Commuting - I switched my big knobby tires today.....seasoned bikers will be amused by this!

Ok, so I am new to biking. And a little reckless at times, not too reckless, but not too swift with certain judgements.
I've only been biking maybe 3 months, my whole life. I bught my bike back in March. I've been getting annoyed at the weight of my bike, the knobby tires etc. My boyfriend, who is a bike mechanic, has been discussing with me my different options, now that I'm getting into the swing of things. I mainly use my bike as a commuter bike, going back and forth to work and out and about etc.
I've also been dicsussing with y'all on the forums here too, about getting stuck on streetcar tracks etc etc, and so this morning, we got up and went over to his shop and I bought my slicks. I've been riding the big knobby tires that came with my GT pkg. and really, they aren't practical for what I do: commute, with my bike.
So I got me a new fender, to prevent my bum getting soaked, my new 1.5 slick tires and the holy grail a pair of 9.99$ Specialized Clippy shoes. (I don't know the term) realizing that I'm not ready to use them as yet, I left the pedals for a later date but couldn't pass up the deal!!!!
Anwyays, we get back to his place, he gives my bike a good overhaul/clean, then puts on my new tires. And off I go home.
Right away, after he says goodbye out front and I start peddaling away, I'm like 'whoa!!!!' I noticed right away the difference.
I go about a block away, then I decide I should get up on the sidewalk away from the big scary SUV thats next to me. (there were no pedestrians)
I was thinking in my head, Ohno problem I can get up this curb no problem! Forgetting I don't have my big knobby tires to luanch me up. I hit the curb at a toally wrong angle, and BAM!
Up I go, over my handle bars, and over to my side, I landed on the bone between my hand and my wrist, and my right knee. BTW I am wearing a dress and some shorts, my dress hiked way up. I'm wearing no padding wahtsoever, having left my gloves at home. somehow I rolled on my back after the intial impact. the SUV lady starts yelling to me, "i was no where near you!" of course yellign her disclaimer to all the witnesses. Meanwhile I am trying to come to terms with what had just happened. I realize shes beginning to get worried, as I had layed there for a few minutes motionless. I yell over, I'm ok, she tells me again she was nowhere near me....I roll over and look at her and say "its ok...i just got new tires...." she drives away.
I look at my bike, trying to remember the lesson I got about a month ago on how to put my chain back on..
I'm all shaky trying to use my gear system, but i wasn't using my front derailer i was flipping the back.. then remembered oh ya, wrong one...still to shaky, I decide to walk back with shame to my bofriends.I look down, my knee is totally ripped apart and oozing down my leg...ya i'm goign back.

This is my first fall by the way. Ever in mylife. even as a child on swings or whatever, i have never had a scrape a massive bruise nothing. I've always said, I wished my first accdient would come so I would know what to expect. And here she be.
I remember as soon as the impact came, I thought in my head 'here we go!! get ready!' and then BAM!
This happened propbaly an hour ago from when I wrote thi. I went back, had my chain put back on, had exverything looked over and made sure no damage done and then had to face fear fro the first time, and bike home after been lovingly patched up.
When I biken home, i took a look at the curb, and saw that in actuality it was about inches high and I would have never made it up even with my knobby tires without pulling up, which I haven't mastered the technique of yet...oops.

So there we are, my first fall in my entire life!!
Lesson learned: pay attention to the curbs and bumps you think you can get over but really can't, ake it easy with new tires till you get used to them, wear your gloves every day, wear your helmet (which I WAS wearing and do everyday b/c of a near miss once that left me thankful I wore a helmet in case it HAD happend) and to be thankful that I have someone to clean me AND my bike up and encourage me to get back in the saddle and face fear.
(My fear being my new slicky tires!)

Hi there! My wife and I are new riders, too. I'm just glad you're OK!

Glad you were wearing your helmet, just in case. On another discussion group I'm on there are some people absolutely refusing to where theirs.

