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So a couple of months ago, after a few weeks doing much more gnar (no, really 🙂 I finally was comfortable on some jumps and bigger drops, albeit on the DH bike ) stuff in the Alps, I came off my trail bike on a stupidly small little lip and crunched my left shoulder quite hard. I've previously separated a shoulder (my right one, which still sticks up in the air today) and it felt a bit like that but didn't stick up so I basically just rested it. A couple of months later and I'd regained a lot of mobility but during a regular checkup my doctor did shout at me for not doing anything about it before.
Anyway, yesterday I had another brilliant moment where I came to a near stop for a few seconds wondering whether to go left or right on the gravel bike on a very wet path and I didn't pay attention that there was a metal rail set in the concrete . As I rolled slowly forward my front wheel must have hit it at an angle and the bike slipped out from underneath me and I crashed down onto the same left shoulder. It made a cracking sound.
I had a prescription for an x-ray from last visit to the docs that I still hadn't used (this is France, that's how it works) so I'm off there this afternoon to find out more.
WTF is wrong with me? The first time I was being a bit silly hopping off stuff and not paying enough attention, the second time just feels like really rotten luck. I rode home, so I don't think it's broken but it ****ing hurts like stink and is quite swollen. I went to bed and felt sorry for myself, but that hasn't improved things 😀
Same as me with my right shoulder! It’s completely shagged now after crashing at the beginning of the first lockdown.
Bizarrely, it’s from falling correctly! If you land on your shoulder, you’re doing a proper “tuck & roll” type fall, instead of “foosh”ing and busting a wrist or 2. After too many falls though, the shoulder can’t take it any more. Best learn to fall on the other side, or do what I’ve done now, and don’t crash anymore. Boring that though eh? 🙁
It's not beyond the realms of pure chance. But I reckon we all favour a side to lean to get off the bike, and that increases the chance of a low speed 'dismount' ending up in that direction.
My favourite ones are where I stall, need to stick a foot down on the RH side (because there is only air on the left), but am so programmed that I keel over leftwards anyway.
2 broken wrists and dislocated shoulder all the same side.
Either way get an appt for the XRAY... assuming you have a carte vital... or even better a mutual.
previously separated a shoulder (my right one, which still sticks up in the air today)
If you had fallen on your right side yesterday would you have made a similar post?
There’s only really 2 ways to fall off a bike (add in a third for real technical or jumpy mtb stuff where a true otb front flip is possible.)
Whether you slam directly into the floor, use your hand or arm to stop you, or do a perfect roll, some part of the shoulder is going to get quite a heavy load on it.
If you had fallen on your right side yesterday would you have made a similar post?
Probably, because then I would have two sore sides (although one mostly healed 🙂 ) and I'd have been pissed off about that. 😀 In fact, whilst I was peeved that it was the same side yesterday, when I got home and tried to get out my cycling kit, I was quite pleased at how good I had become in the previous months doing things one handed, and quite relieved that one side was still fully functional.
There’s only really 2 ways to fall off a bike
That's a very valid point 😀
assuming you have a carte vital… or even better a mutual.
I have both 👍 am a fully paid up, salaried member of "the system" here for close on 20 years 🙂 Appointment is this afternoon.
That’s a very valid point
Forwards is also popular.
I always break my left side. I've even managed to fall off to the right and break my left hand.
Verdict from the x-ray is I've broken the outer end of the collarbone. It hasn't moved but is visibly snapped, so I suspect immobilisation is the name of the game to come. I cycled nearly 50km home with it like that but mainly because I didn't have a lot of alternatives. I feel impressed with myself for that and disappointed for slipping like a muppet due to lack of attention in equal measure. 😀
Bizarrely thats a bit of luck! The break should heal well without any probs. If the AC joint had dislocated and popped up it never really heals. I did mine 5 years ago and when I saw my GP he said it would have been better to break my collarbone! Get well soon.
Bizarrely thats a bit of luck! The break should heal well without any probs. If the AC joint had dislocated and popped up it never really heals. I did mine 5 years ago and when I saw my GP he said it would have been better to break my collarbone! Get well soon.
Strangely, about 20 years ago I did the AC joint on the other side 😀 It still sticks up 🤣
I had an innocuous washout turning on to a fire road at the end of a trail. Landed on my shoulder but felt fine to carry on riding. Was sore in the morning but pleased I had a fall and survived. Raised my confidence that falling isn't so bad.
6 weeks later I lost control going through sloppy mud with no grip and had to bail. Landed on same shoulder and it hurt like buggery. Lost all confidence for a good couple of months.
Confidence is slowly coming back but going from rarely bothering with a helmet to now not leaving the house without full riot gear, I'm feeling every one of my 40+ years of age.
I miss being a kid and dusting myself off after every fall.
I miss being a kid and dusting myself off after every fall.
Absolutely. Every time I hit the deck even only lightly (well, as far as it is possible with my close to 80kgs...) this goes through my mind.
I don't normally fall off very often (sometimes go years without), but a couple of months ago I got ejected over the bars when my front wheel disappeared into a hidden hole and hurt my right wrist quite badly.
Sods law, since then I've fallen off twice landing on the right side again each time. Wrist still hurts obviously!
You always favour a side, same with what foot you put forward, everything we do is biased to one side for most, the only time i don't bale to the right is when it's less of an issue bailing left, but that's been thought out beforehand, i.e. going round a berm downhill where bailing right is the big fall down, whereas left is into the inside of the berm (and smaller fall).