If you are finding if hard to come back after a crash, fear not, you aren’t alone. A quick look in the Total Women’s Cycling Forum reveals a number of women who’ve been through this:
“Ever since the accident I wouldn’t say I’m scared…probably slightly nervous at times and more aware of cars passing me with little space, but…I feel like I can’t seem to find the joy I used to get from cycling anymore. It almost feels like a chore at times.”
Charlotte, TWC Forum User
Accidents can happen for so many reasons. Sometimes it’s a collision with another vehicle, though this is thankfully rare. More often it’s because of road conditions such as ice or mud, or obstacles such as potholes, leaves or debris.
It’s not just something that happens to the every-day rider either – the professionals are just as susceptible, as Wiggle Honda team rider Dani King knows only too well.
Back in November 2014, she was involved in a crash while training that saw her hospitalised with broken ribs and a collapsed lung. The cause? Another rider in the group hitting a pothole.
“I was on a training ride that I do every week on a Thursday. It was a cold wet day and we were about 100km into the ride with about 40km to go. I was riding on the right of the pack riding two a breast in the road. A guy on my left hit a pot hole that was covered in water, and crashed into the group leaving me no where to go but over my bars.”
Once I hit the floor initially I was ok but it must of been a second later I felt excruciating pain in my back when a rider behind me rode into my back resulting in 8 broken ribs (10 fractures) and a punctured lung. At the time I was just thinking about my health and whether I was going to be ok.”
For the pros, crashing is part and parcel of racing and training. You might think this means they can shake themselves off and get back on the bike without a second thought, but interestingly this isn’t the case, as Dani explains.
“I was really nervous the first time I got back on my bike. My boyfriend Matt Rowe drove us down to a flat section of road that we ride regularly.
I’m still dealing with my nerves but every time I go out I’m becoming more and more confident. I’ve been to Lanzarote on a 2-week training camp in the sun and am on my way to Mallorca for another 2-week camp. This helps as I’ve been extra nervous because of the ice on the roads.”
Dani is, by her own admission, an ‘experienced crasher’, so what does she recommend for treating post-crash nerves?
“I believe the more you think about crashing the more tense you will be as you ride, giving you more chance of coming off the bike. It’s easier said than done but try to relax, anticipate things happening ahead of you i.e. moving out for cars and potholes, and just enjoy riding your bike!”
