big chainring 

If you are hitting your opponents pedals with your pedals, you cant squeeze in to avoid being last in a "miss and out".

roccobike

Watch out for differences between asphalt surfaces and concrete 'runners' where the surface difference is more than one inch.

umd

That's what broke my collarbone. ouch.

big chainring 

Last turn on the last lap - Only so many riders can jump to the outside, before there is no more room on the outside, and there is a concrete abutment called a curb in the way..

Joemess

It often happens so fast that one second you are riding along just fine, the next you are observing cloud formations...


ITs been a while since I crashed, but the worst one I remember was riding in a paceline and some tool at the front deciding to squirt a dog with his waterbottle... It was ugly. What was even uglier was that ass did not fall so we could all run over him before we crashed.

Onan

Don't ride drunk.
Onan

Jaye

That railroad tracks which cross the road at weird angles need to be respected...a lot....

dahut

What did I learn?That jumping ramps is not as easy at it appears, and it exacts a demanding toll on those who lack experience.

Issaquatch

Bike lanes can be dangerous -- cars will take a right turn crossing directly through a bike lane without paying any attention to whether someone is in that lane.... Take the traffic lane to avoid these situations.

Issaquatch

Actually, the crash I just mentioned was my first crash that I had since I started riding again a few years ago. If I go back to what was truly my first crash, about 25 years ago, then the lesson is learned was don't show off your new riding skills to your family and friends until you've got them down pat because it is embarrasing to do an endo in front of them in the middle of the street.

klages

not to trust that anyone in front of me can stay up over railroad tracks

B. Carfree

Don't pick up strays. I was riding a double century on a one-speed tandem without a stoker when I came across a group of riders who had crashed. One of them hopped on with me and off we went. On the first descent he got nervous and slammed on the hub brake. We could have ridden it out, but when he was starting to go by me he lost all his nerve and just sat the bike down. It took a few minutes to dig the rocks out of my leg, but the heat of the spinning stones on the road had nicely cauterized the wound. The bike broke down for good at lunch so I dumped it and my twice-crashed stoker and took a friend's bike who had gotten ill. I saw my ill-fated stoker a few months later; after several more crashed he had given up on cycling.

caloso

I learned that my cousin's Schwinn didn't have a coaster brake and the pedals just spin backwards and you won't stop.

mathwheels

first ride on brothers hybrid with nice road tires to see if i really wanted to buy and ride a road bike. needed tune up bad and slipped a during front ring gear change. fell hard on elbow and head. head fine with helmet but elbow lacerated to the bone. 12 stitches later I learned you have to ask for vicoden or you will get motrin. got them and felt just fine....

Also got my first road bike a month later.

molecularman

That bear cubs are inconsiderate *******s.

ricohman

Since my crash was on Tuesday its fresh in my mind.
- A base layer would reduce road rash.
- Even expensive jerseys get ripped up pretty easy
- gloves save your hands
- elbows are unproteced
- when your on your back and the bike is above you the water bottle gives you a little shower
- shaving is for women

kergin

1. Its gonna happen again and again and again.
2. Adrenaline is powerful stuff.
3. Strangers can be awesome.

sinclac

I don't bounce as well at 52 as i did at 22.

tubapro

cycling is sometimes a great way to get rid of those big buck teeth!

Urthwhyte

That landing on grass is much more fun than concrete. So far I've yet to experience true road rash, but if the sketchy guy at the road ride shows up again next week it might be a different story.

tagaproject6

Cattle guards are very slippery.

Actually, my first crash was many, many moons ago...even before the Berlin wall fell. Do not take fast turns while on training wheels and that coaster brakes will lock up if done hard enough. Ahh, my first Schwinn

achoo

If we're going back that far...

Watch where you're going, not the playing card clothespinned to your chainstay and buzzing away as the spokes go by. or you'll ride right into the big bumper of the parked pickup truck.

I'm sure glad only TV stations had video cameras when I was 6.

DRietz

I learned...

"Don't cross wheels"

fatdad

When the EMT says don't try to sit up, don't try to sit up. I didn't listen, everything started spinning, I puked.

Keep SA Lame

Seems Fonzi had a stunt double when he jumped over all those trash cans...