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End of 2020 I had a serious bike accident. I was specifically riding slowly and carefully because I did not want to fall and end up in hospital - in the middle

End of 2020 I had a serious bike accident. I was specifically riding slowly and carefully because I did not want to fall and end up in hospital - in the middle of the second wave in SA and a shortage of hospital space. Even so, I had the most ridiculous and embarrassing crash, whilst hardly moving, and ended up in the ER. I was wearing a helmet and I still got a concussion. My helmet was broken and certainly saved me from a much more serious head injury. Additionally, the peak on the front managed to prevent my nose from smashing into the ground too (it was a weird angle). I would never cycle without a helmet ever.

gameswithgo 4y ago
JKCalhoun 4y ago
Yeah, not sure how more careful a rider you can be when you have your own toddler in a child-seat behind you — and yet my bike went down on an unexpectedly slick part of the pavement. I had a helmet on, as did my toddler. I don't buy the argument that because someone has a helmet on they're intentionally (or even subconsciously) reckless. Shit can happen.
- wolverine876 4y ago
  > Yeah, not sure how more careful a rider you can be when you have your own toddler in a child-seat behind you — and yet my bike went down on an unexpectedly slick part of the pavement. I had a helmet on, as did my toddler. How does one safely transport a toddler? I am not asking incredulously, but curiously. I am an experienced cyclist; I don't know if I'd feel safe doing it, but I haven't looked into it either. Maybe a helmet is sufficient? And cars aren't perfectly safe either.
  - JKCalhoun 4y ago
    The carrier (bike seat) I had for her had a kind of "roll cage" (more like a frame) around the perimeter such that if the bike went down on one side or the other, she would not be grinding against the pavement. Plus helmet. Safe? Well, as you say, nothing is truly safe. But I stuck to back roads and probably never exceeded 15 MPH. We would ride to the local park where she could play in the sand for a bit before we rode home again.
    - wolverine876 4y ago
      Thanks. The 'roll cage' I hadn't thought of. > But I stuck to back roads and probably never exceeded 15 MPH. Seems safer than driving on a highway at 70 mph, even with the seatbelts, airbags, and steel.
kuroguro 4y ago
Reminds me of when I first learned that most snowboarding injuries are at low speed or standing still and slipping. Not sure if it's true, but could be. Slipped on ice a few times - my tail bone didn't appreciate it.

gameswithgo 4y ago

JKCalhoun 4y ago

Yeah, not sure how more careful a rider you can be when you have your own toddler in a child-seat behind you — and yet my bike went down on an unexpectedly slick part of the pavement. I had a helmet on, as did my toddler. I don't buy the argument that because someone has a helmet on they're intentionally (or even subconsciously) reckless. Shit can happen.

wolverine876 4y ago
> Yeah, not sure how more careful a rider you can be when you have your own toddler in a child-seat behind you — and yet my bike went down on an unexpectedly slick part of the pavement. I had a helmet on, as did my toddler. How does one safely transport a toddler? I am not asking incredulously, but curiously. I am an experienced cyclist; I don't know if I'd feel safe doing it, but I haven't looked into it either. Maybe a helmet is sufficient? And cars aren't perfectly safe either.
- JKCalhoun 4y ago
  The carrier (bike seat) I had for her had a kind of "roll cage" (more like a frame) around the perimeter such that if the bike went down on one side or the other, she would not be grinding against the pavement. Plus helmet. Safe? Well, as you say, nothing is truly safe. But I stuck to back roads and probably never exceeded 15 MPH. We would ride to the local park where she could play in the sand for a bit before we rode home again.
  - wolverine876 4y ago
    Thanks. The 'roll cage' I hadn't thought of. > But I stuck to back roads and probably never exceeded 15 MPH. Seems safer than driving on a highway at 70 mph, even with the seatbelts, airbags, and steel.

kuroguro 4y ago

Reminds me of when I first learned that most snowboarding injuries are at low speed or standing still and slipping. Not sure if it's true, but could be. Slipped on ice a few times - my tail bone didn't appreciate it.