Juniper

Great ride this afternoon but about two minutes into it I had this super weird wipe-out. I entered this trough that was maybe 9' deep on each side and 6' across the bottom. Pointed my bike straight down the 45 degree slope for max momentum because the other side was almost straight up the top half of it. Well, I didn't have enough momentum because I stalled out about 3/4 of the way to the top of the other side with my bike pointing almost straight up. Then I did something reeeeeeeeallly dumb (maybe) - I put on the brakes to keep from rolling backwards (Well, what else could I have done? I've been thinking about that all afternoon. Any ideas?)

So, my bike goes straight up and over backwards with me on it thinking I'm soon dead. I tried to bail but since that wall of the trough was almost straight up and down there is nothing but air under me. Blam! - I land flat on my back full force. The amazing thing is I have a completely full 70oz CamelBack on and I land exactly on top of it like a cushion! I was still pretty stunned from the sheer force of the blow but my entire body landed on the Camelback and a little bit on the back of helmet (my wrist was tweaked a bit but nothing major).

I wish I would have had that on film.

cryogenic

I would have done a quick dismount instead of slamming on the brakes.... Do you ride with clipless pedals or what?

enduro

Haha, nice I've done a few stupid moves like that...if it looks like I can't make it, I've learned to bail as soon as I stall out. Usually I end up sliding down the incline anyway, half-on my bike (one foot still clipped in)...but at least I don't fall hard...haha. Momentum is your friend!

The stupidest wipeout I've had recently: I was coming home on the local bike paths. There are plastic rumble strips at the edge of the path to let skateboarders know they're about to run into the bike path, and it turns out that these are pretty slick when they're wet. I took a shortcut, and touched the plastic strips....front wheel just wiped out, I kind of lay the bike down, and skidded to a stop on my bare knee. Yes, skidding to a stop from like 15 mph on concrete shreds your knees. This was a few weeks ago, the giant scabs have almost healed..haha

FoX Rider

I had a bad crash, it was my own stupidity. I was riding some fire roads at Mt.Snow with a buddy. Wasn't paying attention and slammed on the front brake and endo'd for a bit then flew over the bars. At least thats what I thought happened. Maybe DjRider04 can explain better, he watched it.

hooligan

Worst crash Ive had....going up a hill, car comes out of nowhere, dodge it with a 90 degree turn , going back downhill, hit a huge rock from a construction site and fall over.

cryogenic

pretty bad when you have a crash and aren't even really sure what happened or how. lol.

Stregone

I did 30-0mph in about 3 or 4 layers of skin once (I call it 'flesh-brakes'). Was cherry red from my elbows almost to my wrists. Rear tire slipped out from under me on asphalt. Tried to sit up before I stopped sliding, propped myself up on the only part of my body with bare skin.

DjRider04

Ahhhh Jeff, hahahahaha so funny watching that. "Dude, w...." "AHHHHHH" "SMASH" "we missed the trail...." You just kinda endoed, panicked, and I laughed.

My worst fall was probably during a pre-ride for a race, and I managed to come back too. Came through a fast section of a trail, and there was a water bar, my tire pressure was too low, and when I came into it, my tire skimmed the top because I could lift all the way, and it blew out goin 15mph+. I lost control, dont really remember what happened. All I know is that I ended up in a rock garded, bent brake lever, a flat tire, two cut up knees(with pads on), and a badly bruised clavicle. I was sore for quite sometime, but still raced the next day. It's fun when you black out, have no idea what happened, but youre still wicked sore....I wanna know WHAT HAPPENED!.

khuon

EJECT... EJECT... EJECT!

I've been in a situation where my tyre's are both pointing skyward and I was backwards and upside down too. My recourse was to throw my body sideways and kick away from the bike. Also, I ride clipless but was able to accomplish this without much thinking. Torquing over to one side and kicking out will clear you from the bike (so it doesn't land on you). and yes, my CamelBak helped saved my spine too. Just remember to try and rotate as much as possible so you don't land directly on your shoulder.

enduro

Ahhh, road rash. You've got me beat on that.... Yeah, clipless pedals are definitely a source of stupid wipe-outs for me. I was practicing wheelies the other night and went over backwards...just kind of sat down really hard, still holding the bars with the bike upside down, clipped into one pedal. Must have been really funny to watch.

My worst crash ever ended up putting the large chain ring through my achilles tendon...partially severed. Not a good time, I have to say. But once I could walk again, I had a cool series of pinhole scars from the teeth. Yes, I rode home...haha

iovnow

Yea at some point my camelbak saved me today. Dont really remember what happened there though. I just remember falling on my back and would have hit a large rock but the camelbak took the blow. No leaks either.

