h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I never thought the day would come that I'd be grateful for my padded (ie fat) bum, but today was the day. I don't know how I did it, it went so fast, but I fell off my bike (while trying to negotiate a barrier*) like a sack of potatoes and landed flat on my bum. It nicely absorbed most of the shock so that my tailbone hurts a little but not too much.

I think I may have pulled those breaks too hard, I'm not sure. And there was loose chippings, or sand, but it's never been a problem on my old bike. I still have to get used to the fact that if I pull the breaks just a bit too much the bike stops dead - that never happened with my old bike.

You live and learn.


* similar to this one, but only open to one side:

http://ais.badische-zeitung.de/piece/03/66/4c/17/57035799.jpg

I heard the British Geological survey picked it up. You scored 1.3 on the Richter Scale.

you're a braver man than me Icy.

Ah yes, thanks for the picture: I see the damage to the pavement.

Well, I thought I was close to Australia with parts of my body.

Take it easy, or you won't be ready for next year's Tour de France.

Oh, I'd have to start doping first if I wanted to take part in the Tour de France. I think taking anabolics and stuff is a prerequisite nowadays for that.

.....

and also.....



Glad that you're okay, but as precaution, monitor yourself for any undue aches and pains. One never knows...

Should we be expecting aftershocks?


then

"while trying to negotiate a barrier" stay on the road B'El, barriers aren't wide enough to ride bikes on

I'm glad you all gave me something to laugh about, cause I hurt all over.

Wondered what the tremor was!

You can be happy it doesn't hurt *when* you laugh (at least from what you say I assume it doesn't). Anyways sorry to hear of the accident, glad to hear your padding bore the brunt of it, and hope the pain and bruises are soon gone!

Glad you're able to laugh about it Make sure you don't brake the front wheel only, that's always an interesting lesson in applied physics

Happened to me about this time last year, on the way back from work - I got something stuck in the spokes, flew over the handlebars and landed with my hands and knees in the gravel and my face in the nettles.

Ouch, Mala. I onc tried the effect you mention - not voluntary, mind, but back then I was on somebody else's bike and had forgotten about the brakes, so I paddled back with no effect, and, panicking, drew one brake. I just managed to hop off before landing on the side-walk. Ever since I've been afraid of these brakes, but modern bikes come with them.

Willem, I don't hurt when laughing, but I still ache all over. I'm baffled that even my arms ache. They weren't involved at all!

Ouch!

I'm glad you're not more hurt than you are. You do use a helmet...?

I feel BigAl's comment (and its timing) is a little harsh - the shakes didn't quite take 20 hours to die out

I was going to say that you are much more happy to laugh at your own pain than I am - a little too much Schadenfreude in my personality

Yes, excessively powerful brakes can be a problem, especially when they are a big step up from the previous generation - apparently this was a problem when ceramic brakes were bought in for cars - so now rate of improvement is apparently one of the things watched for by those, err, watch these things

My niece is a car engineer. If her ceramic breaks she throws it out.