Shiznaz

I've had something like this happen 3 times. I've had no mechanical problems since I started riding fixed, but for some reason within a week I threw my chain or had it snap 3 times on 2 different bikes. One was my spectacular crank failure, the other was my masterlink shattering after going over a bump, and the last was my hub threads stripping and a few of my chainring teeth getting sheared off. All 3 times I took my left foot and jammed it on the top of my back tire coming to a controlled stop. My shoes are almost burned right through though now and it sucks because they were brand new! At least I still have my health!

etchr

please tell me you didn't literally eat poo.

Ya Tu Sabes

You could also jump off the bike, kung-fu style. I've never done that so I don't know how practical it would be, but it would definitely look kinda tough, especially if you turned some kind of flip or something.

ultra-g

I think this would involve a SERIOUS amount of PAIN!!!
No advanced knowledge of fancy ukemi would save your ass.

mob

As with most things... this technique would take some practice. Practice with friends after work.

timmhaan

i would just streer the bike into a group of innocent pedestrians. nothing breaks a fall like pudgy soft human bystanders.

loaf

People are great because they're softer than pavement and cars!

YellowFixedGear

I was riding on 2nd ave in Manhattan and my rear hub stripped out on me. The cog and lockring came off and it was kinda ****ty.. I didnt fall, I just unclipped my shoes and started to grind then in the ground until I came to a stop.

nolageek

Must... put on.. brakes..

No problems for me yet. Only been about 8 or 9 months though.

analoglove

Dumped my chain a while back at Kinzie and LaSalle while skipping to a stop at a red thanks to my sloppy job at chain tensioning. I just turned right and went up onto the sidewalk, where the hill brought me to a stop. Luckily I had already lost most of my momentum in the skid, otherwise, lets not talk about otherwise. Anyway, here's to learning lessons the hard way and having the ba-jesus scared out of you.

analoglove

p.s. for those of you whose hubs stripped, what make were they?

checkthat

I've never broken a chain, but I dropped one once on a singlespeed. For the love of god, and all that is holy, don't use cogs with shifting ramps on them for SS's. Somehow I ended up in the middle of the lane on my back with the bike on top of me. I was ******** for about half an hour.

SD Fixed

I had a chain snap on an uphill climb. I had to call my wife to come get me.
"No I'm not in trouble". "No police are not here". "No, I don't have a spare". "I don't know how much it's gonna cost."...

Or things of that nature. But I was in luck and didn't fall on my @$$.

YellowFixedGear

my old hub was a quando. Never again

junioroverlord

Make me!

Ken Cox

Ultra-g wrote:

"No advanced knowledge of fancy ukemi would save your ass."

My son has studied Judo for twelve years.
Some time ago he went over the handlebars and did a pefect roll on pavement, coming to his feet with no road rash or torn clothing.
I saw it with my own eyes.
It amazed both of us.
Conversely, in my recent fall, I not only did not see it coming, I don't remember anything between tapping my brake and hitting the pavement; and I do a fair job of ukemi.

My personal plan involves riding with a brake and trying to not ever use it.
For regular riding, I intend to keep the brake even when and if my skill level no longer requires it.

In my heart, though, I have a vision of a black DeBernardi with no front brake.
Perhaps an art object?

Shiznaz

Pain is a popular form of performance art!

flythebike

Grasshopper, if your chain breaks and you have no brake, remember these words from your Shaou-lin master. Oh SHI********.