I hope you're able to face the fear and bicycle again. It's impressive that you were able to write this just an hour after the accident.

Heal quickly,

Bill

Learn to hop it over the curb, it'll work better next time.

I'm a slow learner when it comes toittle trix like that!! Bu t i have been trying toearn it.

i ended up going to the hospital after the frozen brussel sprouts weren't helping the swelling, and also the complete los of mobility and color and feeling to my hand. after 5 hours of waiting i was told i've torn my ligaments in my hand and now will have to have plastic surgery...lovely.....
looks like conquering the slicks and curbs will be on hold for awhile....

Lesson learned: stay off the sidewalks!!!
If you'd stayed on the road, it never woulda happened. As you become more confident with riding, you'll figure out that the safest place for you is on the road. Even with knobby tires, if you don't hit the curb at a good angle, you'll have the same result.
Glad that you're mostly ok. What kind of sheltered life have you lead, not falling down??

Lesson learned: stay off the sidewalks!!!
If you'd stayed on the road, it never woulda happened. As you become more confident with riding, you'll figure out that the safest place for you is on the road. Even with knobby tires, if you don't hit the curb at a good angle, you'll have the same result.
Glad that you're mostly ok. What kind of sheltered life have you lead, not falling down??


I know, its disturbing havind had nothing happen before..
Actually, i think it could have happened somehow some way at some point, road or no. the road i was on i really should have benn travelling slowly on the sidewalk anyways, i was going the wrong way down a one way, slowly at that but...
With my knobby tires itended to just kinda bounce sowly off the curb or whatever and slowly fall, this time i was launched...

I know, its disturbing havind had nothing happen before..
Actually, i think it could have happened somehow some way at some point, road or no. the road i was on i really should have benn travelling slowly on the sidewalk anyways, i was going the wrong way down a one way, slowly at that but...
With my knobby tires itended to just kinda bounce sowly off the curb or whatever and slowly fall, this time i was launched...

You were going against traffic on a one way street? Please--take an Effective Cycling class and/or read the book of the same title before you kill yourself or worse, give the rest of us a bad name.

Paul

I feel a little disrespected fr/ the last few comments. there is learning curve when it comes to biking, and you honestly can't tell me that in the first 3 months of biking, whether yu were 10 yrs old or 50, that youdidn't make mistakes. i hdn't even been on a bike until 3 moths ago, so to label me and say that my performance as abker would give those more advnaced then me a bad name, is a wee bit ridicuous. i ride my bike as a begiinner, and take certain steps so as not to get in the way of others.
and about the going down the wrong way, pls. would you honestly back track 2 blocks to get n aroad that would loop you back the same two blocks but more north? this is also downtown toronto, its either be cautious and do what i did, or ride a huge street where i knew i wasn't ready to do the new tires.
anyways, i feel that if people feel inclined to respond, they should be respectful and helpful, not to call downa new biker.

NCNC,

Some of the comments may seem a little harsh, but people are mostly reacting to what you did.

Riding against traffic is a very bad idea.

The book which was recommended was Effective Cycling. You can buy it at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0262560704/qid=1086062174/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-7035833-4943340?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) or order it from almost any other bookstore.

Generally, you should ride like you would drive a car: Go the same way as traffic, obey signals, be predicatable, and stay off the sidewalk as much as possible.

While you are learning to ride, you might want to spend a lot of time in empty schoolyards or parking lots, getting comfortable riding.

Good luck, and I hope your next injuries are smaller than this one.

