Biden falls while getting off his bike after a beach ride

[Polybius]

Source: NPR

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Biden fell when he tried to get off his bike at the end of a ride Saturday at Cape Henlopen State Park near his beach home in Delaware, but wasn't hurt in the tumble.

"I'm good," he told reporters after U.S. Secret Service agents quickly helped him up. "I got my foot caught" in the toe cages.

Biden, 79, and first lady Jill Biden were wrapping up a morning ride when the president decided to pedal over to a crowd of well-wishers standing by the bike trail. Biden, who was wearing a helmet, took the spill when he tried to dismount, apparently falling on his right side and rolling on to his back before being helped up.

The president quickly collected himself and spent several minutes chatting with people who had gathered to watch him bike. Biden did not need medical attention and is "fine," according to a White House statement.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/18/1106057751/biden-falls-getting-off-bike

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[Botany]

1. You know how to never fall from a bike? Don't ride one.

The man is 79 and still riding bikes. Go Joe go.

BTW he is the best President of my lifetime, he is doing a great job, and "they" are
out to stop him no matter what.

[AntiFascist]

22. I'd like to see Trump try to ride a bike...

he would probably need training wheels, or one of those adult tricycles.

[Rebl2]

28. He would

need a tricycle

[truthisfreedom]

34. He couldn't even walk down a ramp without help

[Initech]

30. At least Biden is out there trying! And he's out there with the people.

Trump on the other hand eats Big Macs in bed while hate watching 8 different news networks throwing the wrappers on the floor and rage tweeting about it (he can't do that anymore!), but god forbid it interrupts his precious tee time.

[packman]

2. Fox 2 hr. special on Joe's age and unfitness in ---

5-4-3-2-1-

[quakerboy]

37. McDonalds has pretzels now?

[Demovictory9]

15. Daily fail front page

[electric_blue68]

21. Drumph couldn't even ride a bike any more, amirite?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Unless you're racing or doing serious mountain biking stuff, why use toe clips?

[mockmonkey]

4. I know right.

When I read that I was thinking you're just asking for trouble.

[Louis1895]

5. I agree

I am scared to use toe clips for the very reason illustrated in this video (I am almost 69). Of course, I did not learn how to ride a bike until I was 9!!

I am sure Joe has many more hours on a bike than I do!

I bet TFG cannot ride a bike. Probably never learned!

[Backseat Driver]

16. I was a late-blooming cyclist too!

Taught myself on a neighborhood friend's bike; no training wheels. Finally got one of my own about age 13, a big 26" chunky girls Roadmaster with coaster brakes--others over the years, even adjusted to handbrakes, but never had a fear of falling until I didn't have healthcare. Think now, at my age, I'd love to take a recumbent trike for a bike hike or maybe evolve to an electric seated scooter. My grandson also doesn't seem worried; at 12, he hasn't learned yet either.

Never learned to swim either until I was over 21. That lack of skill cut into my teen-age summer social life for sure!

These are life skills everyone should learn.

[electric_blue68]

23. I learned to bike somewhere around ?8 yrs old. At my NJ cousin's house...

I think I have a vauge memory of the time my uncle let go of back of the bike. Back early '60s then no helmets.

I love bike riding. Even rented bicyles to ride in part of Central Park. Mostly I rode at my 2 cousins different towns in NJ. Ihaven't done it in years.

[pfitz59]

49. I hate toe clips

never use 'em

[we can do it]

8. I like them, and they do trip me once in a while.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Yes. Crazy. Tried 'em, hated them. Mishap waiting to happen.

[Major Nikon]

35. Because they make riding a bike more efficent and stable

I prefer cleats, but it's the same idea.

[Peregrine Took]

6. I'm 78 and afriad to get on a bike anymore and I've tried.

In fact I have one waiting to be picked up at the local bike shop.

Its a "step through" which means its easy to get on and off but I am thinking about cancelling it as, after a few falls on the running trail (tripped over rocks half hidden in the dirt) I have a real terror of falling.

