Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Brakes gave out, and I got hit (agian) HARD!

I was riding home at night, across campus, crossing a big field that's bi-sected by a long sidewalk. I had the sidewalk to myself as I approached my dorm, so I was going as fast as possible.

That's when I popped my chain off. I ride with a coaster-brake, so I was ****ed.

I reached the end of the sidewalk, still going fast as hell, and flew into the courtyard outside my dorm, screaming at people to get out of the way. Still going hella-fast, I really had no choice but to go into the street.

I got creamed by a car. Me, my bike, my lock, and his license plate all went flying. I thought about the fact that I was helmetless when my hat flew off while I was flying upside down.

I'm fine, it turns out, but my bike is totaled. ****ing shame. Bent my fork and frame, shattered part of my stem, screwed up my front wheel, and of course I'll never use that coaster again. Oh, and I broke my coffee cup holder. Here's the damage:

Before the crash
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001457.jpg

The bastard coaster-brake that failed and nearly killed me
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001466.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001469.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001470.jpg

This shattered inside of the headtube. I just spent 50 on it.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001474.jpg

did the idea of putting your foot on your rear wheel not happen?
... and i'm kinda laughing thinking about how much of a fool you must have looked like.

Glad to hear you are OK. Now learn how to jam your foot in the rear tire. Please.

****, you have a rack on there. Nevermind. Still, glad you're OK. Don't sleep on the streets, G!

Also, front brakes are a really really good idea. I think.

did the idea of putting your foot on your rear wheel not happen?
... and i'm kinda laughing thinking about how much of a fool you must have looked like.

...damn...I panicked and didn't think of that in time at all.

The before looks pretty close to dropping the chain as it was. It's not a track bike, but you still want to have good chain tension.

Slack chain is a whack chain...

You're lucky that it's only the bike that got hurt. Now buy a helmet.

Glad you're OK. Sounds like it was terrifying.

When I stop with a foot, I put my heel between the rear wheel and the seat tube, inside the rear triangle. That shouldn't be effected by a rack.


****, you have a rack on there. Nevermind. Still, glad you're OK. Don't sleep on the streets, G!

Well at least now you learned to check your chain tension. It's way too low in the before pic.

I'm glad you are ok--don't trust fate twice so
learn how to keep that chain tight.

That stem's still looks ok, at least from that pic. Just put a new wedge on it.

technically, "brake" gave out

Even if you couldn't think to put foot on tire instinct should of at least caused you to put feet on pavement like fred flinstone...

Also why couldn't you slow down by riding into the grass of the courtyard?

Well, i got 2 things to say Stop knocking him for not thinking fast, We've all screwed up in ooo S**t moments, And HA thats what you get for not maintaining your bike!

if the chain came off, the brake didn't fail

if the chain came off, the brake didn't fail
That's what I was thinking. Get a front brake.

Slack-ass Chains Ftw!!

sucks, man, sorry to hear.

Looks like your chain was way loose, in the "before" photo. Perhaps that was a contributing factor.

if the chain came off, the brake didn't fail

true, just emphasizing the singular

Well, are you alright? Any bad bruises or road rash? I've been having a bad 2 weeks, with three accidents. Luckily nothing too destructive on my bike (though I did smash up my friend's crank pretty bad in one pile up), but I have so much road rash. I hate that stuff.

If you'd like I could send you a brake and lever for your next build! Don't ride without a front brake. Even with a coaster brake it's as dangerous as a brakeless fixie.

I popped my chain last night running brakeless down a hill, and I pulled a clipless shoe fred flinstone while splitting lanes. No damage done other than some excessive wear on my shoes. :)

good thing it wasnt a garbage truck

or a canadian cop

grab the front wheel next time.

Well, i got 2 things to say Stop knocking him for not thinking fast, We've all screwed up in ooo S**t moments

I don't know... if you had the presensce of mind to yell at people, you'd think bailing off the bike would have crossed your mind.

