Dumbest / Most Dangerous Thing You Did This Year. Post!
10-31-09, 08:43 AM
#1
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Dumbest / Most Dangerous Thing You Did This Year. Post!
Earlier this year I decided to try riding in the morning... 5:30am type of thing. Pitch black outside, 55MPH road, and I did not have a single light / reflector on my bike. I hit half a dozen potholes, that I didn't see, and came within a few feet of several stone/soil trucks.
So dark road...
And a few of these bad boys...
I don't did that once... If I ever do that again, it will be with a powerful light; both front and rear.
So dark road...
And a few of these bad boys...
I don't did that once... If I ever do that again, it will be with a powerful light; both front and rear.
10-31-09, 09:03 AM
#3
Senior Member
A driver maximally accelerated to pass me with about 30 feet to go before a stop sign, then pulled right in front of me and had to slam on the brakes. I was so pissed I blew through the stop sign on the right, and only after-wards realized it wasn't a four way stop, and I hadn't checked to see if I was going to be t-boned by cross traffic that had no stop sign. The minivan then passes me again, honks, flips me off, and some words were lost to the Doppler effect. A half mile later the car is stuck behind 12 other cars because of a traffic jam involving a school bus, train, stop sign, and a traffic light, and heavy mid day traffic. I pass on the left, slow down to express my feelings as I pass, then use the oncoming lane, sidewalks, lawns, and some creative bunny hopping to make my get away around the stand-still traffic jam. After-wards I realized there were two jerks on that stretch of road that day, and I wasn't sure which one was the bigger jerk.
10-31-09, 09:22 AM
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10-31-09, 09:34 AM
#5
Still can't climb
i did a century early in the year without building up to it after the winter break on a new bike so not all the fit issues were ironed out.
I damaged the hamstring on one leg and couldn't ride properly for several months when the weather was good. was restricted to easy rides in the park.
I damaged the hamstring on one leg and couldn't ride properly for several months when the weather was good. was restricted to easy rides in the park.
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Last edited by coasting; 10-31-09 at 09:39 AM.
10-31-09, 09:37 AM
#6
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For me it was definitely solo-ing up the side of waterfall wall. About 93ft in height, and definitely not the strongest of stone the whole way up. Nearly fell twice about half way up, but when I regained my grips and composure, I finished the climb and reached the top of the fall. The reward was ALMOST worth the risk. 
10-31-09, 09:58 AM
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flat front tire heading into a tight turn. moved to the outside of the group and tried to turn through with the flat. not so much. went over the bars and into a ditch. stupid and it hurt.
10-31-09, 10:53 AM
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I tried to pass a friend on the inside approaching a blind left curve on a fast mountain descent (Glendor Mountain Road). I thought I had enough time to finish the pass before the curve, but found myself on his left side as he started to turn in. With no other option, I crossed over the double yellow and prayed there was no traffic coming the other way as my momentum carried me past a startled rider. It's even worse when you know the rider you did that to, because you gotta try to explain to them what posessed you to be that stupid and why you're still safe to ride with in the future.
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10-31-09, 11:04 AM
#11
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Built myself a 40mph Ebike. Found out quickly that Ebikes are a hobby unto themselves. Not riding, but just building and tinkering to maintain it. Spending hours in the basement tinkering with the electronics took a big toll on my social/family life. They are neat though, and they will undoubtedly be a big factor in future city transportation.
Anyway, I sold it to get back to the basics and concentrate on my road cycling.
Anyway, I sold it to get back to the basics and concentrate on my road cycling.
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10-31-09, 11:18 AM
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A driver maximally accelerated to pass me with about 30 feet to go before a stop sign, then pulled right in front of me and had to slam on the brakes. I was so pissed I blew through the stop sign on the right, and only after-wards realized it wasn't a four way stop, and I hadn't checked to see if I was going to be t-boned by cross traffic that had no stop sign. The minivan then passes me again, honks, flips me off, and some words were lost to the Doppler effect. A half mile later the car is stuck behind 12 other cars because of a traffic jam involving a school bus, train, stop sign, and a traffic light, and heavy mid day traffic. I pass on the left, slow down to express my feelings as I pass, then use the oncoming lane, sidewalks, lawns, and some creative bunny hopping to make my get away around the stand-still traffic jam. After-wards I realized there were two jerks on that stretch of road that day, and I wasn't sure which one was the bigger jerk.
Reminds me of when a van honked at me, then proceeded to slow down and tell me the "sidewalk" routine, plus how dangerous it was to be riding in the first place. After I saw them get caught up by a light, I lit the leg-grenades, got up beside them and screamed something about how their collective weights would be reduced by getting out of their cages. Yeah, later that night, I think I realized who the real doosh was.
