lpolliard

I thought you all would enjoy a laugh on me.

I have been trying to up my weekly mileage to plus 150. So while looping into work last week on a new route I see 200 yards ahead in the bike lane near the top of a short hill a pickup truck and orange trailer. The trailer was all lit-up with flashing red arrows. Its purpose was to alert traffic of the parked vehicle and some construction ahead. No problem I thought. I had plenty of time as I was crawling along up this hill. I was concerned about my mileage not knowing exactly how many this new route would add to my weekly total. I glanced down at my Garmin. Now being 50 my near sight has grown progressively worst over the last 5 years so I had some trouble reading the small indicators. What I clearly saw was the number 8 but thought that number was awful low. Was I looking at mileage? I was breathing hard but not too winded. I tried to clear my head and sight. I tried to focus on the print after that number 8...damn growing old. The next thing I saw was a flash of orange and then WHAM! Now I know what an 8 mph impact into a stationary object feels like. It felt stupid! Luckily it happen so quickly I had no time to tense up or my front wheel may have been toasted. Just a bruise on my thigh and a couple of scratches on my shifters.

Anyone else have a stupid moment?

FactVord

I almost rode straight into a parked car with my head down for over 20 seconds. It sure looked far away before I last looked up. The next thing I knew I went from 30+ to 3mph in less than 4 seconds while swerving with locked front wheel yielding left, inches from hitting the rear bumper. I bet the cars buzzing past me were laughing at my expense.

rjones28 

Those Garmins sound dangerous.

StephenH

I rode into a cable across a parking lot entrance, didn't ever see it. Would have made a good slow-motion video, but no one had the foresight to film it.

MrTuner1970

Nope. Not me. At least not yet on a bike.

Well...there was the time when I suddenly learned why one should always remain seated when going downhill and braking hard with the front brakes. That was on a MTB and thankfully on a grassy hill.

Funny thing was, I had just told folks: "Hey, watch this!" right before doing a jump. The jump went perfectly, but the braking episode really...hurt...my pride.

FactVord

Thanks for giving the kids the idea in being the next big youtube star/idiot.

rjones28 

Oxygen

SlowOlympian

hahahaha i did something similar a few weeks back, i was sprinting down a hill in traffic when this chick in a civic braked hard for a crosswalk. i couldnt stop as fast as her, but her rear window caught me so it was ok, 9 stitches, a crooked brake hood, and a shattered rear window. pretty embarrasing climbing out of the rear window of a car in downtown Olympia. running into things is BAD! Dont do it! and glad youre ok!

thump55

This can't be the start of a Penthouse Forum letter (or standard BF post) unless a hot chic came to check on you after you crashed.

Please rewrite your story so you do not look so foolish and if you could end up making out with her that would be cool also


Edit: I forgot you said you were 50....that pretty much blows the "making out" idea all to hell. Maybe she cooked you some pasta instead?

DGlenday

I have the same problem - can't read those teeny numbers while riding.

I always ride with cool-looking sports-style sunglasses, but my dirty little secret is that they are bifocals, allowing me to read my computer, and my cue-sheets. And - they cost less than $20!

Google "bifocal sunglasses sports".

hao

I crashed and almost flew into a garbage truck once...

Nachoman

My neighbor totaled his new Madone by crashing into a parked truck. He told me that the impact caused him to fly in the air, and then he landed in the bed of the pickup truck.

Seattle Forrest

Not that I'm going to admit to, anyway...

tagaproject6

I have plenty of those...but, I cannot remember them

dstrong 

I'm reminded of my stupid moment every day when I look in the mirror and see my chipped front tooth. I was 6 y.o. and my brother was chasing me on his bike (see? bike related) down the street. I turned my head to see if he was gaining, drifting to the right. Just as I was turning my head back, I ran into the back of a parked car, slamming my face into the trunk lid. The only real damage was the small chip in my front tooth...and my pride...but heck, I was 6...who knew about pride at 6?

laimbeer

I was nearing the end of a 55 mile ride a few weeks ago. Cruising along on a straight, I eased my head back to stretch my neck and next thing I knew I was in the ditch, bouncing around trying to stay upright.

Quickly corrected myself back on the road and looked back to see about half a dozen other riders behind me. Hopefully they had as much of a laugh as I did.

Mithrandir

There's a bad storm sewer grate on my commute home; it's sunken into the pavement about 4 inches. I make a mental note to avoid it every time I get near it, but for some reason I always end up staring down at my Garmin and accidentally running over it. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.

rkelley23

my life is made up of stupid moments

Keith99

Nope,

The one stupid mistake I made that I rememeber saved me. Club ride was going up along the side of a hill, I assumed it went along and around to the back side. A nice little pop and I hammered it. Only to find that the road dead ended when I thougth it would turn and 30 feet before that the left turn on the route slip turned to a 10% plus climb for a quater mile.

I was toast, no way I would make the climb without stopping.

But at least I was ready and I clipped out half way up without incident. 2 other fresher riders were nto ready and did not clip out gracefully (or standing).

cleon

First day in clipless pedals. Road 20 miles to work and stopped at the first traffic light downtown. Slow motion sideways fall as I flailed around trying to pull my feet out of my shoes...in front of a full intersection of chuckling commuters.

Thirstyman

15 years old. delivering papers on my bike. I ran into the rear bumper of a parked car. To this day I can very easily remember the staggering pain my gonads met the stem. Of course it was a girl that distracted me.

cleon

Ha..you reminded me of a good top tube meets groin experience I had around the same age. Was jumping on an old Raleigh just getting started and standing on my pedal when the chain came off the chainring. Needless to say I remember lying down for quite a while by the road before I dared a remount.