Bikepacker67

So, I got my Kenda Klondikes on Saturday, and New Years eve it we got about 4" of the whitestuff.
They also have carbide studs, and I'm running them at about 50psi. Plenty of contact patch with teeth.

After snowblowing the driveway, I jumped on the winter bike and was really impressed with how the studs performed both on packed car-trails, or cutting into undisturbed snow (especially when you transition from one to the other)

So after about 8 miles on side streets, I decide to see how it handles on some trails that loop back to within 2 miles of my home.

Well... studs are not perfect. Ice (especially uneven footprint ice) hiding under fresh powder is painful.
Take it from me:





I even captured the fall on video

OUCH!

13 stitches, no broken patella but painfull as all hell.
After it happened it really didn't hurt that bad, and I had no idea that the knee was cut so badly.
I tore my polar fleece tights, and I was pissed about that, but I rode the last 2 miles back - having no idea I'd need stitches.

I'm swollen up pretty bad, but given the fact that I rode home unhindered (other than a bruise kneecap feel) I think the knee should be fine... eh? No structural damage

DCCommuter

Is the bike OK?

Seriously, that looks painful. I hope you heal up quickly. Is it keeping you off your bike?

Bikepacker67

Bike is fine - but I won't be using it anytime soon!

Like I said, I think it'll heal fine (no ligs or tendon problem) but right now, it feels like I'll never ride again!

Thank god for Percocet

Guest

*gaaack*

You look like Frankenstein... heal up, buddy.

Koffee

geneman

Let's face it ... you're gonna love showing that scar off and telling the story behind it. Isn't that the whole point anyway?

Heal quickly!!

Mark

bikewench

Gee Packer...

Your knee looks like part of your avatar...
ball flaps and knee flaps... ;o)

Take it easy today eh..
although.. you probably don't have much choice..

2manybikes

Sorry to hear about your injury!

Try running 25 psi in the tires this helps. Also I don't know the stud pattern on the quest. My Nokians are four studs across the width of the tire. More studs of course is helpful. Not that this matters NOW.

Heal well and fast.

Bikepacker67

Thanks for all the wishes for a quick heal.
I'm hoping only 14-21 days until I can lightly pedal.

The problem is, the knee is stiff as hell from the impact, but I can't even attempt to lightly work it out for fear of ripping open the stitches.

So right now the things is ace bandaged up, and range of motion is at a minimum.

Bikepacker67

I could do a wax job on Black Beauty.
Been a while...

Maybe tomorrow... today I am going to vacillate between popping perc's and motrin, swapping ice bags, watching Bowl games, and having family members wait on me (Mom's coming over to get my grocery list )

Roody

That's quite an owie!

What did you actually cut it on? Part of the bike?

At least when you fall on ice or snow you dont get road rash! (Usually)

Bikepacker67

Jagged ice.
The cut was the owie until it was sewn up. Now the BIG owie is a bruised patella with much swelling.

Bikepacker67

Here's a choppy animated gif of the "incident". LOL

mimis

i hope this was the last of the bike misfortunes for you my friend. Those studded tires ,are they any good on fresh powder too- like on a ski slope? I'm craving for it, but will they allow me to?

mimis

gives me vertigo

Bikepacker67

You can stop the animation by just hitting your browsers stop button

Bikepacker67

That makes two of us! But really, I've never had anything coming close to a visit to the ER, and that's over quite a bit of milage. So maybe I was due - I certainly was pushing the envelope for the first time on studs.

They worked great climbing in 4 inches of powder on unplowed roads, and also had great traction on hard packed tire tracks (which can get pretty slippery) And best of all, they make it much easier for when your crossing from packed to loose and back again...

But uneven "footprint" ice covered with powder is still muy treacherous.

Mars

Oh man, that rutted and footprinted ice IS the worse. And you are right, when it's hidden under some light snow, well, it's onyourbutt time for sure. Bad luck on the injury, dude. Hope you heal up soon...

Mtn Mike

OMG, that video is great! You should show it off with your scar whenever you can

I am recovering from an injury myself...I crashed the bike and broke my femur this fall. I have no video to prove it though. A stainless steel plate (steel is real), 12 screws, 30 staples, and 10 weeks later, I was back on my bike again, as of 3 weeks ago. There was ice everywhere, and I felt that this was the year to get studded tires. My main goal this winter : "rubber side down, stay off the ground".

Hope you're riding again soon.

Gojohnnygo.

Good God! You went down hard and fast.

Was that a snowmobile track you caught or snowshoes trail. I’ve been there and done that one-minute you’re riding the next your face first in snow.

Heal fast

Johnny

Bikepacker67

The choppyness of the ani-gif is what makes it look so fast... I was going about 7-8 mph there (I was bearing left at a Y.

Portis

So was it the snow or the ice that made you go down?

Bikepacker67

It was the jagged and hardness of the ice, that was hidden by the snow.

mexredknee

Sorry you had a nasty fall Bikepacker.

I was alway leery of snow on the side of the road because I never knew what might be hidden in it.
Thanks for the warning.

Bikepacker67

I should also say that I was using clipless SPD's

They had gotten frozen up from the 4 inches of undisturbed snow I had cycled thru already. That was most of the reason I got hurt as badly as I did.

So 'winter bike' is getting its old platforms with plastic toe cups.

Portis

I just run platforms. No attachment at all when it gets icy and snowy. I still like the option of quickly putting my foot down if need be. I just ordered some Lake MXZ300's off Ebay but don't plan to run them on snow and ice.

I know that others get along fine but it is just a personal preference. On one ride earlier this winter i was on a section of byroad out in the country on my mountain bike. I had to put my foot down no less than about 15 times on one two mile section. If i would have had the eggbeaters on that would have been about 15 crashes.