Went over the bars today!
 

Ok, I leave from work planning an enjoyable, if a bit hot ride home. As I pedal easy through the parking lot my front wheel picked up a stick that jammed in my fender and locked the front wheel. Although it seemed like slow motion, it happened so quick that I could not react and over the bars I went. I was only going about 10 mph at the time so I guess it could have been worse. I had a few scrapes but the bike needed some attention to get home.

The kicker is that I intend to tear down this bike (a 1973 Raleigh Competition) for restoration this coming weekend and had been ordering parts for a older frame that I wanted to reconfigure for commuting. I had ordered a set of Planet Bike fenders that came yesterday. The front fender had the small plastic "breakaway" dropout mountings. I took a look and said to myself, "Cute, but really. How often does something jam your front wheel?" I reckon I displeased the cycle deities who obviously wanted to reinforce their presence!

I have to say that this was a positive experience. I learned something and I did not hurt myself significantly. I only wish someone was there to record it, I would like to see the replay.

-Gary

Same thing almost happened to my grandson one day when I took him for a ride. I gave him my "comfort" bike because I thought it would be safer but he picked up a small branch that lodged between the tire and the fender. Came to an abrupt stop that threw him forward off the saddle. Fortunately the top tube was at an angle that gave some additional clearance.

Last time I had a run in with a stick, I wound up with a 6 inch piece sticking straight out from between my pedal and shoe, but no real damage. Before that, I ran over a rotten old stick. A hunk broke off, and flew up into my back wheel. The wheel locked solid and so suddenly I was clsr to a Tombay moment. The derailer looked like somebody had twisted it, it was toast. The hanger was bent in three planes. I took it to the shop to have it fixed, the guy looked at it and said "Maybe", there was no guarantee it wouldn't break clean off when he tried to bend it back. Luck was with me(or maybe not, broken hanger = new frame), and he was able to bend it back. The frame was steel, BTW.
So, you got lucky the fork didn't break(had that happen), or the wheel didn't taco. Either could have meant a sudden trip to the pavement, ouch.
Good luck with your build.

I was gonna suggest the break-away mounting, but you've already got that covered. Glad you weren't seriously injured.

I was finishing up a ride with my son a few years ago when the same sort of thing happened to him. We were at our cabin in W PA and the last mile was the gravel road along the river to the cabin. We were riding about 15 mph when all of a sudden Eric went over the bars and the bike stayed in place. Seems that he rode over a small stick and some how it made it's way into the spokes of the front wheel then lodged behind the fork locking up the wheel. I can still see him sitting on his butt shaking his head and saying "what the hell just happened".

That's a hell of way to start your day. Glad to hear your OK.

Ouch! Glad there wasn't more damage. I had a similar incident on the first ride I took after mending my broken leg after being hit by a car last summer. The stick caught in my front fender and sent me on a slo-mo flip over the bars. I wasn't hurt, but my Honjo front fender became a crumpled mess. :(

I watched an over the bars accident that lead to pretty serious head injuries, and came upon another that involved frightening neck injuries. Luck was with you and welcome back. bk

My horse once had a delayed reaction to a passing truck, stopped suddenly and sent me over the ears. Does that count?

Ahem...
 

Was it an IronHorse?

I was asked by somebody if I was going on this ride in the fall http://www.endocycle.com/index.php/2...r-a-long-ride/
when I saw this picture on the same website . Check out the picture of the sign at the bottom of the page.


http://www.endocycle.com/index.php/2...-for-business/

My fenders were 80's vintage ESGE (now SKS). The the mounting stays to the fender were pulled out at the rivets, but the rest of the fender was pretty much undamaged. Although I had no significant injuries, I keep thinking that I ought to weigh the possibility of an injury with a long recovery period against just slowing down and being more sedate. Then again, this week's incident happened while I was gently rolling through the parking lot on my way to the road.

Well, two days later I am not slowing down, but am definitely looking out more for road debris.

-Gary

Several years ago I caught a stick in the rear spokes. It tore up the plastic rear fender, and as I carefully steered the bike as it skidded to a stop, I thought how bad things could have been in the front wheel. A few years afterward, the 59-year-old husband of the ex-wife of one of my former carpool buddies was killed when a stick went into his front spokes. Scary stuff ...

I do alot of mountain biking, so I'm used to scrapes, bruises, and falls. but most of these result from low speed. crashes. The worst crash I've ever had was on the MUP while crusin' at 15mph. Ran over a stick the size of a hotdog. Next thing I know I'm over the bars with two cracked ribs and a badly bruised shoulder.

When I got up and checked to see what happened, I saw that the stick had jumped up and lodged itself perfectly between the brake pad and the front rim (only one end of the stick was sharp enough and shaped just right to fit).

Beware of the small sticks.

I've gone over due to tacoed wheel after hitting a rough patch. No injury here also