, hardman extraordinaire, and Velominati hero, is also afraid of crashing, as it turns out. Not only that, but so are the other Pros.
No matter how long you’ve been in this sport, there’s always that fear of crashing in the back of your mind, especially in the rain.
Crashing, as we are all aware of, is not a very pleasant experience. Everybody is scared of it, no matter who they are.
Not a very pleasant experience? There’s an understatement. I would say that crashing ranges anywhere from “Sucking” to “Fucking Terrifying” on the “Bad Things That Happen” scale.
That that in mind, take this spectator video of Boonen’s crash in the Tour of California. The riders yelling just before the fall, and the distance they slide is rattling. The callousness of the fan who scampers over to pick up Boonen’s bike with no interest in the rider’s well being before yelling at his friend to photograph him “quick” like it’s some sort of trophy is staggering.
Obviously not a cyclist, that one, because cyclists cringe and relive their own crashes any time they see a fellow Velominatus go down.
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There are only five replies to this post - Rule #5, Rule #5, Rule #5, Rule #5, Rule #5!
My most "Fun" crash was going for a prime 2 up in pouring rain (yesterdays stage in the Giro reminded me of it) heading down a slight hill into the last wide open corner in the lead losing it as I started the turn and sliding (strapped in old school) with about 75 feet between me and a telephone pole. All I remember is trying to get my hip and knees off the road with my gloved hands and spray coming out between my fingers as I slowed thinking "am I not slowing fast enough so I'm going to hit this telephone pole?" I did stop at 2 mph at the curb jumped up unhurt and got back on as the pack passed and very little road rash that time. But boy I was pissed about missing that free tire.
Ok so all the other crashes are boring run of the mill and I am either lucky or brilliant but they never stopped me finishing a race and I am intimately acquainted with road rash - trying to sleep was the worst of it.
So after a few seasons of racing the crash thing just becomes a background little thought in your head but its sort of like thinking about if you might catch the clap or crabs its not going to stop you enjoying what your doing.
I'm always amazed at the crashes pros take and (generally) walk away. How quick they come back from injuries is unreal as well. All part of earning a paycheck on two wheels I guess.
I'm a bit of a freak. After spending literally thousands of hours on two wheels, my injury rate is insanely low. I never seem to crash. Luck, skill, being a wimp - who knows.....
As a kid, tons of time on bicycles - playing BMX rider on clapped out Sting Rays, road rides on Huffys, and general cruising around - few crashes and no real injuries.
As a teenager, spent loads of time riding dirt motorcycles and dabbled with actual motocross racing and hare scrambles events (longer distance races). The occasional crash, nothing big. Tweaked back out once, x-ray on knee another time - nothing broken.
I've ridden thousands of miles on street motorcycles. For a few years, rode and commuted almost daily. I've never dropped or crashed a motorcycle on pavement - ever. I dressed for the event - full leathers, quality helmet, road race boots and gloves - never needed. Lucky and not normal.
Since 1984, as the alleged adult, a few zillion bicycle rides on road and dirt. The occasional mountain bike crash - that's gonna happen. Besides a few scrapes and bruises, only two dirt related actual injuries - separated shoulder from a 3 mph fall in the '90s (teaching a mountain bike class - ironic, eh?). Then about 3 years ago, crashed big time in a mountain bike race - slamming thigh on log. Not broken, but felt like it. Limped around for two weeks, 3+ weeks off the bike. Entire lower leg turned purple, yellow and blue as it healed. Freaky and scary.
I never crashed a road bicycle until a few years ago - my only pavement crash ever. Some goofball took me out on the Burke-Gilman Trail. I was headed to work, he was on the Cascade RSVP ride. Street intersection on the Burke in the U District. Dude was hugging the curb on the wrong side of the road, then cut onto the trail - in front of me. T-bone yard sale crash in the street....
No real injuries, but I did sport a black eye the next day - bonked my helmeted head harder then I thought. I did continue to work that morning and rode home. Dude's RSVP ride was over with a totally taco'd front wheel. The RSVP ride is my most dangerous commute day of the year. Hundreds of riders headed in the opposite direction on the BG Trail. Some years require yelling at riders to avoid a head on crash. Lots of fun....
Beside the commute crash, I've never touched tarmac on a road bike - after 25+ years and thousands of miles. Must be some sort of bizarre record. I've never raced on the road though, if I did, would have eventually crashed for sure - and be dropped regularly as well.
Crashes scare and fascinate all cyclists. Nobody wants to go down, but you can't help watching those that do.
@SGW seem to be a lot of people riding on the hoods and trying to sprint at the same time and with very high front end as well. Possibly the worst combination, they might as well be racing on tri-bars. Reminds me of those days when Spinachi's were legal and people rode them in the bunch, and then skittled themselves into the kerb at the slightest touch from someone else.
@frank the stem was Alu. The weld failed. To be fair to ITM I had been running the stem for over three racing seasons and a mate had the same failure 6 months earlier. I'm quite fastidious about checking and changing my bars and stem these days and I doubt you'll ever find me on carbon ones
@Dan O, be careful friend. All cyclists crash and its just a matter of time til one does, just be prepared.
My last one was my hardest. Taken out by a 100lb dog who t-boned me, i was rolling along at ~45kph, never saw him coming. I was spinning in circles like a smashed cat on the pave. Split my bell sweep helmet in 5 places. But, I was ok. Rode home (stupidly), bloodied....pissed, then got stitched up, took 9 stitches to put my scalp back together as it was filleted open to the skull. The helmet saved my eggs.
I must admit, after this ride, I was in a fog...a flux if you will. I had to sit out of the saddle a few days to heal and missed the bike intensely. However, even after return, it was weird, almost sad in a way, and i too was a bit nervous and scared. However, a few days later maybe a couple weeks, I observed Rule #5 realizing I am a cyclist, I am who I am, and I crash. It was a wonderful thing to work through and get over and have ridden best since and enjoyed taking Pussies who never got through this.
I have crashed a good many times, probably less than most, but is simply happens. Its cycling, and accepting that we ARE cyclists, its part of the gig. Be prepared, and see Rule #5.
@Jarvis
Super Mario won a sprint from the hoods in a stage of the Giro one year. That was amazing. I've never seen that since.
I agree the hoods is a dangerous place to ride anyway...very easy to fall off when standing. It's good for climbing and for seated power, but really, Jens' fall in the Tour last year might not have happened had he been descending in the drops; he was on the hoods and when his hands slipped, he crashed. It's not as likely to happen in the drops.
Very cool, by the way, that you were at that stage. That is always a really cool experience, I think.
@Rob
I absolutely am delighted that you managed to compare crashing to the clap. I have much to learn, Sensei.
@frank No, no I am the grasshopper.
@Souleur Too true, its like being a paratrooper in WWII - some got shot or chewed up by the prop when they left the plane, some made it to the ground only to die then or in a week, some are 80+ and are alive today. The point is it is a lottery when you're on 2 wheels, motor or not.
Be careful and never let down your guard.
The odd thing though, is that it does take a Zen like detachment, if your tense it only ups the chances so it is best to work on your skills and keep everything relaxed. Alcohol, pot, and sex are good but it is best to find it from within.
No, No...you are neither. You're an ass. Frank..I dont think Rob did any of these things but I am confident he has the clap and crabs.
@Dan O
You probably have some pretty sick handling skills with that BMX background; Robie McEwen-style. But I'm with Souleur; be ready for that crash - it will happen. DEFINITELY riding the Burke Gillman. Mixed-use trails are disasters waiting to happen.
The depth of your background never ceases to amaze me; always love hearing about it. Keep it coming!