When I crash, why is it alyays...

[Boeing]

...on my left side.

I have had maybe 10 memorable crashes and one I don't remember in over 25 years of cycling (not counting childhood). Countless mini spills. Given my recent momentary lack of skill on a mountain bike and the pain in my leg shoulder and ribs I was discussing a history of falls with another compatriot of the sport over lunch. he noticed a trend. Literally all my broken bones and major lost skin over the years are on the left side of my body

Describing all the injuries he pointed out that I fall on my left side every one of them. I never thought of it like that for what ever reason.

the only conclusion we came to was that is the side I naturally tuck and roll with. Some could be over steering and pushing the front cornering left side as well and is weaker on the left corner etc. .

the good news is I never bend derailleur hangers i guess

What are your thoughts? Coincidence? What about you?

 

[AntonioRossi]

Same exact thing for me. My right hip is full with scars. Had 4 crashes last season, all on my left side. Definitely happy that I never damage the derailleur but it is a bit strange

 

[Martin318is]

I know a few people who seem to push the limit a bit harder when turning left. Generally those people always unclip their left foot at lights etc. It may be that you are tipping further on left corners and therefore more likely to crash than if heading right? .... or something...

 

[Thorn Cycling]

After a quick check, both sides are completely covered with scars I blame Freeride mountain biking.

 

[Ripper]

...on my left side.

I have had maybe 10 memorable crashes and one I don't remember in over 25 years of cycling (not counting childhood). Countless mini spills. Given my recent momentary lack of skill on a mountain bike and the pain in my leg shoulder and ribs I was discussing a history of falls with another compatriot of the sport over lunch. he noticed a trend. Literally all my broken bones and major lost skin over the years are on the left side of my body

Describing all the injuries he pointed out that I fall on my left side every one of them. I never thought of it like that for what ever reason.

the only conclusion we came to was that is the side I naturally tuck and roll with. Some could be over steering and pushing the front cornering left side as well and is weaker on the left corner etc. .

the good news is I never bend derailleur hangers i guess

What are your thoughts? Coincidence? What about you?

So you are actually Derek Zoolander?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Coincidence for me. Two lefts, two rights, and an endo over the bars. So I got 'em all covered. But 4 are MTB, and one right was on my roadie.

 

[RedheadDane]

It's a bit like how buttered bread always lands with the buttered side down.

Honestly, I've no clue...

 

[Boeing]

It's a bit like how buttered bread always lands with the buttered side down.

Honestly, I've no clue...

you my dear are a genius

my bread always falls before I put the Jam and Cheese on the butter.

 

[Boeing]

So you are actually Derek Zoolander?

Sorry Morey, I'm not a gymnast

 

[Boeing]

I know a few people who seem to push the limit a bit harder when turning left. Generally those people always unclip their left foot at lights etc. It may be that you are tipping further on left corners and therefore more likely to crash than if heading right? .... or something...

I wonder if it has anything to do with being right hand dominate or something like that? Or maybe not tipping enough and over steering the bars? Pushing on right hand?

 

[MR_Sarcastic]

9 out of 10 crashes are on my left side, unless I go over the bars because of bodies in the road.

Maybe it's the opposite in Australia...

(just kiddin')

 

[DirtyWorks]

Crackpot Theory #642

My crackpot theory is it has to do with the dominant side of your body. People who are right handed also have a bias for their right leg to be favored too. Better coordination on the right and a tendency to lead with the right side of the body. Things like that.

Prove me wrong and tell me you are left handed and you climb stairs by leading with your right leg.

It's a half-baked idea I like to attribute to Ed Coyle. Why Ed? He's made so much bad science very popular. What harm could a little more bad science do to the guy?

 

[Martin318is]

My crackpot theory is it has to do with the dominant side of your body. People who are right handed also have a bias for their right leg to be favored too. Better coordination on the right and a tendency to lead with the right side of the body. Things like that.

Prove me wrong and tell me you are left handed and you climb stairs by leading with your right leg.

It's a half-baked idea I like to attribute to Ed Coyle. Why Ed? He's made so much bad science very popular. What harm could a little more bad science do to the guy?

well.. I'm right hand dominant leaning towards ambidextrous and I lead off up stairs with my left leg...

But I do notice that I am most comfortable at speed with my right leg down doing the bracing rather than my left. Also in Australia, the tight corner on roads is the left turn and the open intersection turn is the right. This makes riders more confident on the left (opposite in NA and Europe I imagine).

 

[Beech Mtn]

My crackpot theory is it has to do with the dominant side of your body. People who are right handed also have a bias for their right leg to be favored too. Better coordination on the right and a tendency to lead with the right side of the body. Things like that.

Prove me wrong and tell me you are left handed and you climb stairs by leading with your right leg.

It's a half-baked idea I like to attribute to Ed Coyle. Why Ed? He's made so much bad science very popular. What harm could a little more bad science do to the guy?

I do. I write left-handed. Climb stairs w/ right leg. In the old days playing softball, pitched and batted right-handed. Can golf either way, was a little better left-handed, but never kept up with it and wasn't at all good at it.

 

[Polyarmour]

All my damage down the left side too. Can't think of one good reason why.

 

[Maxiton]

Most of my damage - almost all - is on the right. And I have no idea why.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Most of my damage - almost all - is on the right. And I have no idea why.

Do you have a left/right body bias? Same question to Polyarmour. The ambidextrous among us have already commented.

This is Ed Coyle caliber science, so so far my hypothesis is holding up nicely.

 

[Polyarmour]

Do you have a left/right body bias? Same question to Polyarmour. The ambidextrous among us have already commented.

This is Ed Coyle caliber science, so so far my hypothesis is holding up nicely.

I think I have a strong right hand, right leg bias. Not very ambidextrous at all.

 

[Maxiton]

Do you have a left/right body bias? Same question to Polyarmour. The ambidextrous among us have already commented.

This is Ed Coyle caliber science, so so far my hypothesis is holding up nicely.

Strong right hand bias for me. I suppose that could explain it, but it doesn't explain Polyarmour's.

 

[TheRossSeaParty]

Right-handed, but left leg dominant. I am pretty even with the crashes, but most have occurred in races in corners and then it all depends on which direction you are turning and how many people have fallen in front of you The few I have caused myself seemed to be on the right side.
I do notice that I have more difficulty making sharp right hand turns, than left hand. I can't make a U-turn going to my right, but no problem to the left. I am guessing this is why I have crashed myself out on some tight right handers.
I don't know how or where hand/leg dominance comes into play. I do know that I need to avoid crits that are run clockwise!

 

[Martin318is]

The answer will probably be most obvious when you ask -

"When needing to do a full 180 degree turn at slow speed (like on a pavement), which direction is least comfortable?"

My guess is that those that most comfortably turn left, will have their damage on the left side.... As I mentioned earlier, my theory is that riders will most forcibly approach their limits on the comfortable side and therefore any crashes will have a bigger result. Whereas on the other side, they will be more tentative.

I know for myself that when descending I have had moments in left hand bends where I have felt like my elbow would touch the road surface due to the degree of lean. Have never felt that going right. I am more comfortable at really low speed doing hairpins to the left than right.

and yes, my left knee is a mess.

 

[ustabe]

Be grateful for falling on your left. I've destroyed two Campagnolo derailleurs crashing on my right.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I didn't think this would be an interesting thread until I started reading it.

I am right-handed, unclip with my left foot , I don't think I have much preference with turns...but I feel more comfortable with my left leg forward...
hmm...most scars/ rash happens on right I think.

science or random