Mountain Biking - Be Interesting

There is a lot of talk about here asking advice and stuff, which is cool cause it's what this site is mainly for. I'd like, however, to hear more about peoples cool experiences/tricks/crashes. Those are always fascinating stories. Especially if they involve really big skid burns or aliens

Here, here!

So come on then...tell us your story :D

Rich

Really big side burns?

At the end of my first lap of my very first race I managed to do an endo in front of the score girl. I know its not very interesting, but you gotta start somewhere.:o

Oh I can beat that! :D

Me and a friend were cycling down a road hill with cars parked up either side, and at the bottom, one guy in a car opened his door without first looking, and my mate went flying into the door, his bike stopped, and he carried on...

It was weird...one minute my mate was there, next he was flying beside me...a modern day miricle...

Rich

He was ok by the way :D

I'm down here in Florida and well, we're known for certain critters. I was riding a trail along a creek and was moving along at a pretty good speed. The trail I was on merged with another wider trail. At the merger, there is about a 2'0" drop that's a lot of fun to blast off of. You can usually get about 6'0" of horizontal distance. You can't see what's on the other side until you're almost airborne.

So, here I am cruising along, blast off the trail and look down and see about a 6' gator heading toward the water. I flew past him, probably flew over his tail, not torsoe. Freaked him/her out and definately freaked me out.

I went home and had a couple of beers after that one!

L8R

Once, when I was a total newbie, I fell of a bike at 2mph trying on a sharp turn, busted my elbow and almost passed out because of the pain. Yeah...
I'll shut up now.
:o

First day with clipless pedals... did a wonderful trackstand at a light before sloooooly falling over. Not real dramatic, I know, but Its the only time I ever received a standing ovation from a bunch of people at a bus stop.

Originally posted by Greg
Really big side burns?

How about dyeing them different colours?

Richard

10 years ago during a downhill...
got out of track while coasting restlessly after the main downhill at 60km.h . jumped over a bush ...passed through the 2nd and stuck the fr wheel on a third bush...flipped over while the bike slammed on me...luckily only bruises....and a cracked Scott Unishock fork.

1993 Greek island of Kos.
Yannis

So, this week I'm riding down a narrow double track and I spook a deer out of the bushes beside the trail. She bounced onto the trail ahead of me and then bounded down it. I accelerated, and before long I could count the hairs on her little white tail. After a moment she realized I was right behind her and she turned right. I mean, on a dime, at speed, and disappeared into the woods.

The whole thing lasted 20 seconds, if that, but it was a very cool 20 seconds.

15 years from now. . .

"Grandpa, tell us more about the time you caught a deer on your mountainbike," the child asked WoodyUpstate.

I will just say that good looking woman in bikinies, sandy bike paths, 25mph and a tight turn will turn you into Superman right quick. I did however do a sweet tuck and roll and pop right up on my feet then slid, as though I was on ice, about 3 feet.


Slainte :beer:

Keep your eyes on the path dirtbikedude! Those babes will get you in trouble!

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
I'm down here in Florida and well, we're known for certain critters. I was riding a trail along a creek and was moving along at a pretty good speed. The trail I was on merged with another wider trail. At the merger, there is about a 2'0" drop that's a lot of fun to blast off of. You can usually get about 6'0" of horizontal distance. You can't see what's on the other side until you're almost airborne.

So, here I am cruising along, blast off the trail and look down and see about a 6' gator heading toward the water. I flew past him, probably flew over his tail, not torsoe. Freaked him/her out and definately freaked me out.

I went home and had a couple of beers after that one!

L8R

WOW gators ! the worst we have to look out for are really fierce tabby cats over here.!
Well there is the occasional cross cow I suppose...:D

Originally posted by stumpjumper
First day with clipless pedals... did a wonderful trackstand at a light before sloooooly falling over. Not real dramatic, I know, but Its the only time I ever received a standing ovation from a bunch of people at a bus stop.

Yeh I did this only last month on a gravely path in front of a big pub heaving with other cyclists. The track stand and manoevering was heroic but there is only ever one outcome. I got a standing ovation and the event organiser came over and asked me if I would do it again as she didn't manage to get a photo of it!..:o :o :o

Keep your eyes on the path dirtbikedude

:roflmao: :roflmao: :angel: :p

Great stuff guys... I think as2psyklnut had the best story, with dirt bike dude's tuck and roll in front of the chick a close second (did she say hi?)

