For those of you that dont use a cycle helmet !!!

[circuitmonkey]

damn, sounds like you spent a lot of time and money on that bike. Although you sound like the kinda bike nut that keeps a shed/garage full of spare parts? I'm betting you'll have that bike fixed before you face fully heals

[Biscuit]

holy crap that looks painful, puts me off even buying a new bike!

[Robscure]

Ouch, hope you recover quick bro.

I'd be wary of riding a bike without full suited Iron Man armor on.

[g8ina]

Hope u have a full recovery and thanks for posting the piccy. My fiance's granddaughter really needs a wakeup call in this direction, shes 8 and rarely wears hers.

[danroyle]

am doing alot better after 4 days got some huge nasty bruises that have appeared over last 24 hours.

Do have a minor dilemma in that the missus doesn't want me to get back on the bike. She didn't like seeing me on the spinal board in the ambulance with the neck brace and such and has the realisation that i could have gone under the cab or through the windscreen.

Not sure what to do now i see her point i have a 6 year old son and i do ride a very thin line am amazed have not put my head through a tree some of the offroad i do is a bit sketchy. Am safe on road but you get alot of idiots in cars these days.

[jimbouk]

I changed the route I cycled back from work after a couple of close calls trying to turn right on a main road. Better safe...

As for the offroading, I guess it's only a buzz if you're on the edge a bit. Tough call, I feel you're in for a few long chat's with the missus.

[Tumble]

It is a sticky point, but if you take all the precautions you can to reduce the risk to yourself, then you'd have to be really unlucky for someone else to do you in. I know it could still happen, but you run that risk whether you're on a bike or not quite honestly. It doesn't take too much effort to slow down off-road either - you can still have fun without going mad, and just don't go for silly jumps and things that there's a chance you won't make if you're out on your own - at least if you're with a mate they can help you limp to the ambulance when it goes wrong

[danroyle]

It is a sticky point, but if you take all the precautions you can to reduce the risk to yourself, then you'd have to be really unlucky for someone else to do you in. I know it could still happen, but you run that risk whether you're on a bike or not quite honestly. It doesn't take too much effort to slow down off-road either - you can still have fun without going mad, and just don't go for silly jumps and things that there's a chance you won't make if you're out on your own - at least if you're with a mate they can help you limp to the ambulance when it goes wrong

lol. It's no fun riding within yourself though. i enjoy taking unnnecessary risks offroad, alot will depend on my wrists have torn quite a few tendons in both and done some muscle damage to right arm too so depending on how they heal i migth not be able to do what i love anyway. the last time i tore a tendon i spent 11 months getting grief from my wrist after a ride.

[Mblaster]

i do ride a very thin line am amazed have not put my head through a tree some of the offroad i do is a bit sketchy. Am safe on road but you get alot of idiots in cars these days.

I'd be more worried about riding on road than off road, on the road you're not in control of the situation and at any point a 2 ton lump of metal travelling at 30+mph could have you off the bike. Off road you have a lot better control and, if you do fall, usually the landing is going to be softer!

Take a look at some of the MTB crashes at events like Red Bull Rampage that people just walk away from, not many people will be walking away after being run over by a car.

[jimbouk]

Take a look at some of the MTB crashes at events like Red Bull Rampage that people just walk away from, not many people will be walking away after being run over by a car.

Agreed, I have a friend who used to work in car insurance, she didn't have many happy stories to tell when there was a bike involved in a car accident...

[danroyle]

have agreed with the wife have decided to get rid of my bike but as a compromise (she doesn't know yet) she is getting some of the better bits from mine in case i ever wanna go for a little ride in the future.

[Rave]

Who was at fault for the accident? Was the cab on your side of the road or something? If so they should pay for your bike at least. Or were you breaking the cardinal rule for all road users- that you should always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear?

I haven't gone mountain biking for a long time now, but I wouldn't ride without a helmet. On the road though I don't wear one, I just know that I'm vulnerable and ride accordingly....

[danroyle]

Who was at fault for the accident? Was the cab on your side of the road or something? If so they should pay for your bike at least. Or were you breaking the cardinal rule for all road users- that you should always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear?

I haven't gone mountain biking for a long time now, but I wouldn't ride without a helmet. On the road though I don't wear one, I just know that I'm vulnerable and ride accordingly....

the cab was on my side of the road however it wasnt his fault the road had double yellows both sides and i came round the corner to find cars parked on both sides of the road and my natural line through the corner blocked by 3 cars on my side and the cabbie's natural line up the road was also gone so he was literally bang smack in the middle of the road. It was the people that park on a blind corners fault but unfortunately due to the smack on my head i didnt take any pictures of the cars that were parked up illegally. The cabbie ran my bike over which i didnt realise until a couple days after and i didnt get his details as i didnt think i'd hit him. I threw myself off to avoid going under his wheels once i'd lost control of the bike.

I blame myself for the incident if i'd not broke so hard maybe the brakes wouldn't have locked up and i wouldn't have lost the back end of the bike, But then i know that if those stupid idiots hadn't parked on the inside of a blind corner illegally i would have had a full 2 meter gap to ride my bike through instead of no gap.

[santa claus]

I slipped on ice when out walking the other day which was a good reminder for me about how hard the floor is. Nasty looking injuries there, hope you feel better soon.

But isn't the jury still out on helmet-wearing? Aren't they known to increase the risk of a rotational neck injury?

[Mithrandir]

Ouch! A nasty scrape there. Look like you've just come out of a cage fight.

Hope you heal up quick time though.

[Konan555]

Falling off changed my game in XC. I've calmed it right down.

I now go in for 50Km or more, take it steady around roots/stumps/singletrack and open it up on uphill and on firetrack.

The stupid thing? I ride around (b-road and farm track) every weekend with no lid on! I know it's stupid, but I've just not got the fear about falling off during general riding.