It's against the law to ride against traffic. I'm not just talking about a state or provincial law either, it violates a sensible application of basic physics. Two objects moving towards each other the force of the impact will be equal to the combined speeds of both objects. (example Car A is moving at 30 mph towards Bicycle B whivh is moving in the opposite direction at 20 mph. The impact speed would be equal to getting hit at a stand still by an object travelling at 50 mph. Conversely if the bicycle was moving in the same direction the impact speed would be lessened to that of 10 mph.) I realize that this is extremely simplified and that the masses of a vehicle and a bicycle do play a role in the forces involved but if it were me I would prefer the 10 mph hit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s_laws_of_motion


, Please. would you honestly back track 2 blocks to get on a road that would loop you back the same two blocks but more north? Yes, in all honesty, I would provided that I missed the correct turn or had failed to properly plan my route. A bicycle is a vehicle and has to play by the same rules as a car. Where drivers get pissed at us is when we try to have it both ways, when we decide what laws we want to follow. You aren't allowed to go the wrong way on a one way street in a car "because it's more convenient" so don't expect the law to back you while on a bike. I'm not trying to "talk down" to a newbie but this is a common sense issue here and I have to be firm on this. You were in the wrong; period. Learn from this and you'll be a better cyclist.

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Ok, so I am new to biking. And a little reckless at times, not too reckless, but not too swift with certain judgements.
I've only been biking maybe 3 months, my whole life. I bught my bike back in March. I've been getting annoyed at the weight of my bike, the knobby tires etc. My boyfriend, who is a bike mechanic, has been discussing with me my different options, now that I'm getting into the swing of things. I mainly use my bike as a commuter bike, going back and forth to work and out and about etc.
I've also been dicsussing with y'all on the forums here too, about getting stuck on streetcar tracks etc etc, and so this morning, we got up and went over to his shop and I bought my slicks. I've been riding the big knobby tires that came with my GT pkg. and really, they aren't practical for what I do: commute, with my bike.
So I got me a new fender, to prevent my bum getting soaked, my new 1.5 slick tires and the holy grail a pair of 9.99$ Specialized Clippy shoes. (I don't know the term) realizing that I'm not ready to use them as yet, I left the pedals for a later date but couldn't pass up the deal!!!!
Anwyays, we get back to his place, he gives my bike a good overhaul/clean, then puts on my new tires. And off I go home.
Right away, after he says goodbye out front and I start peddaling away, I'm like 'whoa!!!!' I noticed right away the difference.
I go about a block away, then I decide I should get up on the sidewalk away from the big scary SUV thats next to me. (there were no pedestrians)
I was thinking in my head, Ohno problem I can get up this curb no problem! Forgetting I don't have my big knobby tires to luanch me up. I hit the curb at a toally wrong angle, and BAM!
Up I go, over my handle bars, and over to my side, I landed on the bone between my hand and my wrist, and my right knee. BTW I am wearing a dress and some shorts, my dress hiked way up. I'm wearing no padding wahtsoever, having left my gloves at home. somehow I rolled on my back after the intial impact. the SUV lady starts yelling to me, "i was no where near you!" of course yellign her disclaimer to all the witnesses. Meanwhile I am trying to come to terms with what had just happened. I realize shes beginning to get worried, as I had layed there for a few minutes motionless. I yell over, I'm ok, she tells me again she was nowhere near me....I roll over and look at her and say "its ok...i just got new tires...." she drives away.
I look at my bike, trying to remember the lesson I got about a month ago on how to put my chain back on..
I'm all shaky trying to use my gear system, but i wasn't using my front derailer i was flipping the back.. then remembered oh ya, wrong one...still to shaky, I decide to walk back with shame to my bofriends.I look down, my knee is totally ripped apart and oozing down my leg...ya i'm goign back.

This is my first fall by the way. Ever in mylife. even as a child on swings or whatever, i have never had a scrape a massive bruise nothing. I've always said, I wished my first accdient would come so I would know what to expect. And here she be.
I remember as soon as the impact came, I thought in my head 'here we go!! get ready!' and then BAM!
This happened propbaly an hour ago from when I wrote thi. I went back, had my chain put back on, had exverything looked over and made sure no damage done and then had to face fear fro the first time, and bike home after been lovingly patched up.
When I biken home, i took a look at the curb, and saw that in actuality it was about inches high and I would have never made it up even with my knobby tires without pulling up, which I haven't mastered the technique of yet...oops.

