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Cyclists tend to break bones at slower speeds. Pro-cyclists racing down mountains will lose a lot of skin in a fall but unless they hit something hard (rock, p
by fian 8y ago
Cyclists tend to break bones at slower speeds. Pro-cyclists racing down mountains will lose a lot of skin in a fall but unless they hit something hard (rock, pole, wall) they don't tend to break bones. At walking speeds, a sideways fall often results in broken collar bones and wrists.
It is all about the angular momentum of the cyclist wrt to the road.
- nickjj 8y ago> At walking speeds, a sideways fall often results in broken collar bones That's pretty much what happened to me. I was going walking speed on a bike, popped a wheelie, handle bars came off, I tumbled forward and landed collar bone first onto a curb. Hairline fracture at about age 14.
- gnulinux 8y ago> handle bars came off That sounds very concerning. I didn't know that could even happen...
- nickjj 8y ago> That sounds very concerning. I didn't know that could even happen... I don't know too much about bikes, but the one I had used some type of bolt to connect the handlebars to the main frame. I was adjusting the height of the handlebars and I guess I didn't tighten it enough in the end. User error in all its glory.
- johnvanommen 8y ago> handle bars came off I pulled the brake lever on my road bike once, and it FELL OFF. Went right into the front spokes and launched me over the handlebars like a cannonball. It was like putting a metal rod right into the front spokes.
- TheOtherHobbes 8y agoInteresting. I've moved to a warmer country and it's normal here for moped riders and motor cyclists to wear a helmet with shorts and a t-shirt. I'm used to motor cyclists wearing leathers. Bare skin in an accident looks terrifyingly abrasive.
- close04 8y agoLess deadly than cracking your skull open though.
- hackeraccount 8y agodress for the slide not the ride.
- komali2 8y agoWhenever I go on a group ride with someone that doesn't even have gloves on, I say I'll give them five bucks for every second they're able to lightly press their knuckles to the concrete, then rub them back and forth vigorously. Nobody's ever managed to make it more that a second.
- pmontra 8y agoA friend told me "there are two types of motorcyclists, the ones with a t-shirt and the ones that already crashed." This is a warm country.
- ubermonkey 8y agoWell, sure, but I did this http://i.imgur.com/gRqg50J.png http://i.imgur.com/gRqg50J.png at about 22mph. ;)
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- jjuel 8y agoI was 9 when I fell off my bike and broke my femur. Being in traction for 4 weeks followed by a full body cast for 12 was not a very fun way to spend the 4th grade.