My crappy thing of the day was I geared all up and clicked into my right pedal. Then I push off with my left and begin pedaling. The problem was my pedals didnt move... I fell straight to my left side. I lay in the gravel for a few minutes laughing. Then I get up and notice for some reason my bike was in the highest gear!

It was my first day off road with my new pedals and shoes (and new bike for that matter) so I had a few similar moving experiences. I used to laugh my ... butt... off when it happened to my friend. Today, he made it a point to make fun of me when I did it. It just looks so funny!

my58vw

I had a weird wipe out at work...

Decided to do a wheelie over 4 steps on my jekyll... got high enough and landed on the top step then bam... before I knew it I was on my back... yah! The step was wet and I ended up on my back... laughting the whole way

Hopper

Just remember guys, a Camel back is not REAL armour.

JohnnyTheFox

Hehe, some interesting wipeouts. Funniest one I did was riding with this guy as far out of the town as we could into all this moorland through a forest. We thought we could get through another bit where we thought there was no fence so we rode over this really bumpy grassy field. Little did I know there was a river in the middle of it hidden from view.... So were riding/stumbling at like 5mph over this field and the next thing I know my front wheel just disapears into some hole. I go with it but the wheel plugs the gap exactly so im basicly in a normal riding position but 90deg upright. The ground is so soft I just roll off it laughing. My friend who was talking to me said it looked like I just fell through the ground he was killing himself.

cryogenic

I had a really amusing one when I was really little that I'll never forget. I was busting it down this hill on this little 20" bike that was probably every bit of 15 years old. It was given to me until I could actually get a "decent" bike (mind you I was 12-13). So I'm busting down this hill on this road and this girl decides to take her cute pink bike out for a spin and slowly trudges her bike across the street in front of me ringing her stupid little bell. I slam on the brakes and t-bone her and go flying over the handlebars, smack the pavement, and break my thumb. For some odd reason, I'll never forget that.. and the sound of her stupid little bell. To this day, it's the only bone I've broken. I even remember the girl's name was Bambi.. and yes, that was her real name. Ironically, she wasn't even hurt and I think her bike was still mostly ridable.

kandnhome

i'm no mtb'er, but i have ridden a lot of bmx. if you stall out going up a wall, pipe, etc, just throw your weight to one side, leaving your back wheel on the ground, doing a 180 and ride out, back down the wall/pipe/ravine/etc.

Funkychicken

omg is the camelbak okay?

trekkie820

I had a wierd one today too: I was climbing a short hill and drifted off the trail a little bit. I was going slow, because I was climbing, and hit a tree with my front tire. I bounced off the tree and cartwheeled down the hill. I got up thinking, what the hell was that about?!

Stregone

One time I was struggling up a steep hill when the front tire popped off the ground and the bike did a 180. Almost plowed into my friend who was behind me and smart enough to walk that hill, hehe.

Juniper

Ya' know; I think that might have had a chance of working in my situation. An ejection seat manuever seemed to be my only hope but the 180 would have worked great if I could have pulled it off. Sure would have been better than landing flat on my back! The weird thing was I tried to do a basic bail but there was nothing under me but air.

Juniper

The crazy thing was it was like landing squarely on a big gell pack. Had I landed a little to one side or the other I would be a hurting guy. I hope I don't need to rely on it in the future to break my falls, though; it could have just burst like a big water balloon!

cryogenic

Those reservoirs are pretty thick and can take quite a beating... You should email camelback and tell them how great their product works as protection for your back along with hydration..

jallen

Yep yep, my camelback protected my back on my natsy bail out, too. I was going probably too slow on a big rock wet from rain, my bike went one way, I went another and landed right on my butt, and then back. Hit a big rock with my back, The camelback took it. My butt didn't fare so well though. I almost broke my tailbone, and ended up not being able to ride or even sit in a chair for almost 3 weeks. I just got on a bike again last friday for my firsttime since Oct 7. Firstthing I did was endo on it, trying a wheelie dropoff for my first time. I'm still kicking myself in my head for not easing myself back into it. I didn't get hurt this time tho , but...

jallen

Should I get a camelback for my butt? hehe Camelbutt? Nahh.. I've since got some bike armor shorts.. I'm not gonna go thru that pain again if I can help it! Not being able to sit SUCKS for someone with an IT job that requires sitting at the desk all day

CamelButt to go with my camelback and ********s (from the lyrca?) hmmm... heh.

khuon

CamelBak does make a waist/hip pack.