WHAM!!! My First Wipeout
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WHAM!!! My First Wipeout
I'm riding my Trek 820 to work every day, just a short 300yds down a steep hill and can manage a zippy little 45-60sec from my porch to the service dept back door. This morning was my first try at ice. We had about 1-2" of snow and no way was I going to walk or drive. Did pretty good going down the hill but when I entered the parking lot it was ice rink slippery under the snow. I tapped the brakes and the back wheel went out from under me. WHAM!!! The benefit of heavier clothes absorbed the hit and all was well. I havent hit the pavement in 16yrs. My co-workers sure got a laugh.
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Phew, luckily it was the back tire and not the front! Given your location, I'd recommend studded tires. (Good ones with carbide studs so they'll last you many many years.)
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Glad all is well. Being horizontal on the pavement is never pleasant, especially when others see you.
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Studded tires are on my list. On my lunch ride up the hill, pavement was clear and I was grinning.
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That’s a pretty definitive statement @zonatandem of Tucson, AZ, though I know you used to be in Michigan. Were studded tires available back then?
There’s a nice current discussion about the pros and cons of studded titers on this Commuter thread, ”Wrong bike this morning.”
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#12
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Glad your Ok hasn't snowed here yet but it will soon I am sure. You need one of these good speed down the hill take the corner like Bobby Orr.
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Your post brought me a smile, remembering about myself many years ago. I "lived" on my bicycle and snow and ice just slowed me down.
I remember wrapping wire around tires and rim in a crisscrossed manner to gain a little traction!
It helped but I still had spills but they didn't hurt like they would today! !
I remember wrapping wire around tires and rim in a crisscrossed manner to gain a little traction!
It helped but I still had spills but they didn't hurt like they would today! !
I'm riding my Trek 820 to work every day, just a short 300yds down a steep hill and can manage a zippy little 45-60sec from my porch to the service dept back door. This morning was my first try at ice. We had about 1-2" of snow and no way was I going to walk or drive. Did pretty good going down the hill but when I entered the parking lot it was ice rink slippery under the snow. I tapped the brakes and the back wheel went out from under me. WHAM!!! The benefit of heavier clothes absorbed the hit and all was well. I havent hit the pavement in 16yrs. My co-workers sure got a laugh.
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My most visible crash ever? January, 1975, Ann Arbor. Pulled into the road between the East and West Engineering buildings. Not salted. It was between the 8:00 AM and 9:00 classes. Probably 100 students close by. And Wham!! (But far from the first or last.)
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Isn't it amazing how fast you go from vertical to horizontal when you skid on ice?
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I rode on ice and snow a lot back when I still lived in St. Louis but (like you) when I fell there was no damage done since I had so many clothes on to ward off the cold.
What surprised me (in addition to the super-quick horizontal/vertical change) was how far my momentum took me after I hit the ice! All kinds of fun and good challenges back when I was young(er).
Rick / OCRR
What surprised me (in addition to the super-quick horizontal/vertical change) was how far my momentum took me after I hit the ice! All kinds of fun and good challenges back when I was young(er).
Rick / OCRR
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#21
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You actually can recall it was 1999 the last time you keeled over? Wow!
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
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You actually can recall it was 1999 the last time you keeled over? Wow!
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.