Mountain Biking - Easily avoidable stupid little problems

What kind of problems have you encountered on the trails that could have been easily avoided but which taught you a valuable lesson about what to do (or not to do) next time. If only you had brought a certain tool, spare tube,pump, water pack, tie wrap, duct tape etc. I find it valuable to learn through other people's mistakes (as well as my own sordid history).

My latest example: When patching a tire check the inside of the tire one last time just before you put it back on. Result of not doing so: Another flat 30 seconds later because of something that got in while carelessy putting the tire back on.

When you're at the top of the hill, looking down a long steep drop to the bottom - put your seat down.

Last year I drove over an hour to do some mountain biking. Five minutes into the ride my chain busted. I didn't have a chain tool.

I walked back to the car and made the hour drive back home.

Had my first adventure race on the weekend. Was very wet and muddy. At about the middle of the mountainbike section, due perhaps to the weather but maybe more to not checking the bolts properly , the outside of the rear deraleur wheels and jockey wheels decided to part company, turning my bike into a scooter for the rest of the bike legs. Unfortunaly I didn't have a removable link on that bike.

So in conclusion, make sure you check all bolts, and have a removable link and chainbreaker handy.

First, the obvious, no tube or patch kit, but I had a pump so every mile I had to stop to put more air in.


Second is one time I stayed up late, woke up early and didnt eat. I went on about a fifteen mile ride and it was +90degrees. After about eight miles I started to realize I was not feeling well, so we turned around. The last five miles back to my house was hell, literally. Average speed was probally five miles an hour, I thought I was going to die(not literally) and almost passed out numerous times. It could have been avoided if I had eaten breakfast, and it also would have helped if I had a cliff bar or something of the like.


Third lesson, I learned at a young age. I just bought a bike from Toys R Us, and couldnt wait to ride it. It was a mountain bike, I was in like 6th grade. I took out my ride for a spin, on the way home I did a little bunny-hop over a crack in the street and my front tire fell off, not all the way, but it was loose enough to send me over the bars. I was going pretty fast, I landed face first, and somehow the bike ending up landing on top of me. I got the wind knocked out of me, it sucked. I guess there are two lessons here, check your equipment before you ride and never trust the idiots at retail places to put a bike togehter safely, or even correctly for that matter. You wouldnt want your child getting on and getting all f'd up.

^ Woah...

Yeah, I'm with that check your equipment before you ride. Also bring the right tools. I went outside for a aimless ride around town, no specific path, just going over hills across/streets/cement paths but the ride was cut short when the seat came loose. I didn't tighten that little screw when I adjusted my seat angle! I had a pain in the rear and couldn't sit down because it got so unbearable. I had to bike home because I figured I didn't need to bring my tools.

The last five miles back to my house was hell, literally. Average speed was probally five miles an hour, I thought I was going to die(not literally) and almost passed out numerous times.

I have bonked twice and it feels pretty awful. Now I eat bread, apples, and bananas before the ride, and take a few energy bars with me.

One day after work I decided to squeeze in a ride. I was in a hurry and decided that instead of filling my Camelbak I would just use the water bottle for hydration.
Everything was fine until I got a flat. Of course my pump was still at home in my Camelbak. I had to walk / jog about 2 miles uphill back to the car. During the walk, about 3 cars passed me...I'm sure they were thinking "this chump can't even ride up the hill...he has to walk! Ha! Ha! Look at the little girly-man walking!"...at least that's what I thought I heard them thinking.

Don't assume that your expensive map from the Geological Survey of Canada is absolutely correct. Just because it SAYS that's a road underneath the power lines, don't let the map overrule your common sense.
Me: "Jeez, this is awful steep and rocky. who could ever drive a vehicle up here? Ah, well, the map says it's a road. I'm sure it will smooth out."
And I paid FOURTEEN BUCKS for that map!

Recently, my chain snapped. My own fault. I hadn't oiled or lubed or cleaned the chain in ages and I had been riding it daily in mud and wet (pnw baby...) I just didn't want to clean it, snap. halfway through the trail near the top. I was able to ride out, I knew of a dh section so I didn't need a chain, but I had to walk home from the trail exit :)

Drove an hour to go riding only to realize I left my XC shoes at home. Riding in shorts, jersey, helmet and work boots is an ODD thing to see.

Was thirsty and hungry so I drank a BIG GULP (44 oz of Mt. Dew) and a Microwave burritto on the way to the trails. Fifteen minutes into the ride, I was puking them both up!!!!!

Going too slowly down a slick muddy chute. The front tire clipped the edge of the trail, stopped and I went over the bars. Sometimes too slow is BAD!

[QUOTE=a2psyklnut]Drove an hour to go riding only to realize I left my XC shoes at home. Riding in shorts, jersey, helmet and work boots is an ODD thing to see.

Funny! I did the exact same thing, but I was wearing flip flops. I turned around and went home. :mad:

go slow you first time down a new trail, things kinda pop up where you dont expect them.

I stopped to fix my mate's chain (it had jumped off and the derailleur was tangled in the spokes and the chain was bent). I layed down my bike by a tree and got to work. I loosened the derailleur, pulled it out of the spokes, straightened the chain as best as I could and tightened the derailleur. (R/D by the way). Anyway, as I went to pick my bike up, I noticed I had flat. I parked the bike on a pile of thorns left there. :p I had no spare tube, pump nor tire levers and went home. I was so angry I decided to dish out all my pocket money for a pump, spare tube and tire levers. I've never had a flat since then. :p

I need to walk the track next race. I often take the slower line simply because I didnt see the faster line.

If you ride out of town to your riding area, no matter how tempting a Dairy Queen hot fudge sunday looks on the way out to the ride, DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE CRAVING! After stopping for a sunday break because you "won't be going that hard till you get there" and that your stomach will "have time to digest it". Half an hour later when your on the side of the trail with some of the worst cramps of your life you'll know how wrong you were to give into that cup of dairy product and chocolate bliss.

^^^ AMEN!

Don't decide to eat a bannana for some extra energy approximately 30 *seconds* before hitting the trail. The only time I've ever puked while riding a bike!