How superstitious are you?
 

I'm not talking about what you know intellectually. Rather, do you actually observe superstitious cycling practices to prevent bad luck or to cause good luck?

I just took my first shower since the season started in March.

*reported*

Dunno if you call this superstition, but I believe every car is doing their best to kill me without making it look like it was their fault. It's my job to make sure they can't do it. Perhaps it's more of a healthy form of paranoia than a superstition.

I can't see any kind of flat inducing debris or pot holes until I'm within 5~10m of it.
I always have spare tubes and a repair kit on me when I ride.

latest flat I got was from a piece of bent scrap metal lying on the road.
probably was around 6in long and 2in wide. kicked it up with my front and punctured my rear.

My wife is not allowed to tell be to "Be careful" when I go for a ride. she can only tell me to "Do well."

Very...

http://ibzp.net/wp-content/uploads/2...vie_wonder.jpg

I ritualistically take a dump 20 minutes before any ride.

No problems so far...

Well they are.

I'm superstitious about unclipping when I come to a stop. I'm afraid I'll fall over if I don't.

I do have those little rituals before and after a ride. For instance, I always sacrafice a virgin before the ride. Always make the ride goes smooth. Evidence: The first time I did not sacrafice a virgin was yesterday. Yesterday was the first flat I have ever gotten.

I now NEVER drink anything but water or sport drink before a race.

I also take a dump on the way to the race. I leave too early from home base to pinch one off at max effort, and it's just bad juju to poo at the race.

No mention is to be made of any wind condition other than headwind and sidewind. Ever.

Good point. There is a similar dynamic for rain and/or cold. Weather conditions are missing from the poll.

I never fart into my chamois.

It's all about the lucky socks ! End of conversation.

i have a livestrong bracelet on my seat post so my bike doesn't give me testicle cancer.

i also keep a living will and a copy of my DNR on my bike at all times, its on waterproof, dimpled, paper.

Vegas crit finals course was crash heavy and this was my number which I wasn't happy about so I guess that makes me superstitious

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...nie/img220.jpg

I shave my legs on the day of a time trial.
I request the number 13 and pin it right side up.
I talk about flat tires and crashing while riding.
I always put my socks and shoes on left foot first.
I also don't win races :D

Today I was out on the club ride, and the guy I toured with this summer was there too. I was riding my road bike, not my touring bike

I remarked to him "now I can say it, I didn't get a single flat on that whole tour" (2400 miles of loaded touring).

90 minutes later.... yeah. flat tire. first one all year. sigh.

this much.

Never talk about crashing! This cannot be emphasized enough. Talking about flats is the baby brother of this.

I always squeeze the front brake, then the back brake, and then bounce the front wheel twice before every ride. This includes commuting rides. I do this to make sure that neither brake cable is screwed up and that my front wheel quick release is secure. I have on occasion detected major problems before a ride by doing this that caused me to take a different bike that day. The reality is that I do it as an OC thing.

I don't ever talk about rides before I do them. If I could see the future I would use that for bigger financial gain.

I wear my HTFU wrist band on every non-commuting ride so it is my good luck charm. It reminds me to do the obvious. Also the last time I forgot to do so I had a horrible crash on a training ride and got to ride in an ambulance. That was also the first ride with a new pair of gloves, but I have ridden with those gloves since then without incident. The HTFU wrist band seems to be doing its job!