DBarry

My worst one was me being dumb. I took a horshoe turn into a bridge too quickly and lost my front tire over the far side. Went into the creekbed and broke my clavicle. Looked pretty cool, but took my off my bike for 2 months.

Juniper

Hard to pick which one was worst; I've probably blanked out the most painful

Lately, it was probably diving full speed into a natural half pipe (small valley) and shooting up the other side like a rocket. I misjudged the steepness of the grade; which was almost vertical. Up, up, up then back and down 15 feet or so flat on my back to the bottom with my bike on top of me. I clearly remember thinking as I'm going up and back a simple thought; 'I'm dead.' Here's the most amazing part: I landed flat and perfectly centered on my full Camelback! While the force of the fall, flat on my back from 15 feet, was major the Camelback absorbed most of the blow and I was just stunned, not hurt. Pretty close to a miracle, I think.

Al.canoe

My favorite was a more pleasant experience. My front wheel slid out on a curve and I hit the ground pretty hard. As I was picking myself up, I spotted a large black bear though the trees about 100 ft away. He was standing in a slight crouch, head down watching me. That's pretty brazen behavior for a black.

It indicated to me he was ready for anything an had not decided weather to fight or flee, or at least he was curious and un-afraid. I know that for brown bears, that if they have their head down like that and are kind of chomping their jaws or grunting, they may charge. Blacks don't charge unless you run which can activate their hunting instincts. Even then it's very rare.

He had been moving up the trail that I was riding down and there was a bend in the trail between us. Had I not fallen, we might of had a very interesting encounter. After we watched each other for maybe 30 seconds, I walked towards him and yelled "bear". He took off.

Al

appleman44

Many years ago when I was 12, I got my first MTB and I was really into riding in some local woods. One time I went out on a fairly smooth trail and was going as fast as I possibly could (Been on the trail many times) It had rained the night before and where I would normally brake really hard then take a tight corner it was ALL mud. When I tried to brake I didn't slow down at all. My front tire sunk down and straight into a rock. I flew off the front of my handlebars and head first into a tree.

Luckily I was wearing my helmet and didn't have any real injuries, just freaked out for abit. My helmet cracked right in 1/2 so it was a pretty hard hit After awhile I just got back up and went home. I didn't always wear a helmet before this incident, but now I do 100% because you just never know, even on trails you've been on many times.

More recently(about a week ago) I was trying out a new trail in the area. There was warning signs about sharp turns and to proceed with caution. I was going down hill on a smooth trail around 45 km/h. Everything was awesome until I hit the last turn, bolted straight down it and realized with about 3 seconds left I was going WAAAAY too fast for the last turn. Locked up the brakes then did some threshold braking and slid a good 6 feet off the trail. I stopped inches from a tree. (Slowing down allowed me to avoid 3 trees as I slid into the woods) I had just tuned up my rear brake because it hadn't been working properly the day before. If I hadn't tuned it up I know for sure it wouldn't have been enough power to slow me down, it coulda been REAL bad. A million other stories but an old and a new one is good for now

AlucardZero

None really, one time I was riding a crappy trail mate bike with coasterbrakes too fast down to my friend's house... His driveway is 90 degree turn, and I didn't bother slowing down. Anyway, the amount you can tilt on that bike isn't much and I hit a pine tree. It didn't hurt and I remained in my seat, and the reason I didn't stop is becase I'm too used to hand brakes and not that skidding would help me anyway.

I also had one on a singletrack, where it was a turn downhill with a couple of roots and I fell forward, with my hands (The people that say don't use them are full of crap) and saved myself. It didn't hurt either.

I don't have any big falls YET. THeres the occasional front wheel stall that I was going too fast on and slipped. Kind of boring actually.

paulwwalters

Did the Camelback survive? If so you should submit that story and get on the web site or something. "15 foot vertical drop, camelback saves biker's life" sorta thing.

croscoe

I was sprinting in the 42/12 gear (my bike has strange gearing) down a fire road, turned back onto the singletrack and hit a deep patch of sand. My front tire washed, and I lowsided. I caught myself with my hands (I stay loose and haven't been hurt yet from using my hands), got up and rode away. What a wimpy crash.

LBIkid

While in college, riding solo across a grassy slope that lead to a great double track trail with several jumps...hit a hole easily 2 feet across, tacoed my front wheel, bent my fork (rigid steel) back a good 10 degrees and flew close to 40 feet htrough the air. Woke up on my back with my left shoulder displaced at least 4 inches south of its natural position and a kid leaning over me asking if I was alright. I was so dazed that I told the kid I was fine and proceeded to try to walk my bike home some 8 miles. Thankfully, a wonderful old lady stopped on the shoulder of the road, loaded my bike in the back of her Honda Civic hatchback and took me to the school infirmary. Final diagnosis was 1 clean break and 4 fractures of my left collar bone. Worst bone to break because they can't just put you in a cast and send you home.

Juniper

Yup! Holes or trenches hidden by tall grass suck big time. The worst thing is you don't know you're into one until you're into one. Bummer.

Juniper

It survived. I was amazed it didn't explode like a water balloon but the case must have kept it from expanding too far. It was like landing square on a mini-waterbed. I was very lucky! A bit of a shift to one side or the other and I wouldn't have landed on it as I did. As it was, only the Camelback, my legs, and the rear of my helmet hit the ground. Crazy!

tt1106

Hopped a tire rut and my front wheel went sideways. I crashed and broke 2 ribs. It was very emberassing.
Especially since I had been riding for years. I definitely wasn't a beginner.

mtnbiker66

I never crash.

DBarry

Wow I think you took the cake, I feel for you man. My collar bone still hasn't healed completely from when I broke mine.

Sharks12

I was jetting down a hill to hit a jump, but some animal got in my way, I swerved, and then hit the jump on a bad angle. I ended up landing on my front tire and flipping. lol

junkyard

I agree. Crashing is for suckers.

mtnbiker66

....and riders lacking in skill.

junkyard

Or skilz... as the kids say.