So there we are, my first fall in my entire life!!
Lesson learned: pay attention to the curbs and bumps you think you can get over but really can't, ake it easy with new tires till you get used to them, wear your gloves every day, wear your helmet (which I WAS wearing and do everyday b/c of a near miss once that left me thankful I wore a helmet in case it HAD happend) and to be thankful that I have someone to clean me AND my bike up and encourage me to get back in the saddle and face fear.
(My fear being my new slicky tires!)


I'm so glad you are ok and you didn't bruise your sense of humor! :D It's near midnight in Indiana and I can't sleep....woman - o - pause... (menopause) and I was right "there" with you as you described your ride/fall. Anywho-thank you for the laugh, only because you are ok and your re-enactment was so delightful! :p

I feel a little disrespected fr/ the last few comments. there is learning curve when it comes to biking, and you honestly can't tell me that in the first 3 months of biking, whether yu were 10 yrs old or 50, that youdidn't make mistakes. i hdn't even been on a bike until 3 moths ago, so to label me and say that my performance as abker would give those more advnaced then me a bad name, is a wee bit ridicuous. i ride my bike as a begiinner, and take certain steps so as not to get in the way of others.
and about the going down the wrong way, pls. would you honestly back track 2 blocks to get n aroad that would loop you back the same two blocks but more north? this is also downtown toronto, its either be cautious and do what i did, or ride a huge street where i knew i wasn't ready to do the new tires.
anyways, i feel that if people feel inclined to respond, they should be respectful and helpful, not to call downa new biker.

To use your colorful phrases, yes I'm "disrespecting" and "calling downa" you. If you're going to operate a vehicle on public streets, learn to do so -before- you mix with traffic. Should you fail to do, I do not respect you or your choice and I will point out your error.

Regarding looping back if I missed my turn, of course I would. How would you like the chaos if driver of every vehicle operated under your logic? Car driver missed his turn? No problem--just go up the one way street or back down freeway.

Paul

I find that a great way to stay within the boundaries of the law, but still retain the advantages of a bike is to get use to hopping on and off. I become a pedestrian, wheeling my bike across junctions I wouldn't be allowed ride. Drivers can't do that :) Maybe in this case you could have walked up the street, maybe not :)

NCNC,
Glad you are OK. As long as you are unhurt and learned something it's not all bad. You mentioned streetcar tracks. DO be careful of those. Only cross pretty much straight across. Try easing across, your tire will drop in, and there you go again. Also, they are slick as grease when they get the slightest bit of moisture so you have to slow to a near stop if crossing at any kind of angle. Uh, I would rather not disclose how I came by either of these bits of information. :o

I agree about the streetcar tracks...I got stuck in one a week ago...I managed to shift my weight fast enough to get it back out, but I was incredibly close to endoing. My feet came unclipped, and I managed to plant one under and one over on my pedal s and shifted backwards....a very loud squeal later and I was out.

How I did it....I was going at a rather fast pace (prolly 18mph) and cut over the track at too narrow an angle. If you do go over these kinds of tracks, do it quickly and at a 40 degree or better angle.

Wow, give the poor lady a break.
Glad you were not too badly hurt and I hope you can get back to biking soon!

Sure, you were not riding "correctly", but hey, we all have to learn sometime, and I think you were very clear that you were new to biking in general.

Thank you for having the courage and kindness to share your experience and I hope it goes better for you in the future.

As far as all the rude comments on poor riding, instead of sympathy or helpful suggestions (of which there were some as well), go read the re-read the threads on rude drivers. :)

Lesson learned: stay off the sidewalks!!!
If you'd stayed on the road, it never woulda happened. As you become more confident with riding, you'll figure out that the safest place for you is on the road. Even with knobby tires, if you don't hit the curb at a good angle, you'll have the same result.
Glad that you're mostly ok. What kind of sheltered life have you lead, not falling down??

yeah! and that getting runover crap never happens on the sidewalk! so in such occaisions you should be on the sidewalk! :rolleyes: (actually, people will run thier cars through yer house if they feel like it.. or fall asleep) man, have yer man teach ya how to jump and crap in a parking lot or something. also try not to jump up curbs. wait till yer where there is a ramp.

