Post-Crash Anxiety & Getting Back On The Bike

Cycling is a wonderful activity that provides many benefits, including exercise, fresh air, and a sense of freedom. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and crashes can occur while cycling, but, I think we all accept that it's just a part of the sport and we hit the pedals knowing full well some of the risks.

I'm probably good for one crash per year and these have included sliding out around corners, rear ending a car and more recently front flipping over some carnage. I thank my lucky stars that I've never needed a trip to the ER or had to rely on the Garmin crash detection. Most of the time we just brush ourselves off, pick up the pieces of our dignity and continue on our way.

A few cycling mates haven't been quite as lucky (Tom, pictured) and it was only after a recent crash myself, that resulted in a fractured wrist, did it occur to me that even if we are lucky enough to come away relatively unscathed, crashing still takes a significant mental toll that can keep us off the bike for an extended period of time.

Whether it's a small fall or a serious collision, getting back on your bike after a crash can be a challenging task. However, it is crucial to overcome this challenge and get back on your bike for several reasons:

After experiencing a crash, it's natural to feel scared or anxious about getting back on the bike. However, the longer you wait to ride again, the more challenging it becomes to overcome the fear and anxiety. The best way to conquer this fear is to gradually expose yourself to riding again. Start with short rides on quiet roads, build up your confidence, and slowly increase the duration and intensity of your rides. Getting back on your bike after a crash helps you overcome the fear and anxiety that may hold you back from enjoying the activity again.

Cycling is an excellent form of exercise that has many health benefits, including improving cardiovascular health, building endurance, and strengthening muscles. After a crash, it's natural to experience physical pain and stiffness. However, staying active and getting back on your bike can help alleviate these symptoms. Cycling can also help with rehabilitation by increasing mobility and improving flexibility. Getting back on your bike can aid in the healing process, and it's important to start slow and build up gradually to avoid further injury.

There's no secret that cycling has many mental health benefits as well, including reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing self-esteem. After a crash, it's common to feel a range of emotions, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Getting back on your bike can help boost your mood and increase your confidence. By returning to the activity you love, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement that can boost your mental well-being.

Cycling provides a sense of freedom and independence that cannot be matched by other activities. After a crash, it's easy to feel restricted and limited in your activities. Getting back on your bike can help restore that sense of freedom and independence. Whether it's riding on a quiet road or exploring a new trail, cycling can help you feel free and alive again.

After visiting a doctor about my injured wrist, who then referred me onto a surgeon, I was relieved to learn that surgery wasn't required, but a splint and six weeks rest & recovery was the recommendation. Of course, six week of no cycling was never going to happen so I very sheepishly got myself back on the bike. What started as a few nervous solo rolls to rebuild the confidence quickly turned into the regular group rides. I was stoked to rejoin the group but admittedly, there were more than a few nerves.

I quizzed Daniel James (@_danvelo) about a recent crash at the Roues Chaudes Cycling Club Australia Day Criterium and he was nice enough to share some of his thoughts:

"I think it's important to talk about crashing from both the physical and mental aspect of it. Skin grows back but I became hyper aware of my positioning and cornering for a little while (after the crash). In that crash I had someone come across my wheel so I had no control (when the crash occurred) and although I came out relatively unscathed, I took a pretty serious hit to the head and ended up with a minor concussion but I was lucky that my helmet did it's job."

Dan gave us his advice for getting back on the bike:

"I noticed that even just being back in a group made me nervous, it was almost as if I was waiting for a bike to cut me off, so I couldn't relax and just enjoy the ride. What helped me was to get back into it with a group of riders I was familiar with, people whose ability I knew so I was confident that there weren't going to be any surprises or dangerous manoeuvres. 

Some people will come off and then get straight back into it, others will come off and then never ride again. How we deal with crashing is such a personal thing so it's important to just focus on yourself, maybe start with a few slower rides and ease your way back."

I couldn't agree more with Dan and what is amazing about the cycling community is that everyone is always prepared to stop and ask if another cyclist is ok. There is something reassuring about every cyclist asking "are you ok, mate?" as they ride past you on the side of the road, even if you're just changing a tyre (or having a breather).

I'm very lucky to cycle as much as I do and a fractured wrist is the worst that has occurred because we all know someone who's ended up in much more dire situations. It's those more serious crashes though, that makes me appreciate the mental strength and resilience of those riders to be able to get back on the bike after a more serious crash. Even if you're one of the lucky ones who hasn't crashed (...yet), It's only after that first crash do you realise that sometimes the mental battle goes on well after the wounds have healed. 

Safe riding!

 

Been in a crash? Share your experience in the comments below...