I'm afraid I'm too new to have any really good stories. My roomate however, is twice the biker I am. He and his dad have built a couple of mini-bikes that are just plain AWESOME. The first one is so small (about maybe a 6" frame size) it is almost impossible to ride. The second is just a tiny bit bigger but is patterned after the Santa Cruz Bullit. YES, a full suspension, downhill style bicycle that a dwarf might be too big for. I've gone over the handlebars on it more than once and I don't want to think about what he's done on it. :eek:
I'll have to get some pictures of 'em

How about the time my wife and I were riding the trail at the Unicoi State Park in GA. On the back side of the 1st loop, there is a fast technical downhill section through one of the descents, then through some smooth fast switchbacks that end at the stream.

At the top of the descent, my wife has some apprehension, so I tell her, "don't use your brakes through the technical stuff. The faster you go, the more forward momentum you have and the less likely that you'll fall over. Your bike is full suspension, use it!"

She goes first, I wait a usual 15-20 seconds and I go. I don't see her at all! I go through the tech stuff, and she's nowhere to be found, so I keep riding. I finally meet her at the bottom by the stream and she asks, "Where you been?" I reply, "Well, I was riding that there trail that was technical and fun!" She then says, "I've been waiting awhile for you." I ask, "How long?" She answers "I dunno, but I did what you said and didn't use my brakes at all."

I was stunned, "AT ALL? I meant just through the technical section!!!!!"

L8R

I guese she is better then you thought, huh?
Although I must say, I thought you were going to say she went so fast as to end up in the stream and not on her bike.

Slainte:beer:

Could we have the next Missy Giove I wonder? ;)

Rich

Yeah, she's a crazy girl. Her nickname for awhile was "WildWoman", at least until last summer. We were up in NC riding DH at Sugar Mtn and she took a nasty fall. She tried to tackle a tree, broke some ribs and landed on a rock right on her knee. ER, pain killers, lots of damage, and she still has pain from that injury. Since then she's been a chickensheet. Takes her a long time to get warmed up and our first ride of the day has to be an easy non-technical trail. By the end of the day, she's about 90% of her old self!

That crash left a natsy "Fear" memory on her. Any one else experience similar memories.

L8R

ready?

(first one is non-bike related)
when I was around 11 or so I was at a friends house. we were in his attic playing around and I was going to step over this ladder that was folded up on the floor.

the next thing I know, I'm lying in his kitchen.
seems they had a pull down ladder in the kitchen and I had stepped on the door.
I remember hitting my head really hard on the ground.

his mom made sure I wasn't bleeding and we went on playing....

~end

same friend is staying at my house and we are at the local playground. there is this big metal slide that's about 12 feet high.
I would carry my bike up the stairs and balance it at the top while I got on the bike, then ride down the slide.

well my friend was playing on the slide and wouldn't get out of the way so I'm hanging out on top and lost my balance. I fell to the ground and landed in the gravel that was below the slide.

made sure I wasnt' hurt too bad and kept playing...

~end

I'm now 15 and my parents leave me for a week to go on vacation. I ride my bike the 3 miles into town to ride with my friends.
we are riding at the local fire department where there are two parking lots. one is below the other and the one on top has a curb on the edge to stop cars from falling over into the next one.

the lower lot has standard parking blocks.
the drop is about 2 feet and about 2 feet to the lower parking blocks. my freinds bunnyhopped from the top parking lot to the lower lot.

It was my turn and I start pedaling fast. when I get to the first curb, I pull up my front tire but don't even try to lift my back tire. I just ran right into the curb.
this throws my front tire down into the lower lots parking block.
I landed on my face and did the scorpion slide (you know, your on your face and your legs are wrapped up over your head like a scorpions stinger)

I removed all the skin from one side of my face and the BACKSIDES of my hands.
the first thing I thought of when I stood up was "how's my bike?"
I went into the fire dept. to check damage in the mirror. one of the fire guys came in and asked if I needed an ambulance.
I told him I was ok.
I rode around for a bit then went home.

Talk about scab city....

I've hit my head/face on the ground so many times I can't remember them all.

