Did Safety Mindset Change?

[Raddreher]

https://imgur.com/a/D93oYQd

I was looking at gear from other riders and noticed how bare some people ride.

And the ones with gear usually use the same or similar equipment.

I started riding this year and was wondering how over the year safety changed. Curious to hear from seasoned riders.

 

[Poker]

Regarding the kneepads versus the knee bracers there was quite a lengthy debate about it I read on this forum I think. Both sides made decent arguments and I remember not being convinced for one over the other.

I do wonder if the automatic airbags will be more popular in the future, the tech is interesting but I have  too many small falls / rolls doing offroad to justify the refill cost.

Personally I am not convinced wrist guards are needed as long as you got good leather gloves, every time I fall its either on my elbow or my shoulder / face if its a forward fall.

There never seems to be enough time to extend my arm fully before I hit the ground. 

[Jmac]

3 hours ago, Poker said:

Regarding the kneepads versus the knee bracers there was quite a lengthy debate about it I read on this forum I think. Both sides made decent arguments and I remember not being convinced for one over the other.

I do wonder if the automatic airbags will be more popular in the future, the tech is interesting but I have  too many small falls / rolls doing offroad to justify the refill cost.

Personally I am not convinced wrist guards are needed as long as you got good leather gloves, every time I fall its either on my elbow or my shoulder / face if its a forward fall.

There never seems to be enough time to extend my arm fully before I hit the ground. 

My injuries one at the end of year. One one at the end of year two were both fully extended arms A shallow dive trajectory put me some distance from the wheel. In both cases I hit with ground on my palms, one dislocated shoulder and one broken. forearm. Both were striking something which stopped the wheel And I was launched at a shallow angle. It appeared to be a shadow but in fact a linear ridge dark on the side opposite the Sun, standing 3-4" high. My failure is not paying attention to the pavement, and riding knees locked. Interesting you have the elbows experience.  I concluded my shallow dive is a result of momentum of my center of mass, while feet were decelerated by friction of my boots departing the foot pads. I compliment my arms for getting in the way of my head striking payment at 20 mph 😁

I think wrist-hand guards with rigid plastic may have allowed my palms to skid on the pavement and dissipate some energy. But I don't yet wear wrist guards 🫣 Most of my riding is 15 to 20 mph

[Jmac]

I love this thread. I think everyone should share their accidents, causes and learnings. And we should never slap someone for sharing

[Funky]

7 hours ago, Poker said:

Regarding the kneepads versus the knee bracers there was quite a lengthy debate about it I read on this forum I think. Both sides made decent arguments and I remember not being convinced for one over the other.

I do wonder if the automatic airbags will be more popular in the future, the tech is interesting but I have  too many small falls / rolls doing offroad to justify the refill cost.

Personally I am not convinced wrist guards are needed as long as you got good leather gloves, every time I fall its either on my elbow or my shoulder / face if its a forward fall.

There never seems to be enough time to extend my arm fully before I hit the ground. 

To me it sounds like your reflexes are simply to SLOW.. I have always fallen on my hands. Or have had enough time to put them in front of my face like a "boxer" does to block incoming punch/fall and be available to roll on the ground. (Also one would not want to FULLY extend their arms at fall.. You will break your arms like that! You need to have enough bend - to let the arms bend while absorbing impact from ground! Would you want little bit bruised face or broken arm? Your choice.) Luckily for my - my fat belly absorbs most of impact.  No damage to face.

 

Anyways on topic: I use only wrist guards. Nothing else for my daily ride to job/home. Been doing that for 4 years now. (I'm riding in non-busy city and on sidewalk going around 25-30kph.) Only time times i have fallen have been in winter. Nothing broken or anything, just little bit sore knee.

I also have fallen in summer. One time while turning (you know those forest paths there road goes ~~ around tress ~~) my upper body twisted way to much and i simply went rolling on ground. (Hands up to my face like boxer.) My worst fall was while riding true loose sand like at beach, wheel suddenly turned 90 degree and i went flying like superman 2-3 meters ahead of wheel. Landed on my belly. (This time i had helmet as i was doing "fun" adventure riding - those times i get my knee guards and helmet.) But looking back i also had enough time to put my hands up.

I have always fallen on my hands. Simply lucky enough i guess?  

Ohh and my 60old dad don't use any gear at all. And ride same paths/roads i do. Have he fallen over these years? OFC.. Yet he still doesn't use any gear. Why? Because it isn't really needed, if you ride carefully and slower. Without any fun adventuring or taking not needed risks - i would have not fallen at all.

Edited October 26 by Funky

[Poker]

I'm guessing you never fell to a cutout as you always have time to get your hands up. 

My worst fall was dodging a bicyclist, I was on a bike path going around a corner and two bicyclists where coming right at me using both lanes in the bike path. My speed was also irresponsibly high considering how short my viewability was, I have learned since then and would never do it today.
I chose to hit the wall at an angle instead of a front collision with one of the bikers. I was wearing a thick winter jacket and through that and my jeans my hip got some bad cuts even if they weren't ripped through, just the pressure from the impact combined with the forward motion did some damage. Pads on my hip definitely would have helped. This is what it looked like the next day, picture is a bit graphic and maybe NSFW

Spoiler

 

[Aztek]

Interestingly enough, leatt knee guards are marked as risky on this image.

6 hours ago, Jmac said:

Both were striking something which stopped the wheel

Seeing this, i immediately concluded you are riding non suspension wheel.

A suspension wheel, seems, would be the best safety device in your case.

[Raddreher]

Great stuff so far, what about things like tethers? Ever wished you had one or wished you didn't?

Or what about bagpacks? Having more layers on your back against the varying weight