BTW, stop blaming the brake, it's your own fault.

you bailed, you failed

way to ride that ***** to the end!

Last time I rode a single speed with coaster brake only, about the same thing happened and I had to stop it Fred Flinstone style. I vowed to never ever again ride with coaster brake only. Heal fast brother

Get off the sidewalk!

educational video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5W1Z23wPg

How's the car?

Commuted for the first time on my coaster today (usually go fixed, but thought I would give the road-coaster a try), makes me think that an oh'S! front brake may be a good idea.

Yo, if you aren't going to use that wheel anymore, send it to me cause I know the difference between a chain falling off and a brake failing. Thanks bro.

EDIT: Oh yeah and heal fast. That sucks about your bike too...

I'm getting the feeling the dood was drunk. And that's a horrible bike anyway. It wanted to crash.

i wonder if somewhere on the internet there's a car forum with someone complaining about an out of control biker who flew out into the street with no brakes and hit his car.

It wasn't the slack in my chain that caused it to fall off; the lockring on my coasterbrake is actually what failed. I know the difference between a chain falling off and a brake failing. Observe:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001466.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w142/kjohnnytarr/S5001464.jpg

Note how my cog there is way the heck out of whak.

A coaster brake has a lock ring? Someone school me if I'm wrong, but I thought the only way a coaster brake could have an actual brake failure is if the little strap somehow broke or got loose.

The next time you're sticking a spoke card in, take a look at the wheel and if it's covered in grime, dirt and ****... maybe give it a clean up, a check and a bit of grease. It's called "preventative maintenance" !

You paid $50 for the stem or the bike total? If it's the former, you got screwed.

A coaster brake has a lock ring? Someone school me if I'm wrong, but I thought the only way a coaster brake could have an actual brake failure is if the little strap somehow broke or got loose.

They do indeed have a lock ring, most of they ones I've seen aren't like a track hub. The cogs dont thread on, they fit over some splines (sort of like a cassette hub) and have a ring to hold them on. I don't really see how it could loosen up like that though, I've never see that happen. Improper installation maybe? I wouldn't blame it on the hub though, unless the threads are stripped or something just thread it back on and check it periodically to make sure it doesn't loosen up. If you're afraid to use it, let me know and I'll dispose of it properly. I'll even pay the postage.

http://www.trfindley.com/flbndx/bndxcbhz.jpg

Hey captain, you dont have have to go down with the ship.

BAIL! BAIL! BAIL!

wasnt there a feild on the side of you?? those make for a nice cushiony landing.
sorry to hear you got hit, glad your ok

You are the type of cyclist that is harshing the fixed-gear buzz. There, I said what everyone else was thinking.

three suggestions stop riding the side walks start wearing gloves and a helmet and learn how to stop by using a gloved hand on the front tire or your foot wedge between the fork crown and the tire

a skilled and aware rider would have avoided this easily also It doesn't look like you have lights get em the are really cool

i've had one coaster lock-ring come off...probably my fault for not installing it correctly...but I wasn't going fast

u turn

educational video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5W1Z23wPg
this dude is ****ing stupid, this video is stupid

why should dude get rep for putting his shoe on a tire

this dude is ****ing stupid, this video is stupid

why should dude get rep for putting his shoe on a tire

Cuz he's a super cool dj who rides a trackbike with a freewheel and goes through a pair of shoes every two days.

It sucks I hope your ok.

But getting hit b/c/ your brakes failed (as you put) it or b/c your chain fell off due to neglect and then you found yourself in the path of a car... it reminds me of the time my aunt claimed that a lamp post jumped into the middle of the road and that's how her smashup happened.

Just for curiousity - where you under the influence?

Just for the record, I'd like the helmet Nazis to go **** themselves.

There. Now I feel better.

Kemmer, thanks. I've taken a coaster hub apart, you'd think I'd remember something like that.