It was winter in Ohio and I was riding my rollers in the bedroom of my apartment, which I did every day for an hour or so. I've got the music going, a fan setup for cooling, and I'm about 40 minutes into it. My girlfriend and one of her friends let themselves into my place, sneak upstairs, and scare the crap out of me. I ride off the rollers, and do a slo-mo fall onto the floor (my feet were clipped in). Was funnier than h&ll.

Pretty tame compared to the gator story but it's all I got.

There used to be a 10 foot mound of dirt to block a trail at the end of this road that was like a Tee intersection. I would ride down the road as fast as I could, check for cars at the last second fly across the intersection and hit this pile of dirt as fast as I could.

One time after a big rain I did the jump but someone had driven a 4 X 4 down the trail and dug a 3 foot deep tire tread on the other side of the jump. when I landed my front tire went in the hole my back tire hit the top of the rut and I flipped over the bars and stuck my head in the mud right up to my shoulders. I just had time to pull my head out and blow the mud out of my nose before I passed out. When I came to my front tire was a pretzel but I was uninjured.

Once when I was probably about 8, I was riding my Dads 10-speed bike. It was a little big and awkward for me but I could handle it. Anyway I was heading around a corner and I was going too fast to get the bike to turn quick enough. Sure enough I jumped the curve and hit the bike straight into a metal sign. It threw me off the bike, no injuries. By the way the sign was a right-turn ahead sign. I didn't turn.

On my first real bike without training wheels, I decided I wanted to climb the biggest hill in the neighborhood, and then ride back down as fast as possible. I must have gotten going at least 30 or so, but I didn't really plan on how I was going to slow down. I ended up slamming into the side of my uncles car and denting a bunch of sheet metal. I didn't get hurt at all... I just had to break the news to my uncle :o

Was riding down a real slow, bumpy, and technical trail, and I couldn't take it any longer. It was either in my pants, between my seat and my cheeks or somewhere off to the side of the trail. Problem was, the area was very sparse with not many bushes or trees. So I took my chances, and sure enough two people slowly rode by trying to concentrate on the trail, but they couldnt help notice my white bleep and my junk and most likely a godawful smell. I havnt had any noteworthy crashes or injuries, but that was definitely the most embarrassing moment on the trail. From that day on I have carried tp in my pack, because the little leaves I had to use didnt do the best job which made for an extremely uncomfortable ride back home.

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
How about the time my wife and I were riding the trail at the Unicoi State Park in GA. On the back side of the 1st loop, there is a fast technical downhill section through one of the descents, then through some smooth fast switchbacks that end at the stream.

At the top of the descent, my wife has some apprehension, so I tell her, "don't use your brakes through the technical stuff. The faster you go, the more forward momentum you have and the less likely that you'll fall over. Your bike is full suspension, use it!"

She goes first, I wait a usual 15-20 seconds and I go. I don't see her at all! I go through the tech stuff, and she's nowhere to be found, so I keep riding. I finally meet her at the bottom by the stream and she asks, "Where you been?" I reply, "Well, I was riding that there trail that was technical and fun!" She then says, "I've been waiting awhile for you." I ask, "How long?" She answers "I dunno, but I did what you said and didn't use my brakes at all."

I was stunned, "AT ALL? I meant just through the technical section!!!!!"

L8R

You have a keeper...:D

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
That crash left a natsy "Fear" memory on her. Any one else experience similar memories.

L8R

Yeah similar though. Riding at the top of a 'locals' trail called Foreplay. There is a section where you can go on multiple lines. Right you have a 6 ft drop to flat, middle a 3 foot drop to flat but in a rock garden (not very fricken flat) or right small decline into a rough rockgarden and you need to weave through trees. I had been running the course really smooth so I wanted to attempt the rock garden (since I had complete the 3 footer and wasnt ready for 6 ft) and came at it full speed. My brain kicked in locked the front brake, my front wheel jammed and I endo shoulder first into a rock, I roll up and tackle a small tree and kind of whip around the other side landing around 3 ft away. Luckily all I did was deep bruise both shoulders and my ego. but rock gardens still freak me out.

Funny thing is this whole episode reminded me of footbal and running through the pylons (practice not a real game where the lineman stand close together like pylons and if you get close are alowed to drop you like a stone)call lineman trying to crush me into the ground. Pain is very similar...except I could knock lineman down. The tree kind of swayed and laughed at me (I swear)

No armour and a small xc helmet...I am definately getting body armour and a full face. I know that stuff happens but I don't want my body to look like a punching bag.

