Commuting - Ever hear that dreadful found of a rock getting shot out from a car tire?

I heard it and closed my eyes and winced. Then I her the thing wiz past me. I know I've shot a few rocks off my tire, but not nearly as dangerous. What would've happened if that rock hit me in the eye?! Has anyone here actually gotten hit by a high velocity rock? Just looking over my post - freaking iPad.

I was almost hit by an 8" long section of a tree branch coming off of the tire of an SUV, now that was scary. I'm sure you could be injured by a rock, but I'm not aware that I've ever had one fly past me.

I almost got hit by a 1 and a half foot long branch shot from the guy in front of me while in a pace line. I dodged it. The guy behind me wasn't too lucky...

I shoot rocks at cars!

I was riding by a mother pushing a baby stroller when I shot one. When I looked back all was well, but for a second I thought I beaned one of them.

I heard it and closed my eyes and winced. Then I her the thing wiz past me. I know I've shot a few rocks off my tire, but not nearly as dangerous. What would've happened if that rock hit me in the eye?! Has anyone here actually gotten hit by a high velocity rock? Just looking over my post - freaking iPad.

Yup, got a huge gash in my leg from a rock thrown up by a tire on a chip-sealed road.

One of the many things that taught me to wear glasses whenever I ride.

Got one thrown into my helmet once. Dented it up really bad, glad I was wearing it.

I shoot rocks at cars!

I used to do that as well when I ran narrow high pressure tires. I was always afraid that I would hit a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk or on the side of the road.

My most memorable "pinch shot" was on a quiet morning ride to work, I launched one fair sized rock into the side of a brand new shiny red pickup that was parked on the other side of the street, and it wasn't a slight "plunk" either, it hit the side of the pickup with a loud "bang". I definitely turned up the wattage for several blocks after that incident.

I almost got nailed by a Bott's Dot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botts%27_dots) last year. Riding on a two-lane road with a center turn lane that was marked with painted lines and Bott's Dots. An overtaking car moved into the cener turn lane to go around me and ran over a loose Bott's Dot which squirted out from under his tire, shot about three feet in front of me, hit the stone retaining wall to my right and shattered into little pieces one of which hit me (but was too small and moving too slowly at this point to cause any injury).

I was damn lucky, because if that Bott's Dot would have hit me right off the car tire, it would have done serious damage.

I used to do that as well when I ran narrow high pressure tires. I was always afraid that I would hit a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk or on the side of the road.

My most memorable "pinch shot" was on a quiet morning ride to work, I launched one fair sized rock into the side of a brand new shiny red pickup that was parked on the other side of the street, and it wasn't a slight "plunk" either, it hit the side of the pickup with a loud "bang". I definitely turned up the wattage for several blocks after that incident.

Ya, the sound is usually impressive since the rock is only a foot above ground and most car structures are hollow at that level!

I was riding by a mother pushing a baby stroller when I shot one. When I looked back all was well, but for a second I thought I beaned one of them.

Ditto... But my rock hit the stroller (loud sound of rock hitting metal). I circled back around and asked if everything was OK. It was.

I've been beaned by several rocks over the years, but they mostly hit my left leg. No injuries. Fired more than a few off back at cars. That sound of loud rock popping out from under the wheel (and that unmistakable sound of car getting hit) is worrisome when the driver is in the thing.

The rock that was thrown by a tire that caused me an injury, was thrown by MY bike. Riding hard to stay ahead of the bus that I was trying to catch (bus stop was 1/2 block away, bus was 45' behind me, and there was nobody else at the stop). Hammering hard, when all of a sudden my rear wheel hits a rock that must have been about 1/4" in diameter, then that thing just shoots out from under the tire (I think it hit the bus). I lost traction. Next thing I know, I'm going over the handlebars in the middle of the road.

Bus stops, I pull myself off the road, then it pulls up beside me. I'm asked if I need an ambulance (I didn't), but I did get some paper towels from him. I ended up letting the bus go, and began first aid (road rash) and damage assessment. I managed to catch the next bus home.

So, with that said, here's a link to a very useful article "Road Rash, how to treat it... (http://bikeportland.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1599)"

I used to do that as well when I ran narrow high pressure tires. I was always afraid that I would hit a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk or on the side of the road.

My most memorable "pinch shot" was on a quiet morning ride to work, I launched one fair sized rock into the side of a brand new shiny red pickup that was parked on the other side of the street, and it wasn't a slight "plunk" either, it hit the side of the pickup with a loud "bang". I definitely turned up the wattage for several blocks after that incident.

I too worry about this when I am running my Conti Gatorskins at about 120 PSI. Earlier in the year when there were people out (the rain and dark has mostly driven them away now) I'd hear my tires shooting rocks as I rode past pedestrians and was always afraid I was going to hurt someone. I do occasionally hear one bounce off the side of parked cars.

So far no rocks, but had lit cigarette butts hit me on a number of occasions... very lucky drivers since I couldn't catch up to any of them!

