General Cycling Discussion - Your worst ride.....

Hi, I completed my first epic (well, what I think is an epic). It was a 50 mile round trip along the canal. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and zero chance of rain. So, with no planning, I decided to get on my bike clad in t-shirt and jeans. I didn't plan on going so far, but just got a computer and wanted to notch up a few miles. Anyway, I ended up with three punctures, two in the rear and one up front. Thankfully I always carry two spare tubes and a repair kit. However where I did go wrong was that (a) I'm new to cycling and not fit enough, (b) I didn't pack a jumper, and (c) I didn't pack any food. So after 40 miles I'm knackered, I'm hungry and need fuel, and strangely (anyone explain) I'm cold, and I mean cold.

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the ride, but the moral of the story is to be prepared for all situations. Still, you live and learn!

Anyone else got any tales of their worst ride.

Cheers, Portent.

I love newbies, cause they remind me of what it was like before I understood this sport. I've done just that, after all 50 miles isn't that much. I didn't take any water, I didn't stop for food, and I nearly friggin' died.
My worse ride though was my last epic. I went out for a century. I was planned for it, carried supplies, and extra fleece sweater, cause I figured it would be cold. Going out it was fantastic, the roads were dry, the sun out, the snow and weather were picturesque. At the turn around I was faced with riding into the wind, not my favorite sport. This would mean an uphill battle (Ihad lossed elevation) into the wind. I was barely able to maintain a 10 mph speed, if anything it was like 8. I was hydrated, stopping for nurishment even had stuff with me, but some where about 80 miles I pulled to a stop, rested the hands on the bars, and hung my head. "I can't go on, I can't do this." It was starting to grow dark, and I was still miles from where I needed to be. It sucked, and I was so deflated that I was willing to stop at the next gas station and call a friend to come bail me out. I've never been that "Knackered" mental. It was the worse ride I've expereinced since my litle 50 mile ride that I didn't know better to bring food a long. I almost quit that day, and walked away from cycling all together.
I'm still here.

A "worst" bike ride?? You must be kidding!! :D

Well, the very FIRST ride (4 years ago) on my new mtn bike (never having owned one before) I thought, "I can go anywhere and do anything" with this bike. So, off I headed, cross country (literally) through weeds and brush.

Of course, no tube, repair kit, no nothing. About 5 miles out goatheads all over the wheels, tubes flat, tire coming off of the wheel rims.

Had a nice 5 mile hike carrying a bike that day!

MY worst ride was the last one of last season. I was about 5km from home, still in the city though. I hit a pothole and my tire goes instantly flat. Of course, no spare. So I walk my bike a full kilometer to the metro station just to find out that the guy wouldn't let me on because it was rush hour. He seemed sympathetic. So I had to go up and get a cab home. When I got home I replaced the tube on the tire to find that it was totally out of true. Further the rim was completely trashed, so that was it for that bike at the end of last season.

2 years ago, I set out for work on a cold winter morning. The temp was about 0 farenheit, and it had snowed 4-6" the night before. My bike had Nokia studded tyres, and I was dressed warmly, but it was windy. Crossing a bridge on my commute, a 60 mph crosswind blew me off the bike, and I had to walk the next 1/2 mile or so using the bike for support in staying upright. I left the bike at work that evening, then took the bus home.

Any ride with a head wind,it just kills me.

Worst ride was definately my first ever the feeling of being unfit nothing worse

Mine I would have to say was the last ride I tried to make. It was on the cool side I believe around 40. I was going down hill and slid into a rut. My front wheel got caught on something and I flipped over. No big deal right, I tend to flip myself on every ride for some reason. I pat myself down thinking alright nothing seems broken. Well, I then roll over and look at my bike which now has a front rim that looks like a cork screw. I just say "OhMan!" I grab the bike, place on my shoulders and make the 1 mile all up hill walk back to my car. That's what made it so bad was that I just got into the ride, coulda been worse though. My gloves were unlined so when I got back to my car, hands hurt so bad from being cold.

Suffice to say, any MTB ride that ends up being 30 % longer in miles and two and a half hours in time longer than what you planned, where you find yourself hopelessly lost somewhere in a National Park Forest (you think :confused: ), out of water, out of energy bars and food, with the sun setting and temperature dropping into hypothernia range (did I mention I had no idea where I was and which way to go?) and involves Lumberjacks making comments to the effect of "We don't see many bikers way out here" rates pretty high on the list of "Worst Rides"

I guess any ride that ends with an accident sucks, so I'll have to add my last ride of the season, mid october. I was hit by a car at an intersection, ending my season. So that kind of sucked.

The second worst was when I got a flat, with no tube or anything, and it started to rain. I just wanted to go "WAAAAA!" like Lucy. I called a cab and went home. It was kind of threatening rain anyways, I should have stayed home to begin with.

