cjmelton

I bought an Ellsworth joker and yes it’s my first mountain bike I got it to go to work. Riding over sidewalks and curbs I came across a curbs slowed down to about 5 miles an hour the front wheel rolled down and stopped the back end came over. It hurt me really pretty bad. I couldn’t let it stop me so I straight the handlebars and the bar extensions (that cut into my ribs on both sides) this time a little slower. The same thing this time I think I broke my elbow and maybe a rib or two the payment didn’t get any softer. It wasn’t my first curb, but close. I did the same curb five times make it twice and ate payment three times. the only thing I did the times that I made it was put up on the handle bars

What did I do wrong and how can I get better and maybe save the rest of my ribs?

pmseattle

An Ellsworth Joker is a fairly serious freeride bike, not really the best choice for a commuter. That being said, are you locking the front brake as you approach the curb ? A Joker has a pretty plush suspension- you should be able to pretty much sail off any curb and barely even notice the landing impact. The Joker is made to handle much longer drops than a curb. From your post it sounds like you are locking your front brake in anticipation of going over the curb, and doing an endo.

slvoid

I'm not sure but he's sure a glutton for punishment. He repeated the task FIVE times and ate the pavement THREE times.
Most likely it locked up, the front shock compressed all the way, and up he went.

iamdoingthat

I really don't know about your bike specifically, but when I drop off curbs I stand up, lean back, and pull up slightly on the bars. If something real bad happens, I can always jump off the rear, standing up saves my 'nads from any potential harm, and pulling up on the bars eases the load on your front suspension a little, lessening the chances of bottoming out.

Give that a try, and it'll be virtually impossible to endo, unless you're squeezing the front brake as you're coming off the curb. If that's the case, stop it!

MichaelW

Beware that some roads have a steep drainage gutter. If you drop off a curb onto a steep uphill gradient , the bike will suddenly stop. I've been caught out a couple of times by this.
The solutions are:
1. Speed. the faster you go, the further your front wheel will travel. The gradient onto the gutter usually decreases as you get to the centre of the road, so aim to fly over the steep bit, onto the more gentle slope.
2. Angle. Try to hop off the curb in the direction of travel. Again this will minimize the problem of steep gutter gradients. But watch out for tyres sliding on one edge. Fast is safer than slow.
3 Weight distribution. Keep your weigth back , move your butt off the back of the saddle. Lower your bars if they are high.
4. Location. Pick a better place to hop off the curb.

iamdoingthat

Very good tip, forgot about that one. Especially in NYC, where the curbs are covered in metal, if you try to ride off at less than about 30 degree angle (to the curb), the tire will just slide off the side, and that could put you into a nasty spill into the sewer/planter/streetlight/traffic/scaffolding

slvoid

Ever tried to hop onto a curb at anything greater than a 30 degree angle and not exactly clear it? WHAMO.

trekkie820

Thats a pretty high caliber bike for just the daily grind! You are basically doing the equivalent to driving a Sherman tank to work. In any event, try to use more speed over a curb, and pull back on the bars to get the front and rear ends to land at the same time. This will eliminate any chance at an endo.

jeff williams

Man, I want your bike- I am not JOKING ...maybe go offroad or to a grassy spot to practice.

Damn, I want an Ellsworth.

caloso

What did you do wrong? Rode on the sidewalk, that's what you did wrong.

Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in most jurisdictions and, as you discovered for yourself, it's dangerous. Even more dangerous than curbs are cars pulling out of driveways or right-hooking you at an intersection. They don't expect to see you on the sidewalk.

Now get out on the street and ride safely!

mguisado

Wow, good on you for sticking to it. The advice above is good.

To summerize:

1. Lean back.
2. Stand and lift front as you go off.
3. Momentum is your friend.
4. Stay off the brakes.

If you hit the front brake you might lock up front wheel sending you over the bars. If you hit the rear brake you won't be able to lift the front effectively.

cjmelton

You may get to buy my bike if my ribs don't stop swelling. It seemed the slower I went, the more easily the back end came over. I didn’t use the front brakes, but thought that may be that would be a way to stop the back end from coming over. I got the joker because I knew I would be hard on speed bumps e.g.. Took one at around thirty miles an hour. I even went back today and tried to let the bike just role over the curb. Guess what... I changed pedals. I’m now using the eggbeater candies cl’s in hopes of getting my feet out faster...I lowered my seat also...

Caloso

I agree with you about the sidewalks, I lived all over and I can say that this is not a bike friendly place (Alabama). Like Boston (in areas). Billy bob and/or Billy ray will see you out and all they see is a deer on wheels. You’re in season 24/7 for 365. Choice of weapons bottles, bats out the windows, opening the door and the list goes on....Billy bob and Billy ray are doing their community a favor by ridding the streets of the wheel threat



Thanks for all the advice

caloso

You've fallen three times, at least once injuring yourself, and you still think the sidewalk is safer?

I don't intend this to be harsh, and I hope you will not take it so, but I think you are overestimating the danger of the road and underestimating the danger of the sidewalk. Up here in Sacramento Valley, we have our share of Billy Bobs and I'd still rather take my chances with them than ride on the sidewalk. (But I admit, I've never ridden in Alabama and maybe you're dealing with some mutant breed of super redneck.)

So, I again recommend that you stay off the sidewalk. However, you should do what feels safest to you. If you continue to ride on the sidewalk, please yield to pedestrians and be extra careful at intersections. Oh, and wear your helmet, of course.

Godspeed!