What do you do if you are dropping your bike?

[dantama]

[quote:2hm9a8n4]Thanks for the visual Dan.

Now how about some advice on if you do tip over and can't holder up. Do you just go ahead and let go of the bars and try to stand up straddling the bike? Someone (can't remember who) on the General Forum thread....broke ankle/leg? from just a tip over....yikes!

This deserves it's own thread so others can find it later.

Thanks for bringing it up. I'll start one. [/quote:2hm9a8n4]

When your bike starts to tip too far, there is a point of no return. The bike is going down no matter what. The bike is just too heavy, and the center of gravity has moved so far over that there is no way to hold it.

Here's what to do when you are reaching that point.

Let go of the down side grip.

At the same time start to push off the high side floorboard, while at the same time stepping out as far as you can with the other leg.

If you do that, a half a second later you will be straddling the bike with one foot on the high side board and one a couple of feet out from the bike.

What you do at this point doesn't matter. You can slowly finish dismounting, or in the same motion let go of the bike and step all the way onto the leg that is out from the bike. It doesn't matter at this point as the bike is on the ground already, and the leg that could get injured is safely out away from the bike.

If you haven't fully gotten the visual of this, picture a little kid (who's very comfortable with riding a bike) riding home on his bike and pulling onto the grass and dumping the bike and running into the house. It's the same technique. Step away from the bike on the side it's going down on, and step away. Watch a kid, they've got the technique down.

[Idaho]

You are right. Never try to fight it. Broken ankles, legs and torn knees are worse than a few scratches. Great post. We have to think about this before it happens so that our actions will be automatic. Kind of like imagining what you do if you wake up behind the wheel of your car to the sound of rumble strips. Don't panic. gently steer the car back onto the road. But, you have to think about it now and visualize it for it to happen.

[oldbiker]

I CRY.

3 times down, and 3 times that very technique worked as advertised.

[dogdoc]

did that once standing still and works great, but did it automatically.

[dantama]

did that once standing still and works great, but did it automatically.

I imagine its one of those things that either you have that instinct, or you don't.

If you don't, be sure to let go of the low hand on the bars, or it'll pull you down with the bike.

[Todd]

I CRY.

+1

[blowndodge]

-13

[bobzinger]

1st...Look around and see if anyone saw me do it!

[fish]

1st...Look around and see if anyone saw me do it!

then cry

[dogdoc]

good point bobz, LOL

[ridemslow]

The hopping off like you describe seems instinctive. The crying part... Yeah thats me too..all natural.

[burkazoid]

Originally Posted by oldbiker

I CRY.

I jump the hell out of the way, and then look around to see if anyone saw me drop the bike. If nobody saw me, it didn't happen.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by BurKaZoiD

I jump the hell out of the way, and then look around to see if anyone saw me drop the bike. If nobody saw me, it didn't happen.

So how many times has it NOT happened ;)

[gopjohnny]

I did it in parking lot in tellico springs Tn (near the dragon) with 30 bikers watching. keep wondering when they will come up with an automatic kickstand :)