**Confession thread**
#2052
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 52
Bikes: Super Cheap gc3 approved Bike
#2053
I crashed the 2nd night I rode it because I thought a curb was an entrance ramp to a bike path because the light wasn't bright enough and I couldn't tell the difference. I flipped over the handle bars and I'm pretty sure I bruised the bone in my butt because it's 3 weeks later and it still hurts a lot of the time. I think I had a mild concussion because i felt sluggish and groggy for a couple of weeks.
#2054
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
The biking gods have granted me the curse of the bad mechanic. Regardless how far I drove and how many places I tried I was never able to find a good one.
Because of being cursed, I had to learn basic bike maintenance and now I kind of enjoy it.
Because of being cursed, I had to learn basic bike maintenance and now I kind of enjoy it.
#2055
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 52
Bikes: Super Cheap gc3 approved Bike
Better anyway. Now you can use better cable sets and not have to go to a shop and have them replace them the cheapest cables and plastic ferrules and cheap housing and charge you twice as much as it would have you to do it.
#2058
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Michigan
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Tarmac Apex Mid Compact, 2013 Specialized Sirrus Elite, 2007 Giant Boulder se
I ride my carbon road bike to the doughnut shop every Sunday and proudly set it right in front of the place.
#2060
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 58
Likes: 14
Before a ride, I never do any of those safety checks that you're suppose to do. I wait until I'm moving and then I give the brakes a quick squeeze, glance at the quick releases (actually I usually forget that too) and go. Honestly, a chainstay could be broken in half and I wouldn't notice.
#2061
Before a ride, I never do any of those safety checks that you're suppose to do. I wait until I'm moving and then I give the brakes a quick squeeze, glance at the quick releases (actually I usually forget that too) and go. Honestly, a chainstay could be broken in half and I wouldn't notice.
#2062
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 52
Bikes: Super Cheap gc3 approved Bike
Before a ride, I never do any of those safety checks that you're suppose to do. I wait until I'm moving and then I give the brakes a quick squeeze, glance at the quick releases (actually I usually forget that too) and go. Honestly, a chainstay could be broken in half and I wouldn't notice.
#2064
Super Modest



Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 25,336
Likes: 6,637
From: Central Illinois
Bikes: Trek Domane+x2, Trek Emonda
I've been known to put my front quick release lever on the right side to confuse noobies and Freds.
__________________
“Train hard until your legs are tanned, then keep going until the shape arrives.” -Jolanda Neff
#2068
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: NY
Bikes: 2014 Mirage
I listen to music while riding through traffic (insane, i know).
I ride a 29er to work because a few cracks in the pavement are WAY too much for the road bike to handle.
The road bike is not to be used in the rain.EVER.
After my most recent crash, my initial thought was "oh god how am i going to buy a new wheel". Luckily, didn't need to. Go alloy!
I have pretty much the worst training actuation for my goals. Ex. "Oh i'm just going to spin today, nothing crazy"*five miles later trying to be Tony Martin* "It hurts so good!".
I ride a 29er to work because a few cracks in the pavement are WAY too much for the road bike to handle.
The road bike is not to be used in the rain.EVER.
After my most recent crash, my initial thought was "oh god how am i going to buy a new wheel". Luckily, didn't need to. Go alloy!
I have pretty much the worst training actuation for my goals. Ex. "Oh i'm just going to spin today, nothing crazy"*five miles later trying to be Tony Martin* "It hurts so good!".
#2069
I want a road bike but don't want to have to deal with adjusting the shifters because the derailleur setup confuses the hell out of me.
I bought a fixed gear because of the reason stated above and I absolutely love it.
When I am on my track bike on the road it is always a race, always. Doesn't matter what you are on, BSO or $10k full carbon road bike, it is a race.
I enjoy passing cars on the road in a 25mph zone on a fixed gear bike while I am commuting to work.
I had a black Aerospoke front wheel and sold it, and deep down, I wish that I had kept it.
I bought a SRAM S80 front wheel for no reason other than I like how it looks. Commuting to work on a windy day with it on my bike is more than a challenge.
I bought a fixed gear because of the reason stated above and I absolutely love it.
When I am on my track bike on the road it is always a race, always. Doesn't matter what you are on, BSO or $10k full carbon road bike, it is a race.
I enjoy passing cars on the road in a 25mph zone on a fixed gear bike while I am commuting to work.
I had a black Aerospoke front wheel and sold it, and deep down, I wish that I had kept it.
I bought a SRAM S80 front wheel for no reason other than I like how it looks. Commuting to work on a windy day with it on my bike is more than a challenge.
#2071
Extra Medium Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 26
From: Erie, Co
Bikes: Fezzari Empire; State 6061 Allroad gravel; Scott Spark; Specialized Status 140
With very few exceptions....I have regret for every bike I've ever sold....especially the one's with frames I built myself.
__________________
Droping the hamer since '86
Droping the hamer since '86
#2073
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Beyond the Sun
Bikes: Cannondale Supersix Evo HiMod - Sram Red
In my very first race, about 23 years ago ( not cat anything, just a loosely organized road race for anyone who wanted to compete) I showed up on my original kestrel monocoque with dura ace. I was the only guy of 50 on carbon.
When the *** went off I went out full blast. After 3 minutes, with the certainty I was way off the front, I finally turned my head to see half the group right behind me. Then 30 seconds later I started to slow and the passing began.
After 20 people went right by me, and realizing I was in way over my head, I faked a mechanical and walked my bike back to the start / finish (making sure plenty of people saw me with said "mechanical") , threw it in my car in disgust, and went home. I managed to block the memory until just now.
When the *** went off I went out full blast. After 3 minutes, with the certainty I was way off the front, I finally turned my head to see half the group right behind me. Then 30 seconds later I started to slow and the passing began.
After 20 people went right by me, and realizing I was in way over my head, I faked a mechanical and walked my bike back to the start / finish (making sure plenty of people saw me with said "mechanical") , threw it in my car in disgust, and went home. I managed to block the memory until just now.
#2074
Super Modest



Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 25,336
Likes: 6,637
From: Central Illinois
Bikes: Trek Domane+x2, Trek Emonda
In my very first race, about 23 years ago ( not cat anything, just a loosely organized road race for anyone who wanted to compete) I showed up on my original kestrel monocoque with dura ace. I was the only guy of 50 on carbon.
When the *** went off I went out full blast. After 3 minutes, with the certainty I was way off the front, I finally turned my head to see half the group right behind me. Then 30 seconds later I started to slow and the passing began.
After 20 people went right by me, and realizing I was in way over my head, I faked a mechanical and walked my bike back to the start / finish (making sure plenty of people saw me with said "mechanical") , threw it in my car in disgust, and went home. I managed to block the memory until just now.
When the *** went off I went out full blast. After 3 minutes, with the certainty I was way off the front, I finally turned my head to see half the group right behind me. Then 30 seconds later I started to slow and the passing began.
After 20 people went right by me, and realizing I was in way over my head, I faked a mechanical and walked my bike back to the start / finish (making sure plenty of people saw me with said "mechanical") , threw it in my car in disgust, and went home. I managed to block the memory until just now.
__________________
“Train hard until your legs are tanned, then keep going until the shape arrives.” -Jolanda Neff
#2075
Share the road.

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 45
From: Marysville, CA
Bikes: 1992 Rocky Mountain Fusion, Yuba Mundo, Specialized Venge
I spent hours hunting for just the right old style clip pedals for my "rain bike". On the maiden voyage I stopped by local bike shop and purchased the same pedals that are on my super fast carbon bike. The pedals are in the shed with all the other learning experiences, odd parts, I won't throw away.







My GF once gave me an honest sincere observation about my athletic ability....."you always tend to over estimate your ability". DAMNIT she's right!