Also, they are slick as grease when they get the slightest bit of moisture

yep. so are painted lines on the road, if you were wondering.

NCNC, glad you came out okay, relatively speaking. I remember when I first started, I was riding the wrong way on the sidewalk of a one-way, and got hit by a car pulling out of a parking garage. You learn things pretty quickly upon taking up cycling. I would echo the warnings and lectures of the others. You really should try and ride the same way as traffic, but I know that every morning, I leave my house and take the wrong direction on a one-way. It's only a half of a block, and teh street maybe sees ten cars per day, but it still seems dangerous. However, I don't think it's any more dangerous than going up the street, taking a busy ass road to get back the right way. You'll learn these things. As for jumping a curb, I don't know. I had my jaw wired shut for six weeks, and I don't really want to do anything that will get me back into the wires.

Those of you who are quick to criticise someone, give the lady a break. Everyone has a diffierent way of learning new things. It's pretty dumb to expect everyone else to behave and perceive (new) things in the same way as you do.

This sounded painful to read, but glad that you were ok with no major injuries and that you were not letting this stop you from riding. Everyone takes spills at one time or another; the trick is learning from the mistakes we make.

yeah! and that getting runover crap never happens on the sidewalk! so in such occaisions you should be on the sidewalk!

Merton, you just keep riding on the sidewalk and enjoy dodging pedestrians and cars pulling out of driveways. I'm going to be out in traffic with the rest of the vehicles. Oh, and if should see me on the sidewalk you're pedaling down, you'd best give me a wide berth.

Paul

I appreciated all the helpful suggestions and words of sympathy. It WAS as stupid mistake, which is to be leanerde from. At the same time, I am glad I wasn't on Bloor or Queen or Dundas, my usual RIGHT way to get home so as to properly follow traffic rules. I was goig to bail, it was a matter of when or where!

I'm thinking of taking off my slick tires and putting back on my knobbbies. Part of my fearful side says this, bu the othe half of me says by the time Ican bike again, it may be a bit of a relearning process, so why not relearn wit hthe new tires??
Who knows.
thansk for all the input. i do liek hearing suggestions and tips such as that book etc. as a counsellor , i fel its all in how we use our lagnuage, and our intent. our messages can be much more effective if we communicate without using judgement and the be helpful ,not hurtfu..anwyays.....enough takng work hoem crap.. : )
C

if it's a mountain bike, even with slicks you can often slow right down, hop the front of the bike with a pull up on the bars, and then just ride the back wheel over the curb.

I appreciated all the helpful suggestions and words of sympathy. It WAS as stupid mistake, which is to be leanerde from. At the same time, I am glad I wasn't on Bloor or Queen or Dundas, my usual RIGHT way to get home so as to properly follow traffic rules. I was goig to bail, it was a matter of when or where!

I'm thinking of taking off my slick tires and putting back on my knobbbies. Part of my fearful side says this, bu the othe half of me says by the time Ican bike again, it may be a bit of a relearning process, so why not relearn wit hthe new tires??
Who knows.
thansk for all the input. i do liek hearing suggestions and tips such as that book etc. as a counsellor , i fel its all in how we use our lagnuage, and our intent. our messages can be much more effective if we communicate without using judgement and the be helpful ,not hurtfu..anwyays.....enough takng work hoem crap.. : )
C

On a flat road, when you're banked in a turn, knobbies give way less traction than slicks. Any particular reason to switch to knobbies aside from riding over curbs?