10-31-09, 11:24 AM
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10-31-09, 11:29 AM
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I was feeling overly cocky after killing it on a climb, wasn't paying attention and took the descent way too fast. Took one turn too hot and missed a head-on with a Jeep by all of two inches. I've been much more conservative on the descents ever since...
10-31-09, 11:32 AM
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Reminds me of when a van honked at me, then proceeded to slow down and tell me the "sidewalk" routine, plus how dangerous it was to be riding in the first place. After I saw them get caught up by a light, I lit the leg-grenades, got up beside them and screamed something about how their collective weights would be reduced by getting out of their cages. Yeah, later that night, I think I realized who the real doosh was.
Edit: On-topic: In the last year or two, I've done some really sketchy routes while solo touring- 50+mph roads, often climbing at 10mph or less, with little or no shoulder, being passed by trucks. They don't bother me these days, but my nonchalance scares the crap out of some of my friends/family.
Last edited by Raiden; 10-31-09 at 11:36 AM.
10-31-09, 11:36 AM
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I was riding behind a car in this "parking lot" (more of a street with perpendicular parking spots all along it) full of speed bumps and decided to pass the guy because he was going really slow. I went to make the pass as he was going over a speed bump, but at the same time the guy spotted a parking spot to our left and proceeded to turn towards it. Next thing I know, I'm accelerating at the side of a car with a very startled driver gaping at me. He braked hard, I braked hard, and I just barely managed to whip to the side and squeeze between his front bumper and the row of parked cars. Not surprisingly, I was chased with a long honk as I rapidly retreated down the road, full of embarrassment.
10-31-09, 11:38 AM
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I built up a bike up from an 80's frame to start racing with. I didn't touch the original headset. I rode it for a couple weeks and noticed I couldn't really control it hands-free. Ignored it.
Then I went on my first club ride. As a couple riders took a nature break, myself and others spread out and slowed a bit. Perfect time to stretch out my back. Wrong. I went hands-free, swerved sharply, over-corrected and then slammed on a flat and straight stretch of open road. I had to give up the ride about 10 miles later, 7mi shy of the finish. I didn't want to admit how hard I had slammed, and that something was seriously wrong with my elbow. I felt like a total idiot.
Turns out I had broken the elbow, and had to have an enormous screw put in a couple days later.
Then I went on my first club ride. As a couple riders took a nature break, myself and others spread out and slowed a bit. Perfect time to stretch out my back. Wrong. I went hands-free, swerved sharply, over-corrected and then slammed on a flat and straight stretch of open road. I had to give up the ride about 10 miles later, 7mi shy of the finish. I didn't want to admit how hard I had slammed, and that something was seriously wrong with my elbow. I felt like a total idiot.
Turns out I had broken the elbow, and had to have an enormous screw put in a couple days later.
Last edited by jtwilson; 10-31-09 at 11:42 AM.
10-31-09, 01:08 PM
#20
shedding fat
The stupidest and most dangerous thing I have done this year has to be riding in the "Speedway Century" in Miami. Never again.................. Talk about Ninja Assassins on 2 wheels..........
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10-31-09, 01:18 PM
#21
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Well, the most dangerous thing I did this year was nothing more than a 10 kilometre commute in broad daylight that has left me with what is likely to be a permanent injury.
We can't account for maniac drivers, texting drivers, and distracted motorists in general, but we can make sure we use our heads.
To the OP: get some decent lights. That was indeed dumb & dangerous.
We can't account for maniac drivers, texting drivers, and distracted motorists in general, but we can make sure we use our heads.
To the OP: get some decent lights. That was indeed dumb & dangerous.
10-31-09, 01:36 PM
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Sunday morning right by a church, I hear two light horn beeps at 7:00 behind me. I figure someone is coming around and look to see. No one there, as I take too long of a look and turn around to see the now red light in front of me. The Horn was someones car being locked.......
10-31-09, 01:41 PM
#23
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I had someone do that to me passing within inches of my elbow, but while they were waiting for traffic to clear at the intersection I went by on the right and planted myself in front of their vehicle again.
10-31-09, 01:41 PM
#24
Senior Member
Most dangerous thing I did this year was not while riding but driving home after a race with bike on the trunk rack. Kinda ticked off at my performance that day, I was driving kinda recklessly. Wanted to pass another car, switched lanes without looking into the path of a speeding SUV. If he didn't slow down, he would have plowed right into my rear end with my bike on it!