Probably my most unique experience is with bears. We have a lot of them out here and see them walk by our house often in the summer. Well I was on a small and very narrow trail when up ahead I see a momma bear and two cubs. First law is to NEVER go near a bear and her cubs. I stop very quickly and try to figure out a way around. The momma sees me and starts to squelch (weird screaming sound that basically signifies death if you get much closer) I slowly backed away and rode fast...I obviously knew I could never outrun a bear but I was banking on the fact the bear would know I wasn't a thread...

Second bear storey involves my gf's brother visiting from onterrible. We were out doing some BMX style tricks on the mtb's in our culdisack (sp). I head into the house for a beer (hmmmm beer) and he takes off. When he comes back a pissed off bear is in our walkway blocking the path looking for food. Sean (he brother) didn't see the bear until the last minute and ended up 1 foot in front of the bear. Not really having any experience with bears he stops dead and starts back hopping (pull front up and start bouncing on rear wheel) to make himself look bigger. The bear becomes frightened and climbs full speed up a tree making that nasty screaching sound. That ws the coolest thing I ever saw but that poor bear was terrified.

Anyways I only have two...have a good one...

Coming home from football practice with my bootbag dangling off my handlebars, and it wedged into the spokes. The bike went from 20mph to 0mph in an instant. Unfortunately as I went over the handlebars I smashed my mouth on the stem, and lost my two front teeth. To top it all a car run over my left ankle.

My latest accident was riding along the canal and while crossing a wooden bridge the front wheel slipped out. After slidding for 10ft I cracked my head on an upright. Now got a 2 inch scar as a reminder.

Moral of the story: Bags dangled from handlebars and wet wooden bridges can hurt.

Still got my passion for riding though, you live and learn.

Cheers, Portent

I had just upgraded my mountain bike brakes and they worked great. You see it coming don't you.
I was cruising down fire road with a friend and my kids. My friend was about 100 feet ahead of me. There was a fork in the road that I wanted him to take so I needed to catch up to him. So I speed up to about 25. At this point my idea was to catch him and slam on the rear brake and slide past him sideway in a cloud of dust. What really happened, you guess it, I hit the front brake, HARD, and they do work well. I went airborne, 6-7 high, 15-20 feet forward. My bike following me and landing on me. My friend looked to his left and and had quite a view of my historic flight. My kids had a good view from the rear.
Minor scrapes and bruises to the ego, but my ego is very small and heals quickly.
Steve

These stroies are great guys.

The one story that sticks out in my mind from the summer was my friend, who doesn't bike a whole lot, trying a trail we call the Grassy Knowle. Just picture standing at the top of a large grass hill with a bunch of trees littered all over it. When you stand at the top you can't see the bottom because it drops off so steep. Anyway he gave that a try and locked on his front brake right when he got to the drop off and over he went. Hahahaha his arms and legs were flailing (sp) everywhere. He finally grabbed hold of a tree and hugged that thing for dear life. Hahaha and we got it all on video.

Last summer I was at a park with a large grassy hill, very steep on one side maybe 60 degree angle or so and a gentle slope on the other. theres a blacktop path that winds around it to the top. I ride up the gentle slope to check out the view. When I leave I check out the steep side and figure aww wtf give it a try. so down I speed this hill when out of the high grass the blacktop path appears which I had forgotten about. so I go from steep downhill to level flat for about 3 feet and it drops off again back to steep. now I'm going fast and not expecting this change I hit the flat and launch off the side. I open my eyes and I'm lying on my back. head hurts, helmet is all cracked down the back and my bike is like 10 feet away from me. busted my sunglasses in half. I still don't know wtf happened. I wish someone had been there to tell me what it looked like. oh and my front wheel was bent out of whack, still ridable but it rubbed the brakes like crazy.

Nothing too exciting, the only thing was crashing through a spiltwood fence.

I was riding with my friends in Pisgah Forest. I had just gotten my new bike so of course I wanted to show off to them. there is this one part of the trail where it gets really narrow but with some great jumps. I hit a jump at top speed and did an endo somehow in midair. I had just enough time to look up adn the the tree right in front of me. I hit the tree with my left shoulder. I broke and dislocated my shoulder but at first the doctor just thought it was dislocated so he tried to tug it back into place. veeeeery painful