View Poll Results: Would you rather have road rash or have your cycling clothing destroyed?
Pain sucks. Let the clothing be torn up rather than my skin
57
73.08%
Being broke sucks. I'll heal, but my gear won't
18
23.08%
Beats me
3
3.85%
Voters: 78. You may not vote on this poll
Road rash or ruined clothing?
11-23-14, 10:00 AM
#51
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Bruised my brain. No other damage. They cut the straps on a special back pack, cut up my favorite jersey and under shirt.
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11-23-14, 10:27 AM
#53
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And I can imagine answers ranging from "need a clean slate to work" to "... yeah, cut it off, do you want him coming back with a malpractice suit? How is this a serious question?.."
11-23-14, 10:37 AM
#54
RacingBear
Clothing does nothing for impact. But it provides surprising protection in a slide. Mine has a number of times, including this last fall.
I once melted some midweight tights in a slide without shredding them. That was actually pretty cool, even though I sustained burns underneath that took awhile to heal. In most cases, I'm happy for what the clothing can do for me even if it sacrifices itself in the process. But if the gear is expensive and the road rash is ordinary, I'd rather be a uncomfortable for awhile.
I once melted some midweight tights in a slide without shredding them. That was actually pretty cool, even though I sustained burns underneath that took awhile to heal. In most cases, I'm happy for what the clothing can do for me even if it sacrifices itself in the process. But if the gear is expensive and the road rash is ordinary, I'd rather be a uncomfortable for awhile.
11-23-14, 10:41 AM
#55
RacingBear
11-23-14, 12:36 PM
#56
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I had a full zip jersey on so the EMT's didn't do any cutting. They even slipped the bib straps off rather than cut them. Both are still wearable.
11-23-14, 01:14 PM
#57
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I fear no bicycle induced road rash. I've crashed motorcycles both with and without a leather suit. Any speed under fifty mph isn t gonna result in anything too horrifying in the road rash department. Above that, you want leathers.
The real danger is hitting solid objects or getting your extremities tangled up.
Remember if tumbling, arms in. If sliding, spread eagle.
And never try to stand until you completely stop sliding. You will fall back down.
The real danger is hitting solid objects or getting your extremities tangled up.
Remember if tumbling, arms in. If sliding, spread eagle.
And never try to stand until you completely stop sliding. You will fall back down.
11-23-14, 01:16 PM
#58
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Speaking of which, since I sold the moto, anyone interested in a size 40 BKS suit (got as replacement, but never wore)? No road rash even at 190 mph!
Last edited by kbarch; 09-29-18 at 01:27 PM.
11-23-14, 01:40 PM
#59
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I had a CSC jersey that Jens gave me cut off after face planting even though I rode six miles off-road at night with one eye blinded with blood.
11-23-14, 03:24 PM
#60
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Sure, you're right. I wouldn't have even started the stupid thread. But OP and everyone who responded to the poll were acting like they could make a choice. I just wanted to make sure they knew what the right choice was...IMO.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 11-23-14 at 03:34 PM.
11-23-14, 03:33 PM
#61
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People worry more about infections than they should. For many years, I never bothered to even clean wounds, let alone sterilize. In my entire life, only two infections got out of control and required medical care. Granted, both times were a real pain (literally and figuratively) and it took surprisingly long to recover which is why I clean wounds now. Those two times were extraordinary and I got chewed out at the hospital for not having come in for treatment when the injuries for first sustained. With ordinary wounds, risk is low even if anything could happen.
Infections are your body's way of isolating harmful things. So long as the infection stays local, you're fine, though healing times go up dramatically.
Infections are your body's way of isolating harmful things. So long as the infection stays local, you're fine, though healing times go up dramatically.
11-23-14, 04:04 PM
#62
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I have had many wrecks that are relatively minor, and a few major ones. If my minor ones just resulted in simple road rash, I'd be okay with that.
The question was road rash or ruined clothing.
11-23-14, 06:39 PM
#63
Senior Member
Coming from someone on a motorcycle, okay. On a bike it's very rare to tumble long enough to think about pulling arms in.
