I’m so sorry that happened to you it also happened to a riding friend of a friend of mine (Jim). Also, I was riding one time and my shoelaces came untide and was hitting the spokes. It’s Always best to tie your shoes in a double knot so they don’t come loose.
After a 700m climb to the Montlinger Schwamm, I stopped at the mountain restaurant to recover. Since I had empty my spare drinking bottles (collapsible bottles), I had the divine inspiration to fill them with air so that they could serve as an airbag. I don’t normally do that, but something told me to do that… Then I drove back down the mountain, first on tar, then on a steep slope and finally back on tar. In the last steep section the surface changed back to tar and I saw backpackers standing further down staring at me. They were standing in the middle of the street. After I shouted “Attention” three times, they finally moved to the side. The woman took the camera and photographed something down the valley. As I drove past her, she suddenly turned around and walked back into the street. I tried to push her away to the left, but it twisted my arm and me with it and I spun in the air and hit my back on the asphalt. After 2 somersaults (I was driving fast), I picked myself up again. I felt uninjured and after an exchange of words (they asked if I needed a doctor because the fall must have looked terrible) I drove on. On the way I started feeling sore and could barely lift my arm. I went to the doctor the next day and he sent me to the hospital. Result: I tore my biceps. Now I’m a little handicapped on my left arm, I have a little less strength, but it’s no problem for riding a unicycle
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I ride after that ctash with shoes without shoelaces. I use shoes with Boa and it works very well.
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That is terrible, especially since it was not your fault. Do you believe the “air bags” protected you?
Yes, my hips lower back I had a cycling jersey with 3 pockets and there were these 3 air-filled collapsible bottles. I clearly felt how they bounced when they hit, my upper back was caught by my small backpack in which I always keep spare wear. That could have caused a serious back injury. I was lucky and fortunately had this “inspiration”
I fell off going 22km/hr this morning on the way to work on my KH36. I ride with Aero bars and went straight over the front onto the road.
I landed on my feet momentarily before the momentum toppled me down to slide on my knee pads with extra "wear plates/hard shells.
I highly recommend having knee pads with extra hard shells. My hard shells come from a gardening knee pad and cover the soft ION knee pads.
Previously, I had a similar fall-at low speed, sliding onto my knee pads, but the knee pads failed, sliding off at impact exposing my knees. Lost a bit of skin.
I then connected the hard shells to the soft knee pad top strap to stop the hard shells sliding off at impact.
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Good idea with the retrofitted wear plate! As much as I like the Ion K-pacts for their comfort and good impact protection, if you spend extended time on the road, something with a hard shell to allow sliding is probably much better.
I’ve noticed that some kneepad manufacturers seem to be going for a middle ground now, a hard(er) plastic shell with impact hardening foam below. I’m currently testing out some Endura MT500 hardshells, which seem pretty good so far - probably not a “slideable” enough shell for full road use though.
I’ve been using the same knee pads last months. Haven’t fall at high speed on asphalt, but at around 18km/h on gravel they held up well.
I don’t ride big wheels nor do I have any desire, but it seems to me knee pads, elbow and gloves are not enough.
However, if I did ride big/tall/public I would wear protective gear similar to what I see with bmx: helmet with chin guards, chest/back impact vests,..etc.
High speed and high drop from a 36".
Do you really feel “protected” or do you feel invincible that you won’t fall?
There is a difference. Just jump off a few times.
I have mostly experienced that the high drop gives you more time to react and intuitively prepare for the fall. Think “cat falling and twisting to land on it’s feet”.
My worst falls on my KH36 include at speed onto my padded knees (with plastic slide cover) and from a hidden hole in long grass at low speed which was my worst fall - most painful, landing on padded shoulder on asphalt. That was an uncontrolled instant splat.
With falling at speed, I feel confident I will (and have) react and end up sliding on my knees.
After 2 1/2 years of riding the KH36, I’m confident to progress to my Flansberrium G36. I so enjoyed the KH36 commuting to/from work I never used the G36. But now I feel I can safely fall at speed when I eventually can ride in high gear. To start with I will keep my volleyball ankle protectors on to handle the many many UPDs learning to change to high gear.
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My worst, most painful falls have been at very slow speed on a smaller wheel. Each time, “something” grabbed my wheel at slow speed AND one of my feet stuck to its pedal for a split second too long, and I was “catapulted” to the ground. The most recent of those falls was on a 24", and resulted in me breaking my thumb (the bone underneath the thumbnail). Eight weeks later, I could finally write correctly again without pain. Another time, on my Trials uni, I was riding in “barefoot” shoes, and my big toe was driven into the ground a split second before my chest was driven into the ground.
My falls at speed (29" and 36") have been relatively uneventful when compared to the results of the very slow falls on the Trials and 24" unicycles. In one case, I came off the 36" running, only to learn I couldn’t run that fast. I just lowered my chest to the ground as if I was a baseball player sliding into second or third base, and slid on my gloved palms, my chest, and my toes. My knees got a bit of road-rash, but nothing was broken. In another case, I came off the 29" at speed, took two or three steps and realized I wasn’t fast enough, and launched myself onto my right side, onto the grass beside the bike path, and slid for what felt like 8-10 feet (probably 2-3 feet). I have done that twice, and it works very well.
What works the best though, is to now be better at predicting when I am nearing the edge of the envelope, with the edge of the envelope characterized by a unique combination of out of control speed, and a high level of instability/imbalance. That does keep me from being a blazing-fast rider, though.
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That’s my experience. I broke my arm falling off my 26er whilst riding at a snail’s pace.
I started riding unicycles just before my 47th birthday and came from mountain biking. Naturally mountain unicycling was what I wanted to do.
After six months of riding, I was pushing myself hard and riding trails out of my skill and comfort levels.
After a long, hard ride, I decided to do one last trail feature which was a 2 foot drop into a steep, uneven built rock landing into a steep smooth dirt trail.
Back then I was always afraid as I was always pushing myself, knowing the potential for an accident was there. And I said to myself, as I’ve heard many others say, “don’t think, just do it”.
After the initial drop, I was leaning too far forward and gaining speed. Thinking I could ride it out, I pedaled faster, until I had no choice but to exit forwards. By this time I was on the smooth dirt trail. The nature of speed and momentum being what they are, my little legs couldn’t keep up and I fell forwards. I put my arms out, but they were dragged under me and there was that one rock on the side of the trail. It was sizeable, but luckily no bigger, because it moved about a foot as my rib cage took the full impact and smashed into it.
The explosion of agony was profound and after writhing around for a bit, was able to sit, then stand, the hobble to the top of the trail. I was on my own and only about a mile and a half from home with dirt roads all the way, but was unable to ride.
I thought I’d likely broken a couple of ribs and nearing home stopped to relieve myself. My urine was blood red. Not a good sign! I drove myself to the emergency room nearly passing out on the way.
Turns out I’d ruptured a kidney and had to be flown to another city as our local hospital doesn’t have a resident urologist. Luckily our bodies are resilient and the kidney healed itself, no surgery necessary, and I was discharged from the emergency room to find my way home one and a half days later.
It was very expensive! Fortunately my insurance is good and covered most of it. The emergency flight alone cost over $90,000 (USD).
This photo was taken on the day of my discharge from the hospital.
I was told not to do anything risky for three months, but was riding again after three weeks. I’m still riding, skills are constantly improving, riding harder than ever and I’m still absolutely addicted! I’m 50 now.
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Took a bump at speed on the trail just a little too fast while on my freewheel, fast enough to catch air (probably only an inch or so), losing contact with the ground. Sadly tuck and roll wasn’t achieved. Landed awkwardly with my right foot rotating it out into a not-normal position. Heard and felt a pop when I landed and was tossed to my left side and stopped hard.
Felt no immediate pain, which for me is a bad thing. When I get hurt I normally feel it and figure out what needs to be done. Sat there for a minute or so until pain crept in. A few people I just passed on the trail asked me if I was ok. “Probably, but not sure right now. Giving myself a minute to assess and go from there.”