I don't mind wind, I don't mind rain, I don't mind cold, heat, or fatigue. What I can't stand is getting hit by something from an assjerk in a car. The other night was my worst ride ever. I don't play a victim roll well at all and getting hit put me in a two day funk. I could think of nothing but revenge. I'd look out at my bike and think... don't worry, we'll get em'. I've yet to come up with a solution to getting back at the SOBs but with my Irish luck something will come up.
Does anyone have the phone number for ACME supplies, you know the people that supplied the Road Runner's nemesis??
Doug

Thanks for your experiences, at least I know I'm not alone.

Dougmt, I had similiar experience. There was a freak blizzard which lasted a few days and I was just dying to get out there to do some riding. When the main roads had thawed, and were just slush, I went out. Anyway these jerks in a passing car threw 3-4 snowballs at me, 1 hit me in the ribs, 1 in the side of the head, and 1 just flew in front of my face. Suffice to say I nearly lost balance. Although I was totally unfit, it was pure rage which gave me the strength to catch them up. So I'm giving chase (the car is about 800 metres upfront) and I see the car turn into a road which I knew to be a deadend. At this point I'm loving it, as I knew I was going to catch the b*st*rds. So I take the turn, and what with the road being iced, I come off the bike and slide past the car on my arse with the 3 occupants absolutely p*ss*ng themselves with laughter. I've got to admit even I had to laugh (only not in front of them). I never did get my revenge as when I was picking up the bike and checking it over they drove off.

Well, I've had crashes in the past and whatever else. However, my absolute worst ride was a commute in a dust storm last year. I'm still not sure whether my lungs have recovered or not. :cry:

Went for a long ride with the boys. Took food, water and properly clothed. We had climbed the big hills and stopped for lunch. We were going to roll the 20 miles back into town with several risers and a couple of moderate hills.

This is when I find out that the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I had at the lunch stop was doing a nuclear explosion in my stomach. The pain in my stomach was about a 9 on a 10 scale. Bent over side ways, barely able to stay on the bike. Suffered for what seemed an eternity for the gas to subside.

What a miserable time. I no longer eat PBJ's and ride.
Stupid way to find out what food you can tolerate while riding. Better to do this type of thing close to home where it is easier to bail.

My worst ride could have been today. I've been pretty lethargic all winter and today was the first day I had a chance to get out. Man, am I out of shape! All my wind is gone and my legs felt like spaghetti. The good news is that it looks like spring is now officially here and I think I'll be able to get out Tues and Wed mornings before going to work. I'm off Friday, so that'll be a big day riding-wise. It felt great after my ride was done!

Originally posted by wabbit
I guess any ride that ends with an accident sucks, so I'll have to add my last ride of the season, mid october. I was hit by a car at an intersection, ending my season. So that kind of sucked.


Mine was 2 years ago in October and it ended my cycling season....for a while. I was carted away by ambulance, didn't walk for six months, and I now have a right knee reconstructed with cadaver ligaments.

The best ride was five months after reconstructive surgery, three months after I started walking again. I was able to do the MS150.....best ride of my life, to date! I cried when I made it to the finish line. I had many months of painful rehab thinking I may never be able to ride the way I did before the injury. I continue to be so thankful!!!

Mary Ann

"Worst Ride"?? I've been sitting here trying to recall anything that I might consider even a "bad ride"...I've got some great "tall" stories of "challenges" on rides, but I cherish every single memory!
Thankfully I've never been seriously injured on the bike...so thank God for that.

And thank God for the sport and the ability he's given me to enjoy it.

Portent, YOUR the one who needs the # for ACME explosives :D

Mary Ann, I tip my hat to you. Congratulations on your recovery, you must have some fortitude.
Doug

Originally posted by Metal Cowgal
Mine was 2 years ago in October and it ended my cycling season....for a while. I was carted away by ambulance, didn't walk for six months, and I now have a right knee reconstructed with cadaver ligaments.

The best ride was five months after reconstructive surgery, three months after I started walking again. I was able to do the MS150.....best ride of my life, to date! I cried when I made it to the finish line. I had many months of painful rehab thinking I may never be able to ride the way I did before the injury. I continue to be so thankful!!!

Now that is truly inspirational!

I've had way too many worst rides....

One time I got lost in the NJ Pine Barrens (no civilization for miles around) because of an erroneous map which represented a sand road (impassable by even mountain bike) as a regular paved road. I ran out of water 20 miles out from home. It was 90 degrees and I was getting baked by the asphalt. Turned around and headed back and I was probably going something like 8 miles an hour the whole way. Had to stop several times. Was so hungry that I was considering begging for change at a McDonalds I saw on my way back. And was searching the sides of the road for potential food. Collapsed on someone's front yard and napped there for 15 minutes. Finally got home and I was both extremely tired and hungry. Too tired to eat, but too hungry to sleep. LOL. I quickly made some pb&J, wolfed it down, and gulped down some water and collapsed on the couch. I was in extreme discomfort for the next 3 hours.

As for the feeling cold thing... that's hypoglycemia. Burning glucose generates body heat.... you probably ran out of your glucose/glycogen reserves and were probably relying exclusively on fat/protein catabolism for your energy, which generate heat too, but not as much.