However I'd caution anyone on a bike to think seriously about trying keep their arms to their side when falling. You can heal from a broken wrist or something but if you keep your hands/arms in then you risk damaging something much more significant. The instinctive reaction of putting your hands out is something that protects your head, sometimes at the cost of an injured limb or something else. It's well worth it. My sample size is just n=1 but I wish it were n=0.
In one crash I did slide for a bit then tumble for a long time after falling off the bike, but I wasn't versed in what to do or not to do. However other than some minor road rash (I did put a hole in some tights, the sleeve of a long sleeve jersey, and, most disappointingly, in the shorts of a skinsuit I was wearing as a base layer) I was surprisingly intact. I was actually going to ride back home but the emergency vehicles arrived, it started getting dark, and I decided to call for a ride back. What's even worse is that this was in the era before helmets so all I had on my head was a cap. Whatever I did instinctively didn't hurt me, that's for sure.
However I'd caution anyone on a bike to think seriously about trying keep their arms to their side when falling. You can heal from a broken wrist or something but if you keep your hands/arms in then you risk damaging something much more significant. The instinctive reaction of putting your hands out is something that protects your head, sometimes at the cost of an injured limb or something else. It's well worth it. My sample size is just n=1 but I wish it were n=0.
In one crash I did slide for a bit then tumble for a long time after falling off the bike, but I wasn't versed in what to do or not to do. However other than some minor road rash (I did put a hole in some tights, the sleeve of a long sleeve jersey, and, most disappointingly, in the shorts of a skinsuit I was wearing as a base layer) I was surprisingly intact. I was actually going to ride back home but the emergency vehicles arrived, it started getting dark, and I decided to call for a ride back. What's even worse is that this was in the era before helmets so all I had on my head was a cap. Whatever I did instinctively didn't hurt me, that's for sure.
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11-23-14, 06:59 PM
#64
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Is nobody aware of the danger of infection, which I am pretty sure does not affect clothing, but only skin? Road rash is incredibly dangerous because it opens up so much area to infection. And dirt and grime are being ground into the wound makes everything worse. You never know when you are going to encounter an antibiotic-resistant bacterium or worst of all, a flesh eating one. If I could sacrifice clothing every time I crashed and never have to worry about road rash, I would take that deal in a NY minute. I have scraped skin in a crash that was infected in a matter of hours. I'm glad for the 24 hr emergency medical clinics all over Houston. They are worth every cent they charge in a situation like that.
Just like everything else about cycling, you shouldn't be buying/wearing cycling clothes that you can't afford to ruin and replace. You don't have that choice with skin. There is not one square inch of it that you can afford to ruin and replace. It is all precious. Get your heads on straight folks. This is serious business.
Just like everything else about cycling, you shouldn't be buying/wearing cycling clothes that you can't afford to ruin and replace. You don't have that choice with skin. There is not one square inch of it that you can afford to ruin and replace. It is all precious. Get your heads on straight folks. This is serious business.
Ben
11-23-14, 07:25 PM
#65
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Agree. Broken bones, damaged muscles etc they are to be avoided. But, given the choice between lost skin and trashed kit I choose skin. It will grow back and it won't stop me from riding. Now on a motorcycle? I wear armor and leather over that. Its not cheap, but the three times I did lose it (ice, stupidity, and a truck) I was barely even bruised. Sadly you can't wear all that and still ride a bike...
11-23-14, 07:57 PM
#66
Portland Fred
Thread Starter
Some folks around here probably think I post the worst medical advice on the whole BF. I have always believed otherwise, but have been unable to prove my opinion. Thanks for posting the above and settling the issue in my favor once and for all. My medical advice is NOT the worst posted on BF, not by a long shot.
There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about regular surface injuries until something goes wrong. The two times I got infections were larger deep wounds that normally would have been stitched up. In one of them, you could see the bone so I really probably should have been treated. But if you go that route, it's a half day project, they'll want to follow up and tell you to take it way easier than necessary. People aren't nearly as fragile as we're conditioned to believe.
11-23-14, 08:04 PM
#67
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Any path you choose has certain risks associated with it. Under most circumstances, reducing risk involves opportunity costs of some sort. Screwing around with treatment, dressings, etc is a PITA so if the cost of not doing that is acceptable, that's still a reasonable path.
