Here is what could be a stupid question or thought

[EndoMaster]

After a conversation last night with someone in which falling off bikes and going over the bars was mentioned, it got me to thinking a bit about my personal experiences.

My screenname is not something I just thought of but rather I chose it because when I first started riding it fit me pretty well. I've had a few good OTB moments, a couple that left me a little dazed. In all those instances I never received anything more than scratches and bruises. In last nights conversation the other person mentioned that an acquaintance had gone OTB and suffered major physical trauma. This is a farfetched theory but could my "natural body padding" have helped helped me out in the past. Could my fat have helped absorb some of the impact and saved me a broken bone or two?



Agustin

 

[JamR]

Interesting theory :-k


Maybe that could explain some of my mishaps.............9% body fat = 2 major OTB's = 1 broken neck and 1 punctured lung, and a rather expensive helo ride to the e.r.

I like your theory better because my theory for myself was basically stupidity #-o

 

[dstepper]

In my experience the geometry of the bike has allot to do with it. My first bike a GT I-Drive was throwing me OTB on a regular basis. It felt like I was sitting on top of the bike rather than in the bike. The best bike I have riden in the area of anti-OTB is my One-9. Maybe it is the larger wheels, maybe the frame design or both. But I have riden out some front wheel only scares that would have sent me OTB on my other bikes.

About your theory, I am overweight and have seperated my shoulder and servely bruised ribs (bar end in the chest) on OTB. It is more what you land on, rather than your body type that will decide the severety of the damage.

 

[dirttorpeedo]

in my past racing expeiriences,ie; racing bmx,d/h,even cross country ive learned how to tuck my chin down to my chest and kinda roll out.dont know how to practice that,(didnt help when i broke my collar bone tho)hahaha.and to that i say the only stupid qwestchun is he one you didnt ask...

 

[EndoMaster]

Why did you guys have to respond? rotest: Just when I was at least beginning to find a reason to not hate my fat so much you go ahead and disprove my theory.

On a serious not I suppose I have been very fortunate to not have sustained any serious injury so far. Knock on wood.

 

[Leo14]

Maybe, maybe not. Eventually that extra weight could factor in the other direction, causing a more serious injury than you should sustain. Solid muscle will protect bones much more readily than fat will.

How one lands is the biggest factor. Uncle Sam shoved me out of an airplane in 1982 and before doing so, taught me how to land. That particular training was so repetetive (to get through some pretty thick skulls), it became something that has been instinctive to me ever since. It translated well to mountain biking. People who have practiced Judo normally do well with landing correctly too.

So how do you land correctly? I remember someone mentioned to me that best way to hit the ground was flat on your back.

 

[i am dino]

I thought I've heard or read somewhere that if you can make a fist when you are about to make contact with the ground that could prevent a broken wrist...not sure how much truth there is to that though.

 

[ShinKen]

I thought I've heard or read somewhere that if you can make a fist when you are about to make contact with the ground that could prevent a broken wrist...not sure how much truth there is to that though.

lol if u try it I'll take the pic!!

 

[dirttorpeedo]

yah me too

lol if u try it I'll take the pic!!

let me no when i wanna see it too..:lol:

 

[i am dino]

lol if u try it I'll take the pic!!

first you have to ride the trails we ride bubb.

 

[gurp13]

Oh, snap!

 

[protijy]

ive learned how to tuck my chin down to my chest and kinda roll out.

Tuck and roll! tuck and roll!

 

[FyrFytrRyn]

meh, 16% body fat here. when i fall, you know it (either by the sound of me hitting the ground, the profanities leaving my mouth or my bike being thrown). lol. 6'1'' 205lb. as far as technique, i usually land on my feet. the few times ive gone down, its always been on my side in corners. only went OTB once on a dirtbike when i panicked and crammed the front brake.

 

[boludo]

I dont know my body fat but i'm guessing less than 10. And the only thing i've ever rec'd from an OTB was soreness.

I think you can chalk it up to an inate ability to roll out of it. The only crashes that get me are the direct impact with a tree, wheelie onto back by not having brakes ready, or stalling and falling over.

 

[slayer]

my last OTB resulted in a`broken collar bone and shoulder blade. i was doing about 15 mph and my right shoulder took all of my 200lbs. i can still hear the bones snapping. on the bright side, in 8 more weeks i should be ready to roll.

 

[DownHillPhil]

I've OTB'd enough that the survival instinct is pretty much ingrained in my body.

I usually tuck my chin and try to forward-roll enough to take the fall on one of my delts, rolling into a somersault if possible. Do whatever you can to avoid any direct impacts with the ground and/or surrounding objects in a square-edged manner.

 

[slo65]

ask joe truth or simon, i went otb at least 5-6 times up in bear, luckily they were on some of the slower techy sections, i would just run them out, haven't had an otb going too fast recently, i imagine i'd tuck and roll though

 

[F.A.D.]

ask joe truth or simon, i went otb at least 5-6 times up in bear, luckily they were on some of the slower techy sections, i would just run them out, haven't had an otb going too fast recently, i imagine i'd tuck and roll though

Ahhhhhhh! the handlebar hurdles.:clap: I've seen a few catastrophic failures post dismount, where the runners legs couldn't keep up with the rate of decent. Wasn't a pretty ending. Face plant into full scorpion position. #-o

Knock on wood, I haven't pushed myself far enough to encounter that senario as of yet..... Not looking forward to it.

 

[slo65]

Ahhhhhhh! the handlebar hurdles.:clap: I've seen a few catastrophic failures post dismount, where the runners legs couldn't keep up with the rate of decent. Wasn't a pretty ending. Face plant into full scorpion position. #-o

yea i swear i had near 10 otb runs that day, never rode up there and well my bike is setup way different now :lol:

to the op

aside from my bear trip i've had maybe 3-4 otb trips when i first started riding, taking my ultra low end trek hardtail through A line up in turnbull, had not grasped the concept that if you go faster... it's easier.. so got bucked multiple times, aside from a jacked up camel back i faired fine, at the time i weighed around 180 or so (6'2)

 

[Reedster]

Holy old thread batman!

As far as OTB I usually fall in a big lump, but sometimes I am able to step over the bars and walk/run it out.