Recently I decided to ride to where my wife works and thought I'd spend some time with her. Today I had a heck of a time riding in - for some reason my body felt really tired. To top it off, it was a head wind. So I decided to take it easy and arrived safely at my destination.
When I decided to go home I thought "Sweet a tail wind". This is rare for me. On my commutes home, I'm always battle the Fremantle Doctor. After months of whinging to myself I finally accepted it was there to stay. Anyway, on my way home I was maintained speeds of between 38-40kph. The adrenalin was huge and I was curious what my average speed would be when I got home. About 2km from home, I was going around a corner - BANG! I was on the ground. Luckily it was a quite street. I picked myself up and realised the chain came off and i just had to put it back on. Then another bang (or pop), the back tire let go. Now I'm starting to feel giddy. Noticing the blood down my arm I'd called my wife to pick me up.
When I got home I noticed my helment had a big dent in it. Now I know why we wear helments! I thought about what happened. I must have tried to accelerate too early in the corner and the pedal clipped the ground. I guess that what happens when all you can think about is speed.
With the bike still in car, what should I be looking at when I'm checking the if the bike is in good working order?
First Major Stack
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Postby Mulger bill » Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:32 am
Jeez Karadoc, that's a rough way to finish your ride. Hope you're OK.
First up, look over the whole bike for scratches/gouges to the finish, which my point to deeper damage. Look over the frame for dented or bent tubes and look at joints for signs of damage. Pick up each end in turn and spin the wheels. Finally make sure controls haven't moved and check them for function.
Shaun
First up, look over the whole bike for scratches/gouges to the finish, which my point to deeper damage. Look over the frame for dented or bent tubes and look at joints for signs of damage. Pick up each end in turn and spin the wheels. Finally make sure controls haven't moved and check them for function.
Shaun
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
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Postby jonbays » Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:37 pm
Hope you are OK and the lesson is learned.
I had a similar expeirence many years ago when I was pushing myself way too hard to stay with the front bunch in a race and I got to the point where I was almost dizzy and the concentration just focussed right down to just keeping the pedals turning. Unfortunately in a bunch riding close this was just dangerous and sure enough I clipped wheels and brought a few people down with me.
You need to learn the limits you can push yourself too and still maintain a broad enough focus on the road and traffic and so forth.
I had a similar expeirence many years ago when I was pushing myself way too hard to stay with the front bunch in a race and I got to the point where I was almost dizzy and the concentration just focussed right down to just keeping the pedals turning. Unfortunately in a bunch riding close this was just dangerous and sure enough I clipped wheels and brought a few people down with me.
You need to learn the limits you can push yourself too and still maintain a broad enough focus on the road and traffic and so forth.
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Re: First Major Stack
Postby wombatK » Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:51 pm
Could you have slipped on debris on the corner (i.e. going a little faster, taking a different line to your customary one) - that might also account for the tyre puncture ? Good call getting the missus to pick you up - giddyness means you were concussed and not fit to ride on. Bike damage is much easier to fix than head damage !karadoc wrote: I was going around a corner - BANG! I was on the ground. Luckily it was a quite street. I picked myself up and realised the chain came off and i just had to put it back on. Then another bang (or pop), the back tire let go. Now I'm starting to feel giddy. Noticing the blood down my arm I'd called my wife to pick me up.
+1 for the comments that the helmet has gotta go. They're designed for one use only, and yours has used its one life.
If the chain had let go, I'd suggest checking the derailleur adjustments; and check that your shifters haven't taken any damage (eg. knocked sideways etc.,.)
Hope you're okay now, and that the bike fixes up well too.
WombatK
Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us -Jerry Garcia
Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us -Jerry Garcia
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Postby karadoc » Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:02 pm
Thanks for all your well wishes.
Woke up today with a slight limp. Apart from bruises and a few scratches I'm OK.
Checked out the helmet first and found it was cracked. So its time to get another one. I'm glad it did its job. I still remembered when my head hit the ground - so I'm going to have a check up (due for one anyway).
I will look at the bike soon. As long as I don't have a helmet, the bike is useless. Will look at youtube clips for tutorials on how to fix/adjust the things on the bike as advised.
Thank you everyone for letting me know where to start on the "road to recovery"
Woke up today with a slight limp. Apart from bruises and a few scratches I'm OK.
Did you throw away the helmet? Sounds like a new one is in order.
Checked out the helmet first and found it was cracked. So its time to get another one. I'm glad it did its job. I still remembered when my head hit the ground - so I'm going to have a check up (due for one anyway).
If the chain had let go, I'd suggest checking the derailleur adjustments; and check that your shifters haven't taken any damage (eg. knocked sideways etc.,.)
First up, look over the whole bike for scratches/gouges to the finish, which my point to deeper damage. Look over the frame for dented or bent tubes and look at joints for signs of damage. Pick up each end in turn and spin the wheels. Finally make sure controls haven't moved and check them for function.
I will look at the bike soon. As long as I don't have a helmet, the bike is useless. Will look at youtube clips for tutorials on how to fix/adjust the things on the bike as advised.
Could you have slipped on debris on the corner (i.e. going a little faster, taking a different line to your customary one) - that might also account for the tyre puncture ?
I think I've found them. This accident was avoidable. I wasn't thinking. I consider myself relatively new to all this and all I could think about is how fast I was going.You need to learn the limits you can push yourself too and still maintain a broad enough focus on the road and traffic and so forth.
Thank you everyone for letting me know where to start on the "road to recovery"
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