I did a 200k 2 weeks ago that wasn't very pleasant. The return leg was very windy, up huge hills (I had to pedal DOWN the hills because otherwise the wind would have blown me to a stop) and it rained.
I was cold and wet and tired. Nothing for it but grit the teeth and turn those cranks.

Of course, 10 minutes after the finish, with some hot soup and tea in me sitting with feet up, it didn't seem so bad!?

Stew

Im in the same boat as Bike colorado, I can't think of not having a good ride.

Well.... Except that last fall when I broke my wrist, I was a little annoied that it cut my ride short.

And also riding the 6 or 7km home with a broken wrist seemed a little longer. It was into the wind, or so it seemed.
Come to think of it, it was all uphill too....

Ok I did have a bad ride, but Ive got a good story to tell about it, so Its not soo bad... LOL

Originally posted by Dougmt
Mary Ann, I tip my hat to you. Congratulations on your recovery, you must have some fortitude.
Doug


Originally posted by Chris LNow that is truly inspirational!

Thanks, guys!! I was having a rough day, and your kind words came at a good time. I'm struggling with a project and maybe if I look at the hurdles I've cleared in the past, this will give me the boost I need. Thanks, again!

Mary Ann

Went for a 70km ride over hills. It was such a nice day that half way through the ride I changed it to 160km ride over bigger hills. Yeah, right. Hot day, about 30 degrees C. Ten hills to get over with the last one, about 50km from home being the steepest and highest and it started at sea level. A ride I have done many times before (alone).

Suddenly realised about 1km from the top of the last hill that I wasn't going to make it. Got off the bike and had a rest for 15 minutes. Got back on and only just made it over the top in 39/23 and it's not that steep. Oh dear!

Crawled back home into a head wind for 45km stopping anywhere I could get a drink. Totally cramped, ears blocked which is a sign of severe dehydration. I drank 7.5 litres of fluid and still lost 5kg. (7.5 litres weighs 7.5kg). The ride normally takes 6.5 hours, this one took over 8 hours.

The girlfriend was really worried as we had just got engaged and were going out to celebrate that night. Told her to drive because I was afraid that I would cramp whilst driving.

Anyway I did marry her and now she rides as well. I'm lucky to be alive.

For those of you who know Christchurch New Zealand, the ride was Christchurch to Akaroa and return.

A brief segment of a short vacation about twenty years ago--rode from PDX to Seattle and back with a few days' stay in Seattle. On the way up, stopped for too long of a lunch in the area south of Seattle which put me exactly on schedule to ride by the then-rockin' and rollin' Boeing factory right at 4:30 as a shift was changing. Felt like a cockroach in a herd of horses!

Sometimes it's the short ones that get you:

Just a quick morning ride before work. Two miles out and I flat. Fix it and flat again (forgot to check the tire!) Fix it (patch this time) and flat again. At this point I give up and decide to walk home. Not easy in road shoes, not safe without them. Now it starts raining. Where did that come from? I decide to take the most direct route home and cut through the industrial parking lot. This ends at a 6 foot high chain link fence that goes on forever. I can see my house ahead and that spurs me to climb the fence. I take my shoes off and climb up. I reach down for my bike and raise it over the fence. I climb higher and lower my bike safely to the ground. I climb over and reach the ground safely. I go to put my shoes on and... Back over the fence. It's still raining. I throw my shoes over the fence and climb back over. My new shorts get caught and rip, now showing off my wet rear end. I get home, walk into my house, and my wife, without looking says, "that was a quick ride!"

I must be lucky.
I don't have just one worst ride, but a collection of rides each with bad elements.

Two years ago in England: It rained for 2 weeks, 135mm of the wet stuff. I was heading for Faversham from Canterbury. I was between OS maps and being VERY Canadian didn't want to buy a chart I'd only use for 12 kilometres. I got lost, took directions from a farmer who sent me up to the M highway. At last I found a marked footpath. Did I mention it was raining? The footpath took me no where and within an hour I was on a muddy trail in the middle of an illegal pheasant farm. I don't actually know that the farm was illegal, but it looked like it was. With signs all around reading "No cyclists allowed with guns", I weighed my options.
I was completely lost in a foreign country. It had been raining for two weeks and I was miles away from civilization along a muddy trail with a pheasant trying to land on my helmet.

Last year in Ontario: I'd biked from Windsor along the Chysler Trail and the Trans Canada Trail. The map showed a rail trail from Simcoe to Brantford. It did not exist so I was forced to bike on the shoulder of a major road with fast moving SUVs owned by people who disliked bicyclists. I discovered that if I went east one sideroad then north one sideroad I could avoid the heavy traffic half the time. Problem was, I was heading too far east to get around the Grand River. When I finally got to the Grand River there was a huge westerly and I had to bike right into it, for 12 kms, something I had tried to avoid by travelling west to east. When I finally got to Brantford and hit the trail trail, I found I was lucky. I was going downhill to Hamilton. It was sunny and I was down to shorts and top. Against the wind, at least 40 km/hr and going uphill was everyone else. They thought it was hot when they started, so they only wore their t-shirts--getting back was uphill into the wind and not t-shirt weather.

Go with God