Flying over the handlebars
08-09-17, 07:59 AM
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Flying over the handlebars
Today I flew over my handlebars when I struck a wall in the parking garage. Fortunately, I was moving slowly and was able to absorb the impact without breaking any bones.
I'd like to be better prepared for the next time. Can anybody provide guidance on how to position yourself to minimize the damage?
Reluctant Flyer
I'd like to be better prepared for the next time. Can anybody provide guidance on how to position yourself to minimize the damage?
Reluctant Flyer
08-09-17, 08:18 AM
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Non omnino gravis
Not sure if serious or trolling.
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08-09-17, 08:29 AM
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Best position to avoid OTB, or how to manage a fall?
Avoid OTB due to braking is easy. Arms braced, body low and scooted back.
Best position to avoid OTB from hitting a fixed object is on a trajectory that doesn't intercept the fixed object. Turning, braking or even Bunny hopping may be used to achieve this.
Best way to land a fall is more difficult. Mostly b/c if there's time to prep to fall, there's ALSO time to avoid a fall.
If you have to, a phrase often used is "tuck and roll".
Catching yourself on extended arms is only viable for slow speeds. Once you're moving at a decent clip, arms are more likely to break in the fall rather than to brake the fall.
And sliding leads to nasty road rash.
So, If possible, try to turn the impact into a roll.
Avoid OTB due to braking is easy. Arms braced, body low and scooted back.
Best position to avoid OTB from hitting a fixed object is on a trajectory that doesn't intercept the fixed object. Turning, braking or even Bunny hopping may be used to achieve this.
Best way to land a fall is more difficult. Mostly b/c if there's time to prep to fall, there's ALSO time to avoid a fall.
If you have to, a phrase often used is "tuck and roll".
Catching yourself on extended arms is only viable for slow speeds. Once you're moving at a decent clip, arms are more likely to break in the fall rather than to brake the fall.
And sliding leads to nasty road rash.
So, If possible, try to turn the impact into a roll.
08-09-17, 08:36 AM
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Learn to not hit walls? Or at least make sure the next one isn't an exterior wall with an opening to a couple story drop? Far easier to just ride your bike in control than learning how to fly off it.
08-09-17, 08:43 AM
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08-09-17, 08:44 AM
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OP can't be serious. Teach me some guidance on how to crash? Really?
08-09-17, 11:07 AM
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The quality of trolling has really gone down hill.
08-09-17, 11:27 AM
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As an alternate idea. Perhaps you can get the local football team to use you as the tackle dummy for summer camp. I figure a whole summer of being hit by professional football players and a wall should feel like a pillow.
08-09-17, 11:45 AM
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I wish I had been taught some tumbling tricks when I was a teenager and resilient. But it didn't happen. I find the best approach for me is to minimized crashes, especially the ones with likely bad outcomes. (I am near obsessive re: brakes, both having good stoppers but more important, predictable stoppers that will be forgiving in a panic grab. I have taken to "de-powering" dual pivots calipers with V-brake levers and still love the very predictable stopping of the old Mafac brakes.)
Ben
Ben
08-09-17, 12:17 PM
#14
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The next time you see a wall in front, slow down and turn away. Brake with your rear calipers only. Put on your helmet.
Don't forget the bike camera the next time you fly off the handle.
Don't forget the bike camera the next time you fly off the handle.
Last edited by Daniel4; 08-09-17 at 12:21 PM.
08-09-17, 12:24 PM
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I try to avoid running into walls with my bike. Parking Garage? WHY?
How are your brakes? Both functional, tight, and adjusted properly?
The further you keep your weight back, the less tumbling you'll do, and more sliding forward on the bike. That will help with hard braking, and perhaps low speed impacts.
How are your brakes? Both functional, tight, and adjusted properly?
The further you keep your weight back, the less tumbling you'll do, and more sliding forward on the bike. That will help with hard braking, and perhaps low speed impacts.
08-09-17, 12:55 PM
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Going otb at slow speed if you've made it 90 degrees where your back tire is sticking pretty much straight up you may as well complete the flip and land on your feet but it really just happens and you don't have much choice. Going sideways in a kind of cartwheel summersault endo motion... may or may not help. Last/ only 2 times i went otb since I was 15 on a friends bike who didn't tell me the one brake he had was the front brake. More recent two times i went 1/2 cartwheel 1/2 flip centered between my head and shoulder. Think one time stopping for a car that cut me off i did a complete flip and the other time coming down a rock on singletrack I did kind of an endo 180 type thing.
When you're bombing downhill or just expecting/ prepared for that type of motion as mentioned put your weight back behind the seat and i tip my toes up and kind of brace your feet against the pedals pushing the weight/ force in and down to prevent you from flying forward.
When you're bombing downhill or just expecting/ prepared for that type of motion as mentioned put your weight back behind the seat and i tip my toes up and kind of brace your feet against the pedals pushing the weight/ force in and down to prevent you from flying forward.
08-09-17, 01:09 PM
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Can anybody provide guidance? Just a little, because you can't get it all by reading, but tuck your chin down aimed to the opposite side from the shoulder you're going to have touch the ground. So that you don't whack your head. In the absence of someone teaching you, try to make yourself curved so that you roll over.
The last time I did this, at age 55, the fall and roll was nothing, but I had a gash in my arm from the other guy's bike that ran into me. It cannot keep you completely out of trouble.
The last time I did this, at age 55, the fall and roll was nothing, but I had a gash in my arm from the other guy's bike that ran into me. It cannot keep you completely out of trouble.
08-09-17, 01:54 PM
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08-09-17, 02:03 PM
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I have managed to avoid hitting walls inside parking garages by positioning myself *outside* of the parking garage.
Unfortunately, I then rode into a bar.
Unfortunately, I then rode into a bar.
08-09-17, 02:10 PM
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08-09-17, 02:19 PM
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