Went over the handlebars today for the first time in years!
 

Took my 10 year old out on the trails today as we reviewed the mountain bike trail he hopes to race on next Sunday. It's a pretty easy trail with only a few lightweight technical sections. I was on a Trek DS 8.3 (hybrid) and found myself wishing for a mountain bike several times, but generally the bike did fine. Then it happened. I just didn't pop up my front wheel at the right time when we hit a section of tree roots (second lap of a 2.9 mile course by the way). The front wheel locked in between two roots and I went up and over. It was weird, since it seemed like I paused, balanced on the front wheel for a second or two. Then I came down over the handlebars and the bike fell back. The pause was confirmed by the other riders. I am 62. Been riding since I was 4. This was my second time to go over the handlebars - the other was at age 10 the first time I rode a bike with handbrakes. Just as embarrassing now as it was then. At least my 10 year old thought it was cool. Other than a big lump on my left shin, I'm fine.

Am I the only old guy dumb enough to be doing stuff like this?

No, you aren't.

My wife wants me to get a camera so I can record my mtn bike trips. Not for the scenery, but to see the occasional crashes.

Good that you're ok.

Too funny! Glad I am not alone! My two adult sons gave me a GoPro for Christmas and I've been trying to figure out what to do with it. Sounds like a plan!

+1 for: Too funny! Glad I'm not alone!

I'm 60 and went over the handle bars last year when riding trails with my then 15 year old. Luckily I wasn't bolting down the trail but I was going fast enough. Landed hard onto the bottom of a tree that wouldn't move. I laid there for a minute to see what hurt. Other than a bruised rib I seemed ok. I, too, thought, what the heck am I doing?? I got back on the bike and kept riding..........I guess it's the rebellious inner 17 year old in me.

To hell with this getting old stuff, I've decided I'm not going down without a fight.

An occasional mtn bike crash is an acceptable price to pay (road crashes, not so much).

Mountain bikers are crazy. I simply do not understand the allure of falling down. Pavement is where a bike belongs.

My last OTB was in 2015. I was on my comfort hybrid testing some new tires and decided to try 'em on wet grass just to see how far they'd skid. Turns out, none. Despite being chevron tread, not knobbies, they dug in like it was WWI and I went over the bar.

Oddly enough, I landed on my feet.

I was so shocked by this fortuitous landing I turned around to look behind me to be sure I wasn't actually unconscious or dead, tangled a foot in a brake cable, tripped and fell.

The horses in the nearby pasture nickered and neighed in equine mockery.

It buffed right out ....

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5efaecab5f.jpg

Back when the world was flat, (1963 or so) I was riding on my friend's handlebars while on our way to the candy store. We screamed down "little store hill" and made it to the bottom. We were going pretty fast and hit a pothole which caused the front wheel to come off. There was a brief jumble of limbs and metal and asphalt, then we got up brushed ourselves off, and remounted the wheel "finger tight" and off to the candy store we went.
I replay that episode whenever I get going around 35 mph downhill.

Yikes.

I remember my endos. In particular, I remember that magic moment whilst in mid-air contemplating the likely bodily sensations I was soon to encounter. It was ok until contact with the ground was established.

Showing off for our kids never gets old.
Mountain biking a course with my son, he 11-12, me 48 or so, and we were repeating a couple oopdy-dos getting air. After a couple practice runs, I went for it and went over the bars and into the bushes. It took me a while to get untangled and my helmet had cracked. My son rides over and says, "Would you be careful! How am I supposed to get home?"
Classic.

I am loving these stories! It's nice to know I'm in good company...or at least have some company! But wow! Metalheart44's picture is savage! As is Classtime's son. My own son didn't even slow down. He told the ride leader, "He'll be fine!"

I went down a path (downhill) and had my front wheel drop into a hole the size of the wheel. I went over the handle bars and I'm 51 years old.

Oh, hell yeah.
Most recently by not paying attention while brushing some c**p off my front wheel. Noticted I was about to rear-end a parked dump truck so grabbed the brake with the one hand still on the handlebar (the front, of course). Straight over. Road rash and a cracked helmet. People asked why I didn't call for an ambulance or stay home from work. Geez, it wasn't serious!

Two Summer's ago (61), was watching the kid on his BMX bike. Thought I'd give it a try, then thought I'd try to double a jump. From about 8 feet up I thought "This isn't going to end well.". Next I remember my kid and an EMT are standing over me. A ride to the hospital and an MRI showed no damage. My wife said my son was on his way to me, and a nearby man was already dialling 911 before I hit the ground. Oh, and another helmet to replace. (Lifetime score: 4 bicycle & 2 motorcycle helmets.)

I'm only on my second helmet since I started riding again a few years ago. Had a mishap with a high curb that didn't go well. When my head hit the pavement, my first thought was "Wow! I'm glad I'm wearing a helmet!" Got up, rode another few miles home. Minor scrape on the right handgrip. Tore my pants at the hip. Tore my shirt at the shoulder. And cracked the helmet all the way through the right temple. I had a check up scheduled with my doctor just after this. When I explained what happened, he immediately wanted x-rays. He started with the infamous, "At your age..." I think he was a little disappointed that the x-rays showed everything to be fine.

My last endo was a 7 or 8 years ago, almost to the day. I know because it happened on my wife's birthday.

I was riding with my 10 year old grandson on the dead flat Katy Trail of all places and somehow got tangled. I went over the bars and broke both elbows. The local EMS folks also sent a pick up truck for our bikes. For 2 weeks I had to have a medical attendant while my wife was at work but the worst injury was mental. It took me several years to get over the anxiety every time that I tried to ride.

I have only once when I was a kid. Even with Hydraulic disc brakes! Fingers crossed.

While some may not like the suggestion, it might be time for a recumbent or a trike.

There will certainly be a split second of pause at the top especially if you have a balance point touching the ground. I flipped twice in the past few years once on a trail going down a boulder twisted sideways and more or less stayed on the bike. Another time on the road slamming on the brakes getting cut off by a car who insult to injury laughed at me to boot. Flipped once as a teen borrowing some kids bike who's only handbrake it turns out was for the front wheel. Flipped a shopping cart in my late teens with hundreds of pounds of ice in it (force equals mass times acceleration) coming down a hill and hit the lip of the curb coming up a handicapped ramp. I felt the floaty mid air apex on that one. A friend was there fairly close and a big big guy I was like catch me and he was like nah. Idk if he was even close enough. Broke my thumb or wrist on that one. And glad I'm not the oldest one having the first kid at 40.

I even dislike the feeling of the rear wheel lifting off the pavement... I need to remember to slowly apply the rear brakes when coming to a complete stop on pavement prior to a dismount. At 72, I don't want to ever go over the bars!