There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about regular surface injuries until something goes wrong. The two times I got infections were larger deep wounds that normally would have been stitched up. In one of them, you could see the bone so I really probably should have been treated. But if you go that route, it's a half day project, they'll want to follow up and tell you to take it way easier than necessary. People aren't nearly as fragile as we're conditioned to believe.
There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about regular surface injuries until something goes wrong. The two times I got infections were larger deep wounds that normally would have been stitched up. In one of them, you could see the bone so I really probably should have been treated. But if you go that route, it's a half day project, they'll want to follow up and tell you to take it way easier than necessary. People aren't nearly as fragile as we're conditioned to believe.
11-23-14, 08:09 PM
#68
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Any path you choose has certain risks associated with it. Under most circumstances, reducing risk involves opportunity costs of some sort. Screwing around with treatment, dressings, etc is a PITA so if the cost of not doing that is acceptable, that's still a reasonable path.
There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about regular surface injuries until something goes wrong. The two times I got infections were larger deep wounds that normally would have been stitched up. In one of them, you could see the bone so I really probably should have been treated. But if you go that route, it's a half day project, they'll want to follow up and tell you to take it way easier than necessary. People aren't nearly as fragile as we're conditioned to believe.
There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about regular surface injuries until something goes wrong. The two times I got infections were larger deep wounds that normally would have been stitched up. In one of them, you could see the bone so I really probably should have been treated. But if you go that route, it's a half day project, they'll want to follow up and tell you to take it way easier than necessary. People aren't nearly as fragile as we're conditioned to believe.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 11-23-14 at 08:14 PM.
11-23-14, 08:10 PM
#69
Portland Fred
Thread Starter
Last time I went down on the bike a pothole took me out at night. Ripped my chin right open. Rode home repainting the bike a nice red as I did. Then I went to the doctor, had them clean out the wound and stitch it shut. Got some meds and that was that. They wanted a whole bunch of visits, but I only went twice. Once to get it stitched, and once to get the stitches removed.
11-23-14, 08:14 PM
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11-23-14, 08:15 PM
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I'd take a broken carbon frame over broken bones. If you wear cheap clothing, then you are happy to buy new stuff.
11-23-14, 08:26 PM
#72
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Alright already. I get it.
11-23-14, 08:26 PM
#73
Portland Fred
Thread Starter
You'd love where I work. My office is literally next door to the emergency room and we have multiple hospitals adjacent to each other. The work culture is of health obsession. We either have the unhealthiest or most overtreated people on the planet.
I've always joked that a crash on the hill where I recently fell is no big deal because it's so convenient to the hospital. But you really don't want to get involved with that. Someone had a heart attack in our building a few years ago, and it took them 45 minutes to get someone over -- they had to dispatch an ambulance and do who knows what to follow procedure rather than wheel a gurney 50 yards. Happily, a huge percentage of people in our building are doctors so the passers by are as high trained as you could hope for.
I've always joked that a crash on the hill where I recently fell is no big deal because it's so convenient to the hospital. But you really don't want to get involved with that. Someone had a heart attack in our building a few years ago, and it took them 45 minutes to get someone over -- they had to dispatch an ambulance and do who knows what to follow procedure rather than wheel a gurney 50 yards. Happily, a huge percentage of people in our building are doctors so the passers by are as high trained as you could hope for.
11-23-14, 11:29 PM
#74
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I don't think my lycra shorts and jersey are going to prevent any significant amount of road rash in a crash. But in this hypothetical scenario I'd rather buy a new kit than deal with road rash again. Even my low speed (<15mph) crash on a hybrid several years ago left some nasty road rash that took 2 years until couldn't see any discoloration in the skin on my arm and leg. It was painful as hell for a week too.
11-24-14, 10:13 AM
#75
Senior Member
I'd say it depends. Gloves trashed taking the brunt of a fall - sure. I actually went down with a brand new long sleeve jersey on a few months ago and I was shocked that it wasn't damaged in the least and I had a pretty good raspberry under it that bled through, but didn't stain it. My gloves didn't survive totally without a damage, but I didn't care as much about them. I chalked that up to them doing what they were intended to do.