I ride 1.0 slicks, no problems jumping curbs. For the streecar tracks in T.O. I wouldn't recommend these, I'd use 1.5 or so. I'd stay with the slicks and not bother with knobbies myself. After a few rides the slicks will few safe. If not, switch back to knobbies. And respect the laws to the best of your abilities. I try my best, but like 99% (my own conclusions here) of cyclists and drivers, we all at times 'break' the law when on the road. If riding on, I'm guessing here Queen and Ossignton area, makes you nervous, I believe there are lots of side streets that you can ride. Loof in a map or get the b/f to bring a bike guide home from his shop. Plan a ride and on a day off ride several different routes until you find one that feels safe to you. Get well and enjoy your riding.

I'm glad you're OK. I hope you get back on the bike soon. If you search around, you'll find a number of threads where we "experienced" riders describe how we've done something stupid and crashed. There's nothing like a little blood and some bruises to make a lesson stick.

As to breaking the law, I follow a no-harm/no-foul rule. Only break a traffic law if you are not incoveniencing (even a little) other users of the road. Rolling stops are sometimes OK. Running a red light in traffic is not. Going against traffic is not. If a one-way street is a big problem, get off your bike and walk on the sidewalk. Err on the side of following the law.

Unless you are on a dirt or snow covered path, you will get better traction with slicks than with knobbies. But if the knobbies make you ride more confidently, put them back on. You will have to work harder and cornering will be slower. But the increase in confidence may make up for all that.

I remember when I first started, I was riding the wrong way on the sidewalk of a one-way, and got hit by a car pulling out of a parking garage. Uhm, there is no "wrong way" on a sidewalk. If you had been walking, that car would have hit you just the same. This happens endemically here. People turning onto one-way streets look for cars in one direction, but don't look for pedestrians in both directions. This can just as easily happen on the sidewalk of a two-way street, to pedestrians going in the direction opposite to the car traffic on that particular side.

This actually isn't relevant to the original thread. There is a world of difference between using a sidewalk (whether on a bike or on foot [or in a wheelchair, etc.], on the sidewalk, you are, by law, a pedestrian) on a one-way street that happens to be going the other way, and going the wrong way on the street itself.

Yeah, curbs can be pretty nasty.
One time I rode on the curb ( or rather I fell after hitting) a full height curb in the dusk... it was simply looking like a shadow. Absolutely unexcpectedly flying over the bar. I returned back and almost hit it again. Extremely hard to distinguish...

NCNC, of course, sometimes it's safer to stay on the side walk.
Just hope you stay careful and have no bad luck.

Nah, keep your slicks. You jsut have to get used to them. Once I got used to my semi-slicks I loved them.

Hi NCNC,

Welcome in the commuting world, sorry for you fall, but it appends. I live in Montreal, and I began commuting 4 years ago, I ride to go at work every days of the year (including winter). I began with a Giant hybrid with big knobby tires with which I used to fall 3 or 4 time per year (slipping on the ice). I get now a vintage steel racing bike with 21mm tubular tires (yes even the winter) but I falled only once this winter. I think
that in order to avoid accidents you better to well know your bike, well know your capacities, and adapte your speed according to the style of road, trafic etc... rather than relying on gloves, hemlet and big tires (I'm no saying not wearing an helmet). To make a parallele with cares, a statisitc shows that here in Canada the big 4WD SUV are the first to go in the filed when snowing. So keep riding, it's really cool.

Regards,

Philippe.

Phillippe: That was so timely, I jsut wrote a thing about how I paln to go out with knee pads and on grass on my frist ride when I can. I will toally be precautious as I norlaly am, but latelyI've ben going on about switching my tires back, getting knee pads, and this and that etc etc....
Interesting. I lvoe this forum site BTW everyone, I am keeping in touch...

C

I got a scare recently when I tooka short cut thru a closed, unlit gas station and they'd put a rope up acroos the forecourt at waist height. I had a hell of a cut and got 3 stitches in my forehead. The noise it made was sickening and my bike was a mess. I was actually really lucky not to have broken my neck. If my head had hit the cementat a different angle, I might be paralysed.
:eek: