Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Had my first Wipeout of the year

So on sunday's short spirited ride on the MUP i hit a patch of wet leaves and while trying to gain control accidentally locked up my rear brake which thus speed up the process of me meeting the paved MUP, gravel, grass and leaves.

yes oh yes i stayed clipped in the whole time, which made the ordeal probably look worse than what it was.

my shoulder still hurts like heck, my wrist hurts, my hip is killing me. yet i popped 2 aleve and rode my bike to work today, me being the super genius i am i didn't slow down over puddles or leaves on the road. i have heard the smart people learn from their mistakes and geniuses learn from others mistakes, so this makes me a super genius by default.

positives;
1. people do stop to help
2. kool stop brake pads will lock up a a wheel even when using the suicide brake lever
3. after a fall i actually finished my ride at a faster pace
4. bike was 100% ok, the seat did turn 45 degrees
5. i ended up in the grass and not a curb or car

negatives;
1. i am in mucho pain today, and was supposed to lift tonight. so i guess no gym until wednesday
2. boy oh boy was i embarrassed
3. did i mention the pain yet?

Glad you're OK.


You mention suicide levers... Are you talking about for real deal late 70s/early 80s suicide levers (the turkey wing kind off the side of the actual lever), or do you mean cross-top levers (modern CX-type interrupter levers in-line with the cable between the drop lever and the brake)?
True suicide levers are pretty weaksauce and I'd be surprised if they locked up a wheel, even with KS pads. Cross-top levers are pretty strong and can provide almost as much braking force as the drop levers.

Clifton,

Yep 80's suicide levers, specifically 80's Star single pivot calipers with koolstops. I took the cool stops off the front brakes for this very reason. the constancy of the koolstop pads scared me on the front (could never get a good feel for the pressure need to stop).

I can say in heavy traffic or a crowded MUP i 99% of the time use the suicide levers under 15mph.

wonder if disk breaks would have helped?

Glad nothing's broken - you or the bike.

You've learned why I mostly avoid MUPs (the ones surrounded by trees, anyway) this time of year.

wonder if disk breaks would have helped?

rear wheel was already slipping before the accidental application to the brakes. I may have gained control if no brakes were applied, but i really feel i would have went down no matter what. the wheel locking just sped up the process faster than i was able (unable) to unclip.

Glad nothing's broken - you or the bike.

You've learned why I mostly avoid MUPs (the ones surrounded by trees, anyway) this time of year.

thank you

I would like to find a route to stay off the MUP, its just to many stop lights and potholes where i live to make it enjoyable. the MUP is 4-5 miles from my door plus the lady joggers are good motivation ;)

we will see, the recent spill, the leaves falling more, and my increase in speed i may have to do laps on a three mile stretch of street by me. yep that doenst sound as fun.

Shoulder is 95% back to normal, wrist still is a bit ouchie, and hip hurts when i lay on that side.

i think i will be 100% by friday!

if i was in my early 20's or late teens i would have be 100% by monday afternoon. getting old sucks

wonder if disk breaks would have helped?

No.

I had a nearly-identical fall on a MUP last fall - due to exactly the same reason - while riding my commuter with disc brakes.

When riding on wet leaves over a smooth surface, you don't need to slow much to break traction between your wheel and the ground.


I don't ride MUPs anymore, except with my kids, and this time of year, only when it hasn't rained in several days.