[Backseat Driver]

17. Maybe go for a big trike if you have the storage?

I've always kind of missed peddling on a cushy seat with the wind in my hair!

[msfiddlestix]

43. And we should have a terror of falling at our age

a fall that used to be a "nothing burgrer" get up, dust off the gravel and walk on like nothing happened.

When us seniors have a fall, it can be not just fractures and broden bones that take forever to heal, but the cause of internal injuries and an the begining of serious decline.

In my little village enclae of seniors of various age, the number one thing we remind each other is to avoid falling at all cost.

There have been a few deaths here, from falls unknown to us neighbors.

It's my personal view, that Biden ought not to these precariously hazardous activities. We need him to keep fit, but there are other ways.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. Why is the press making such a big deal of this?

[agingdem]

9. Trump needs help walking down a ramp

Joe likes riding bike...good for him!!

[samnsara]

10. im younger and cant even get on one! good for Joe...

[Red Pest]

12. Switch to using clipless pedals, but keep riding

I have been an avid cyclist since 1975 (when I was 24 yr old). I remember that once when I was at the ripe old age of 28, I fell while toe-clipped in at a red light. I just forgot to release the toe strap. Embarrassing, but I was unhurt (except for pride). Shortly after that incident, I purchased my first pair of clipless pedals - no toe clips, no strap, no hassle - one just clicks in and the release is just a twist of the foot. It becomes second nature.

Of course, one could just go with platform pedals. A friend of mine uses platform pedals on his bike that he uses to commute to work.

Just get rid of the outdated toe clips.

[peacebuzzard]

14. those metal stirrups look unsafe anyway

I have not biked in years, love the sport and would love to return to ride. I would never dream of those clipless pedal things, they just look unsafe. I think they look like saddle stirrups and I have been caught at times in those, without accident, and when I was much more agile than today.

[Red Pest]

19. I assume that "those metal stirrups" are toe clips attached to pedals (old school tech)

Clipless pedals are much like ski bindings, but much lighter & smaller. Clipless pedals do not look like saddle stirrups.

Here is a link to a site that has a nice explanation of the various pedal types.

Link: https://www.bikeexchange.com/blog/bicycle-pedal-buyers-guide

[msongs]

18. time to take up golf? nt

[wishstar]

20. I've never used toe clips for that reason. Prefer to have shoes with tread that grips pedals well

I have two pairs of Nikes with excellent grip on bike pedals (found in Dick's Sporting goods clearance rack years ago) that I reserve just for bike riding so they don't wear out too fast. Also have special pedals with metal grips on my mountain bike. I'm a few years younger than Joe but my spouse is same age as Joe and still rides bike often too using good shoes that grip pedals.

[BlueIdaho]

25. Gave up toe clips back in the 70s.

Now that I’m in my 70s - no way I’d reconsider. As spring turns into summer, my wife and I will be on our bikes daily. Great for balance, strengthening your core, and breathing fresh air. Why it almost like flying! 😉

[we can do it]

24. That's a pretty shitty video.

Can't really see what happened. Disorienting to look at.

[toesonthenose]

26. He was stopping to talk to people that gathered to see him.

He started to come to a stop, and when taking his foot off of the pedal, you could see his one foot not fully get out of the clip and he wasn't able to use that foot to balance and keep the bike up.

[ffr]

27. And let me guess, like an inspirational leader, he got back up, sluffed it off and rode off after

Been there. Done that. It's called risk taking.

Joe Biden is a rock star!!!

[Rebl2]

29. Haven't been

able to ride since I was a child when I developed rheumatoid arthritis. The pumping of the pedals made my knees swell and hurt. I am thankful he was okay.

[Initech]

31. Didn't take long for the Trump trolls to pounce on this.

Biden fell off a bike? Big fucking deal. At least he can ride a bike.

[onetexan]

32. Yup. Who cares? Joe's in good health for his age.

The Con hid his real health records.

[IronLionZion]

33. I never liked toe clips

I prefer to keep it simple with normal pedals

[GenThePerservering]

36. Joe looks young and fit!

And sounds like he landed well.

An option for folks concerned about balance is a three-wheel recumbent bike - they have benefits over and above the three wheels in that they also have some cargo carrying capacity at the back, room for a pack, just naturally. I test rode some of those for a friend who owned a bike shop and they were a lot of fun.

Also for pedals, you can get something called a 'city clip', which just goes over the toe - they just bolt on and you can wear any kind of shoes with them. No straps to get tangled in.

I raced off road until I was 50 and was state ranked, and always rode just flat BMX pedals - I hated the idea of not being able to let my freak feet fly if I got into the weeds - plain flat pedals and sticky shoes work great.

I'm in my late 60s and ride my bike and tow a trailer to go curb surfing - my husband still rides centuries going on 70, but even if you just get out there for a few miles, it's all good.

[Aussie105]

38. I'm younger than he is

and I sometimes fall over just getting out of bed or a chair.

Joe is doing well, never fear.

(Love to see Trump ride a bike. Or walk 100 yards. Not_going_to_happen!)

[betsuni]

39. I fell down yesterday.

It started raining and I rushed out to collect the laundry, tripped when I approached the porch with the clothes, went down, my legs dangling. Stayed that way for a while. It was kind of comfortable. Then worried that a neighbor saw, so hauled myself up. Of course the rain stopped as soon as I took the laundry in.

[Seinan Sensei]

40. Yeah, well ... Bush 43 fell off a Segway

Hell, W even choked on a pretzel ...!

[DFW]

41. Jusr re-enacting the first episode of "The West Wing."

Can't think of any other explanation...........

[melm00se]

42. I live in an area

where many people are President Biden's age.

The only bikes that they ride are either big trikes like this



or recumbent trikes like this

[caraher]

44. Predictably getting lots of play to paint him as old and fading away

The fact is that if you're not using plain old flat pedals this happens sometimes, and it's not about age or fitness. I rode 3000 miles from Indiana to Washington and used pedals and shoes with mountain bike cleats for the first time on that ride, and fell twice basically the same way as Biden, making a wrong move while stopping.

I saw this from a different angle on YouTube and the comments were insane. After he got up he spoke briefly to some children and the comments had two main themes, claiming this shows Biden is too old to be president and accusing him of pedophilia. (Oh wait, there was a third theme, which was basically celebrating his fall.)

Every recent president gets every stumble amplified and mocked (Gerald Ford was the earliest example I recall). This is unlike most in that what happened to Biden happened in a situation where such stumbles are much more likely than riding a Segway or walking on stairs or a ramp.

My personal favorite national leader faceplant is this one:

[SunSeeker]

45. He didn't fall off his bike, he just couldn't get his foot out of the toe clip when he stopped.

It's not like like he was riding along and fell off his bike. A crowd had formed in his path and when he stopped for the crowd, he couldn't get his foot out of the toe clip fast enough, and fell over. It's a common hazard of using toe clips. That's why I never wanted to put toe clips on my road bike, even when I was in my 20s. I knew I would face plant when I stopped.

[BHDem53]

46. I've tipped over my bike at six and I've tipped over my bike at sixty. Gravity happens. 🚲🚴‍♂️

[TexLaProgressive]

47. I did a similar tumble on Friday the 13th in May.

Mine was different as I was stopped at a traffic light, distracted and the light changed. I started to go, but still distracted did not move. Guess what, no go, no balance. I fell on my right side. Unlike the president, I did get a nasty 3 inch bleeder on my elbow. The important thing is my bike wasn’t harmed. I mean you have to maintain proper perspective.

[Bayard]

48. Toe clips can be a bear if you can't get your foot out quick enough

Been there, done that. Didn't hit a RR track quite perpendicular. Result, road pizza on the elbow.

I was much younger though....