cstamper

I was cruising around the corner of the MUP (Olentangy bike trail in Columbus, OH - close to OSU) and saw a guy go down hard.

I pulled over to the side to see if he was ok. He got up pretty quickly, but was limping and had several patches of road rash on his legs and arms. I think he had a little bit on his face as well. His jersey was torn behind his left shoulder.

Amidst the wreckage of the beautiful bike (full carbon Felt) was a dead squirrel. I don't know if he hit the squirrel or if it jumped into the spokes, but the fork snapped off right under the bottom of the head tube. The guy said, "Did that really just happen?" He must have been shaken up just a little bit, but I hung around long enough to make sure that he had a ride and that he was ok. Damn little twitchy *******s. You can bet I'm keeping my eyes peeled even more closely now.

He said it was kind of humorous that he was getting ready to sell the bike to his uncle this week. I guess not so much now.

wils0nic

I thought this would be a thread about me yesterday...did something stupid and busted both shifters. Both wheels now even more badly need a true and I need a new reflector as well. Didn't get badly hurt though.

spinnaker

Squirrel?? We don't have any agreement with them. it could have been worse, the squirrel could have just been hurt then the rider would have been out the cost for flying the tiny little instruments in for the operation.

BarracksSi

Yeah, it could've been the squirrel getting caught in the front wheel. There's a thread around here with pics of the same kind of accident. I'm sure that when your guy regains more of his memory he'll recall hitting the squirrel.

BarracksSi

Oh yeah -- good on you for sticking around.

gascostalot

Such a ****ty material to build a bike with if it's going to snap like that.

Doohickie

Wow. On my commute home, a squirrel ran right under my bike between the front and rear tires. That coulda hurt!

CCrew

Got one today on the ride home. Ran him over right behind his head so his demise was quick - and the damage minimal. Scared the bejesus out of me though.

-R

Raven87

A guy I used to work with in Lima (Ohio) hit a fully grown Groundhog (Woodchuck to some?). He went down HARD, broke his collar bone and elbow and was laid up for a few months.

Darned animals... if they would just look before crossing.

cstamper

It's funny - I see a lot of chipmunks on the path as well, but they seem like they might be a little smarter or maybe their behaviour is a bit different. They seem to cruise across the path very quickly with none of the "twitchiness" of the squirrels. Squirrels seem to have more of a problem making up their mind and that hesitation obviously costs them.

I was also noticing yesterday, however, that dogs don't really seem to have an awareness outside of a small sphere of attention either. I've had more than one person yank their dog out of the way as I approach because although the human can obviously see me coming, the dog is oblivious. Unfortunately, some humans are that way, too.

AdrianFly

I'll be sticking with lugged, vintage steel thank you.

Of course, I'm not training for the TDF so no need for Carbon Fiber.

djnzlab1

HI,
I was out riding before dawn yesterday and there was a Doe Laying across the Bike trail she must have bought it from a crate running along the road, I hope I never see a Deer while riding some morning in my Head lights of My bike, I hear they can freeze if startled by lights.
Doug

Hobartlemagne 

I ran over a squirrel recently. We both survived.
The guys riding behind me were quite entertained.

bakerjw

I had a chicken keep pace with me once. it ran alongside for 30 feet or so as it tried to decide whether or not to dart through or between my wheels. Luckily it opted for the ditch. It would have probably ended up badly for both of us.

DataJunkie

Crap. I suppose I should sell my tarmac.

ilmooz

Only if it's designed and manufactured to withstand encounters with all unknown hazards. Anything is capable of being wrecked when introduced to the wrong circumstances.

gascostalot

IF it was a steel bike, the fork would of bend and could of easily be rebent and limped home. Not only did this guy fell and hurt himself, he also have to carry and newly made door stop back home.

cstamper

A chicken!?!? Made me laugh out loud.

RCordone

It isn't just the critters that will do you in;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxLZr...eature=related

Jtgyk

Wouldn't be an issue if he would'a sharpened them aerospokes like I told him to.
Squirrel burger....yum!

Raven87

That rider is an idiot. He deserved to be whacked like that, running a warning for a train crossing - even if it was a false warning, it was a dumb mistake.

He's lucky it was the crossing gate that got him and not a train.

Still made me laugh though. Poor sap...

ilmooz

True, but unless you're willing to continue riding the bent and re-bent bike afterward you also have another newly made door stop.

I suppose it boils down to personal preference. I have 2,500 miles on my carbon frame without incident. I've had more enjoyment on that bike than any other steel or aluminum bike I've owned so to me that's worth trading for the remote chance of enduring a squirrel disaster.

joe_5700

Haha! A Seinfeld fan I see.

spinnaker

Well I am glad someone got it.