It was a fast descent on my road bike, followed by a tight corner. There was gravel and dust on the road, as the article mentions. I hit the brakes at the wrong time, right in the corner, at high speed, over the gravel. I've lost control in a fraction of a second. The front wheel slipped and I was on my feet in what seemed to me no more than a second.
My first bicycle crash and my knee damaged. I haven't seen these things explained until now. It might be that crashes are a rite of passage for bikers and cyclists. Incidentally, I'm not sure why road cyclists don't wear knee pads. At least they are not promoted.
Wear your helmet (I got that damaged, too), wear something underneath your jersey to avoid road rash, protect your knees and wear gloves. It all happens in a fraction of second, you don't have time to think about anything. You don't need protective gear and an understanding of the road and bike physics (this article) until you do!