I've been hit by a variety of things while riding, though not a car-fired rock, as far as I know.

Definitely +1 on the glasses and a helmet (or not-too-snug hat) for the head shots.

I had a pickup launch about a 1.5" pointy rock at me- hit me in the shin. Bloodied my sock pretty well, but I fortunately didn't need stitches. Ow.

One of my friends had a golf ball hit his bike while we were riding past a golf course. It dented a rim and cracked his frame. At least it didn't hit him in the face.

I shoot rocks at cars!

Same here! It happens somewhat often. You can feel it shoot out from under your tire. I'm scared to death someone is going to think I do it on purpose and road rage me to death.

I heard it and closed my eyes and winced. Then I her the thing wiz past me. I know I've shot a few rocks off my tire, but not nearly as dangerous. What would've happened if that rock hit me in the eye?! Has anyone here actually gotten hit by a high velocity rock? Just looking over my post - freaking iPad.

I caught one with my ear canal long ago. Just the right size to slide right in there. Had a bugger of a time getting it out.

Only thing worse is bugs:eek: Got a beetle in there once too. A rock just sits there and makes it so you can't hear. A bug squirms:twitchy:

Two collisions with yellow jackets this year. The first stung a finger which looked like a bratwurst the next the day. The second one on the lower lip. That looked like the losing end of a prize fight or something that would make Angelina Jolie proud. Nasty little buggers.

Two collisions with yellow jackets this year. The first stung a finger which looked like a bratwurst the next the day. The second one on the lower lip. That looked like the losing end of a prize fight or something that would make Angelina Jolie proud. Nasty little buggers.

I was riding hard tothe girlfriend's apt. a couple years back, breathing heavy through my mouth. Sucked in a honey bee and the little %^&*er stung me in the back of the mouth before I could spit him out. Bugger of a time reaching in to remove the stinger!

Haven't been beaned by a rock yet, but rocks on the road and thin tires have not been a good combination for me. The last time I went down like that russian guy in the Tour DF. Even when I spot them, I seem to be drawn to them, lol.

It happens and I expect it to happen, It's why I won't ride without eye protection. The rest of me can take a hit way better than my eye balls.

Tinted wrap around safety glasses from home depot for under $10. They look similar to the $100 pair in the bike shop without the reflective lens.

I got hit in the leg by a rock. It hurt, but didn't even bruise. It was a 35mph road, which probably prevented further injury.

I've also "pinged" a moving car while riding in the bike lane. It was funny, but the driver didn't seem to know what happened.

It's for this reason I always wear eye protection when riding. Sunglasses for day and clear "sport style" safety glasses at night. I can deal with getting a rock to the cheek or the chin but I imagine getting a rock in the eye would be less manageable.

edit: Oh plus there is the added benefit of not getting wind or dust in your eyes.

This has not happened often to me but it will often startle me when a rock or something shoots out from a car tire or my own tire.

Sometimes when I hear something pop out from my own tire I thank kevlar that my tire still rolls.

All this talk makes me want to reconsider the anti glare night goggles I've seen for when I ride in the dark.

Yup. I've had it happen to me. Usually they miss, but have had one hit my arm after being slung out of the tread of a truck tire. The worst are the rocks that get caught between the dual tires of dump trucks/ semi trucks. Never been hit by one of those, though I have a friend who was, but not while cycling.

I've shot a few rocks on occasion, but all were low enough not to hurt anyone, nor hit a vehicle.

I was riding by a mother pushing a baby stroller when I shot one. When I looked back all was well, but for a second I thought I beaned one of them.
***** needs to get off the bike path!

Joking aside, I am more worried about vengeful drivers coming after me. I have definitely dinged my share of car doors with road gravel.

Yup. I've had it happen to me. Usually they miss, but have had one hit my arm after being slung out of the tread of a truck tire. The worst are the rocks that get caught between the dual tires of dump trucks/ semi trucks. Never been hit by one of those, though I have a friend who was, but not while cycling.

I've shot a few rocks on occasion, but all were low enough not to hurt anyone, nor hit a vehicle.

I had a incident when a dump truck was passing me after leaving a quarry site. It must have picked up a rock for when it gained speed it shot out. Passing about a foot in front of me. Seeing it cut a line in the grass to my right was scary enough.

No matter when I always were glasses when I'm out riding.

...... someone is going to think I do it on purpose and road rage me to death.

My exact thoughts when I "pinged" the sides of numerous passing cars or trucks over the years, I kept waiting for a motorist to pullover, get out of their vehicle and confront me, thankfully it never happened.

Last time I thought I heard that happen I soon realized I'd actually broken a spoke... :-\

I did fire a rock from my bike tire that made a resounding thwack when it hit the window of a Mercedes going the other direction. What can I say.. we both kept going.

I love the sound they make when they shoot out! Here's some info on the phenomenon:

http://www.tomfangrow.com/tirebullets.html