Climer

A few days ago, while biking along and daydreaming about my tour, I came across one of those black, rubber hoses that are laid across the road to count cars. It didn't even register on my radar as something to worry about, because they're squishy and innocent. My brain remained at caveman level and my eyes just slid past the object without sending any alarm to the higher thought department. What I failed to realize was:

1) it was wet out,
2) upon entering the bike lane from the car lane, the tube made a turn to lay parallel to my direction of motion,
3) the section of tube in the bike lane was not soft and squishy, but was hard and slick, perhaps being a portion that isn't meant to count cars.

In any event, there was a sudden squeak as my front tire slid on the hard, wet rubber and I went down hard... fortunately, right into the soft grass above the curb. If the grass hadn't been there, I surely would have broken an elbow, arm, or shoulder. I was pretty shooken up afterwards. Only got a knot on my shin from hitting the pedal during the tumble.

Not sure why I'm making this post, other than to record my mistake... never dismiss an object as innocuous, especially in the rain and especially if it is somewhat parallel to the bike's motion. My bad. Perhaps even a pinecone could take a bike down. I'm grateful it happened as I'm now more alert than ever.

Anyone else ever receive a surprise knockdown by something they didn't expect? Maybe I can learn through your mishap as well as my own.

Wogster

You need to talk to your municipal traffic department, they may not realise that these things can create safety issues for cyclists, if not installed correctly. You got lucky, the next rider might go down the other way and get run over by a motor vehicle. If they don't want to count bicycles, then it's easy, build a small ramp to go over it, paint it yellow with a slip resistant paint.

Another thing that can cause a slip.

There are dead leaves on the side of the road, it's a little cool out so there was frost over night, the leaves have just enough insulating value that they have frost on them, down you go.

Speedo

On a dirt road, wheel slipped into a rut that was at an oblique angle to my direction of travel. Front wheel whipped to the side and I went down. Fortunately no damage except to my pride.

+1 on giving your local DPW a call. You may save someone else a tumble!

Speedo

John Nelson

Thanks for the post. I appreciate hearing the details of mishaps so I can learn more about what to watch out for. I hadn't heard this one before.

CCrew

Glad you're ok. I did a similar dope move, didn't realize the painted lines are slippery when wet and hit one on my road bike in the rain. Went down so fast I never had a chance to react.

Climer

"didn't realize the painted lines are slippery when wet"

I've also noticed the painted lines are even wetter than the asphalt... the paint acts as sort of a platform to hold the water, whereas in the asphalt the water slips around the embedded gravel.

"Went down so fast I never had a chance to react."

Yeah, that's how it was for me. I only had time to think, "WTF?! Aaaaah!!"

BikeArkansas

Good "Heads UP". Never thought of that one. Red paver brick got me. I was riding on concrete. It did not register to me that the inserts of red paver brick, in the rain, would be that slick. Went down instantly.

crazyed27

True anything parallel to the bikes wheels can be very hazardous to your health and you bikes function. Lesson learned correct?!

zeppinger

Sue the city, thats the only way that they will take any notice at all. Say it damged your bike, your body, your self-esteem, whatever. I nice phone call wont do anything other than remind you that your city thinks you dont matter, or that thing would no have been there in the first place. If the city loses a few thousand... o9r hundred thousand dfollars becasue of a lack of bicycle infrastructure you can be damn sure they will step it up. Its sad that thats the way it is these days but its true.

crazyed27

Or go out there in the dark and cut that SOB off the road!!!!

bobframe

I bought it on a set of railroad tracks crossing at an angle. Over before I knew it was happening.

Prior to that I succumbed to the dreaded "Oh-my-God-my-feet-are-locked-on-to-the-pedals-and-I-forgot-to-unclip-and-I'm-going-down-at-the-red-light" blues. Humiliating to say the least.

leftcoast

Reached over to push the traffic light button and started going over, I was clipped in and my foot just couldn't recieve the message from my brain to unclip so I ended flat on my ass with many people staring at me. The only thing that got hurt was my pride.

caldini

A short extract from one of my recent journal entries that I thought you might like:

"As I cycled up one of the hills, I heard some thumping music in the distance and I realised there was a party going on at a residence further up. They were playing some pretty decent tunes! At the side of the road was a lad on a mobile phone with a plastic cup of beer in his hand. He noticed me coming up the hill and held out the beer for me to take off him, marathon runner style. I didn't miss the opportunity and went for the beer with a big cheer from the crowd that were milling around outside the house. I successfully grabbed the beer, but then it all went horribly wrong. With only one hand on the steering the bike lurched to the left, then to the right and then back to the left where I finally lost control of the bike and came crashing down in a heap on the floor. The cheer turned to an 'oooh' but I quickly assessed myself and rolled off the bike, raised my fists in the air and shouted 'yay!'. The cheers resumed and I was soon surrounded by a bunch of twenty-somethings checking I was OK and trying to ply me with beer and shots. I was a bit shaky, but I couldn't help laughing. After a short chat and a few beers they pushed me off and I rode to Villamartin in the dark."

poutine

Here in Toronto, it's the streetcar tracks that get you. I've crashed only once (thankfully), but it's terrifying to land in the other lane with traffic bearing down. The tracks get especially rat's-nest-like in the intersections, which is exactly the place you least want to eat asphalt.

HtheCommuter

Yep. That's one reason I avoid an MUP that is a beautiful ride, but is lined down both sides with pine-trees. That half-mile is a death trap.