I try to set a goal for myself in every race, sometimes it’s “just finish”. This seems like a pretty easy goal, but if you factor in crashing in the second lap of an eight-lap criterium race… it’s actually a pretty tough goal. This is actually what happened in my first road race for the season one year. It was really wet that day, and I slipped on some slick road markings as I went in to a corner on the second lap. 

I hit the ground pretty hard and tore through my bib tights and jacket. I caught my breath and did a head/body/bike check. Everything seemed to be OK, so I decided to get back on and try to finish the race. I didn’t manage to catch back up to the peloton. I was absolutely wrecked by the time I finished. But I was glad I stuck it out, because I learned that I can do hard things, and that most of the time, crashing doesn’t hurt as much as you think it will.  

I can say that with a fair bit of confidence because that wasn’t my only crash that year. In total, I ended up crashing in two crit races during the season. I also went over the handlebars pretty spectacularly on a downhill trail. Oh, and there’s also that time I crashed on my gravel bike in the Seymour Demonstration Forest in Vancouver! 

Something I’ve learned through my many crashes is that if you freak out, it usually hurts a lot more. Letting the crash happen helps you avoid seizing up on impact. There’s also the added benefit that if you can try to stay calm, you’ll have more of a chance to mentally prepare and be able to take evasive action, or try and roll over as you contact the ground to disperse the impact.

I take every opportunity possible to train and ride with more experienced cyclists and racers. Doing classes with coaches is another great way to learn and develop your skill as a cyclist. Even the best cyclist can’t control what others do around them though, so all of us are susceptible in some way to crashing. But we shouldn’t let fear of crashing stop us from achieving our goals. 

Crashing is something we can both physically and mentally prepare - and train for. We can also mitigate the impact of crashing by always wearing a good quality helmet (and doing the straps up properly on it), as well as wearing things like gloves and sunglasses. 

It’s good to know your own limits, but sometimes you have to push the boundaries to find out where the limit is. So if you're thinking about pursuing cycling races or riding terrain you're not used to, don’t dread crashing; prepare for it instead!