wogdog

Today I had my first 'accident' while commuting. I had been driving to a local park, which happens to be the start of our bike trail that winds 15 miles through the city along the 3 rivers that intersect here. While I was out yesterday on my lunch time ride, I took a new route that went down some steps in one of our parks. The steps weren't too steep or long, so I just rode down them. Since my one and only bike is a '05 Specialized Enduro, I had no problem with the steps going down. When I reached this same spot on my way back to the office, I figured I would give it a go and try to ride up the steps. I wheelied onto the 4th step, started cranking and made it right up and over the top step with no problem. I thought that was pretty easy. This morning, taking yet another new route, I came across a larger staircase. I thought that since it went so easy yesterday, today would be no different. All that I remember is my helmeted head bouncing off of either the railing or a stair tread, and having a really CLOSE look at my knee getting it's skin ripped off when it contacted the pavement at the bottom of the steps. Other than that, it went well...
When I got to the top of the steps, walking my bike over the bridge that was the reason for the steps, I noticed a park worker was standing there in the middle of the bridge with a perfect view of my boneheaded move. To his credit, he made no wisecracks, but did have a nice smirk on his face as I walked by. Oh well, live and learn. And maybe get some regular pedals to try this on next time, instead of my clip ins.

slvoid

Clipless SPD's actually help me stay glued to the bike when things get bouncy so I don't slip off. In most of my accidents, the thing that gets hurt most is my ego.

Glad you're alive and well though.

iamdoingthat

Sounds pretty gnarly, glad you can be lighthearted about it. I just get all pissed off when I bail.

Maybe practice some of those moves on dirt before taking it to the concrete next time.

wogdog

Oh I have been practicing the falling maneuver quite frequently in the dirt. Unfortunatly there aren't many dirt steps to try riding up on our local trails. I still have a blast though. I do have a question for you NYC boys though. How close do you cut it when you see someone not paying attention and open their car door in front of you. While riding yesterday, I had someone open their door when I was about 15 feet away. It gave me time to avoid it, but I *kinda* cut it close, just to scare them a little and maybe have them think about it next time. I tend to be vengeful when angry...

iamdoingthat

I stay about 6 feet away from any parked car and stay far from any and all car doors. Not worth the risk for me. I'd hate to swerve in close to scare a door opener, only to find out that the space I swooped out of is now occupied by a taxi, and here I am stuck between an open car door and a speeding cabby.

Then again, that's NYC. If I had quieter streets, I'd imagine it'd be fun to scare folks like that.

slvoid

If I see someone ahead doing that within a few seconds of me passing, I glance back to my left, take it wide, then give them the evil eye as I pass. But usually if I see a door cracking open in my path, I usually shout "Stop! Door!" and hope they hear me. If not and I only a fraction of a second, always remember to fall INTO the car so you don't get pushed out into the lane where a car might just kill you.

wogdog

I guess I just had the perfect conditions then... I didn't have to make an emergency swerve, but was able to get close enough that I could here her gasp, hear an explative, and a shouted apology as a rode on around her. I thought it was kind of funny, but probably won't when it doesn't work out so well for me.