Tested my ankle a bit and knew it was walkable. Got up by myself and started walking hobbling back. An older couple saw me making my way back and asked if I was ok. I let them know I’ve been married for many years and am very used to pain. The husband gave me a knowing look over my comment.
The closer I got to the parking lot the more it started to hurt. Methought perhaps I could remount and ride the rest of it down. That was a #BigNope. I continued on until I made it back to my vehicle. Loaded my gear and sat down to drive. Gave my wife a call to update her on my status. After a question or few of whether I needed any treatment, I assured her I could make it home on my own. The ride back wasn’t pleasant but took it easy and gingerly adjusted my foot from accelerator to brake carefully.
Whether rightfully or wrongly I made my way up the two flights of stairs with my uni. Opened the door to the immediate question of “Why didn’t you ask for my help?” My attempt at humor responding with “Because I’m a dumb male…” didn’t go over like I wanted.
The day after it was very sore, swollen, and thankfully that was when the taunting from my wife and daughter began. Transiting to the restroom or kitchen was non-trivial and was an ordeal for me which illicited deserved parody from my family. Sadly neither of them have seen young Fronkensteen and my walk-this-was comment was lost on them. Day 2 is much improved and swelling is down a lot. Relying on rest to recover and it is working better than I expected.
Hope to be back to riding soon despite my wife’s exasperation.
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I was learning how to jump mount, and I missed not one, but BOTH pedals…
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The rest of course isn’t very funny and I wish you a fast recovery.
I used to run the circus skills club in my hometown. One evening I was practising rolling hops on my trials uni and mid jump was surprised to be in the air holding the saddle handle but the saddle was no longer attached to the post. It had sheared and left a jagged end which I landed on. There were quite a few kids around so couldnt shout the pertinent expletives so just ran to the toilets to drop my jeans and see where all the blood was coming from. Thankfully my ability to produce small clowns wasn’t harmed but I now have a cool scar running up my inner thigh which I can’t get out in public.
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When you are hurt is the best time to teach small children all the colorful words. Paint with all the colors for the rainbow.
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I went on a night tour on Friday. The field paths are soaked during the day and the farmers create ruts with their tractors. Especially when they pull a trailer with narrow tires behind them, then there is a deep rut from which there is no escape. I got stuck in one of these ruts and jumped off the unicycle. When I landed, there was a sharp pain in my left calf and I couldn’t run, so I fell headfirst. Not really a problem, I have a good rolling technique over my shoulder. I fall like this about once a year. This time it didn’t go well, the temperature was well below freezing and I fell with my shoulder on the hard frozen edge of the rut. I heard a bang and felt sharp pain and my arm just hung down. I could hardly walk either because the pain was immense.
I then called my girlfriend and she found me after a while. We went to the hospital (Friday night). Shoulder is broken. Today I had a CT scan and was told that it was more complicated than expected and that a titanium plate had to be screwed in. It could take several months before I can put full weight on it again. The bad thing is that I have no idea how I’m going to run my unicycle shop during that time. You can’t mount tires, pump tires or do any other work with one hand. Of course it had to hit my right shoulder. You’re completely at your mercy when you can only use your left hand, suddenly you can’t do almost anything yourself.
Tomorrow I’ll discuss anesthesia and on Wednesday I’ll have surgery. I hope everything goes well.
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In 2023 there was a speed radar thingy which i could only ever get to reach 30 km/h on my 36"/125mm 
. One evening even after commenting on the fact that i was feeling quite dizzy i foolishly attempted it on my 24" reaching 25 km/h safely spurring me on to the 36" and not supprising in retrospect I fell right on my face getting a decent amount of decent road rashes(?) everywhere from my knees to the face and spraining my ankle putting me out of commision for around two weeks. (Helmet still not neccesary) Edit: The worst part is that i only reached 27 km/h that day . 
Meanwhile in 2022 on the comparative death-trap that is the two wheeled unicycle, due to a malfunction of the drivetrain while only doing around 30 km/h I fell right onto my kneecap shattering it and my unicycle dreams for a whole year!! Even now I can get some slight kneepain when doing “hills” on my 36"/75 mm
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