Miele Man

Best to get right back to it. Fear's a funny thing. The longer you leave it a lot of times the harder it is to face later. Go back to the area where you fell and see if you can determine exactly why you fell. Then you'll know wgat caused the fall and thus what to watch out for in similar areas. Think of it as a learning experience.

Edit. Looks like the wood might have been damp/slimy. I've ridden surfaces like that and it'sas bad if not worse than black ice. A slight imprefection such as a raised board can deflect your front wheel just enough that down you go - FASZT.

Cheers

Liz33

I'm sorry you fell. Thankfully you didn't hurt yourself too much and your bike is ok, but i Know it can be scary. Don't think too much on What could have gone worst because you'll get more concern about riding again. Try to see if there's something you can improve to minimize the risk of falling and go have fun.

SkunkWerX

We have nothing to fear but fear itself! +++ for getting back on and riding, even if just a leisurely cruise.
Had my share of crashes too. Even flipped an ATV, going sideways at speed, in a corner, and it rolled over let's just say "a few times".

I find that the fear and concern over a future crash can be minimized by examining what caused it, and what you'll do differently next time to prevent it. As someone already said "Doctor it hurts when I do xxx....Don`t do XXX again!"
Even if not 100% sure what caused it, make an educated guess, tell yourself how you will handle a similar situation, get back on, and ride.


Return to the scene of the crime.
Some people that I know will NEVER ride through their old crash area ever again. I find that doing so, even stopping and examining the terrain, the angle, the pavement, whatever, is a very good way to get over it. Say to yourself, "Right there is where I landed.....I am NOT doing that again!" It gets that monkey off of your back for good.

Just my two cents.

morfeeis

I had my first fall tiday: i was pulling up to a red light, i unclipped my right foot but tben startec to lean to the left. By the time my brain sais hey stupid i was already on my way to the ground. I somehow unclipped on my way down and got a hand out to break my fall. Was at a stop light a d there was a car to my left, i couldn't look in their direction or in the eye, didn't look at the people across from me too. My ego hurt more than anything else....

FrankJ

One of the reasons I don't want to go clipless.

I also have a history of dislocating my shoulder; I've had surgery on both shoulders, so I'm very afraid of falling on an outstretched arm.

cyccommute 

It happens. It happens less as you get used to the clipless pedals. I'm so used to using clipless that I can't figure out toeclips anymore.

Well, then don't stretch out your arms. It's a learned behavior. Look up at post 18. I have a lot of experience with falling off my bike for a variety of reasons. Each and every time I crash, I keep my arms and legs inside the vehicle...which isn't that easy when the vehicle is narrower than the rider

But, in all honesty, I don't throw out my arms or legs when I start to fall. I know that I can't "catch" myself and that if I try, I'm going to end up damaging bits that I might have use for later. Let the bike take as much of the blow as possible.

Dave Cutter

That's part of what can make cycling a sport.... instead of just an activity. With every sport there is also injury, pain, and if done correctly... a little bit of fear. And as with any sport participation builds toughness, endurance, and self-confidence.

I've fallen in the past... and I know I will fall again. I accept the fact that cycling is a blood sport. There will be injuries! Once you accept the sport for what it is... and allow yourself to become comfortable with the idea of injury... you can set aside any fear and enjoy yourself.

FrankJ

I don't know how you can do this. It seems like such an automatic reflex to put your arm out when falling, like something you can't control...

cyccommute 

While it might be an automatic reflex, it's not good for you. Even putting out your arms to "catch" yourself when walking can result in a severe injury. Doing so at bicycle speed is even worse.

But all it is is training. Teach yourself not to put out your arms and to hang onto the bars in a crash. It's automatic now but I did have to learn not to do it. One way to learn is to tell yourself constantly not to 'brace for impact'. Bracing for impact is exactly the wrong thing to do in any crash...bike, cars, or walking.

Cyclist0094

I just yell "I've fallen and I can't up!" Then somebody calls me Mrs Fletcher(??) and says they are on their way

Hypno Toad

I'm not totally certain, but I know I was on the left side of the bridge and I think I was trying to center-up a little. It all happened very fast and was shocking.

I took a similar fall with a road bike on a different wood bridge, that was caused by getting on the pedals and kicking-out out the rear wheel.

It's amazing how slick the wet, smooth-wood deck can get.... and amazing how slow I am to learn a lesson.

obed7

I figure if you have not fallen, you have not ridden. It can and will happen, I am surprised there have been so few crashed in the tour de france this year... no one wants to crash, but lets face it, if you are not willing to crash, you won't ride...

GravelMN

OP, don't let it get in your head. If you are going to ride off-road (or likely even on road) you are going to get dinged up a bit now and then. I was riding single track at Detroit Mountain, MN, last year and went over the bars. Got the wind knocked out of me and a few bruises but rode the rest of the afternoon and frequently thereafter.

Frank, Cyccommute is absolutely right, do not attempt to brace yourself with your hands in a fall. Turn your face away from the fall and tuck your chin to your chest. Keep your hands on the handlebars if you are going down with the bike or tuck them in toward your chest and turn your shoulder slightly into the fall if you are separated from the bike. Try not to hold your breath as you hit. This is a good skill for many sports and life in general.

You can practice anywhere that there is a relatively safe surface (preferably where nobody is watching). Get on your knees and practice falling onto a carpeted floor, padded mat, or grassy turf. Fall to each your right and left several times until you get the hang of it (Be careful with your hx of shoulder injury). If you are very timid about falling, you can start by kneeling on a grassy slope and falling uphill. If you spread the impact out over a larger area of your body surface, it is surprising how much impact can be absorbed with little or no injury.

Another good skill is the shoulder roll which comes into play if you go over the handlebars or get thrown a distance from the bike. Rolling spreads out the impact by allowing your body to decelerate over a greater time period without the grinding effect of sliding.

dougmon 

+1.

My worst fall so far was as a beginner; I've been pretty lucky. I had to go home to clean gravel out of my elbow and knee, but I went back the next day to ride the same area. Really helped in overcoming the fear.

Also, if "NOOOOOO" was the strongest thing you yelled as you went over, you're doing better than many.

rumrunn6

seems like lots of good advice here. just curious tho, do you have a photo of the "riverbed". I'm not sure I understand the hazard(s)