Unexpected pothole almost threw me off my bike!

[Ana]

I deviated from my normal commute from work due to errands. As I was turning left, my bicycle suddenly jolted and I almost fell off! :eek:

I am usually okay with minor potholes/imperfections in the road but I rarely miss them to the extent of almost falling off my bike!

Has anyone else had any close calls (or falls ;))? :p

[PamNY]

I sympathize. We have legendary potholes where I live and the big ones are scary. Glad you're okay!

Pam

[Pedal Wench]

Oh yeah. I hit one at about 40mph on the descent into Telluride. Hit it so hard it knocked my handlebars loose. It was all I could do to safely stop as it was quite steep and my brake levers were moving around on me. Took 2 minutes to tighten them back up, 15 for the adrenaline to stop shaking my knees.

[Biciclista]

as they say in Italy, Stai attento (or attenta)

pay attention

potholes can break your bike OR you or both! :eek::eek::eek:

[Lise]

Chicago's city streets are famous for gawd-awful potholes. One day I was admiring someone else's panniers and nearly bit it when I hit a pothole. :eek: I am normally so attentive to the road (it's called survival around here), that it really shocked me. Whoa.

[Trek420]

I've read the recommendation perhaps here or I forget if it was an article from a TdF rider to keep your thumbs wrapped/draped around the bar if you're on the top bar. A lot of riders have taken minor bumps and lost control/attachment to the bike.

Glad you are ok :cool: Way to recover from the bump :)

[Mr. Bloom]

You might research and practice the "rock dodge manuever (http://www.seattlebiketours.org/members/effective_cycling/rock_dodge.html)" in anticipation of the next time this happens.

[Ana]

I've read the recommendation perhaps here or I forget if it was an article from a TdF rider to keep your thumbs wrapped/draped around the bar if you're on the top bar. A lot of riders have taken minor bumps and lost control/attachment to the bike.


I ride with my thumbs wrapped around all the time on my flat bar :) Since my commuter is my main mode of transportation and I live in a small town, I can get almost anywhere I need to go within 20 minutes on the bike :)

Thanks for all the support! It was just so unexpected. Usually, I am very careful about these things but it really startled me!

[hipmama]

I had one at night the other night- more of an unexpected ledge, but still... was in a group so I couldn't scan too far ahead- riders called out that there was a ledge, but when we had come in from that direction, I hit a spot where it was rather low- coming out it was much darker and the edge I hit had a much larger drop- cobblestone onto gravel- I didn't crash, thankfully, as there were about 8 riders right behind me but it was really startling.
When I can't react in time to do a rock dodge move- as mentioned above- I quick spin my pedals so they are parallel to the ground, hoist myself out of the saddle, and relax my elbows while holding tight- it lessens the blow and helps balance.

[jobob]

Has anyone else had any close calls (or falls ;))? :p

um, yes :o

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You might research and practice the "rock dodge manuever (http://www.seattlebiketours.org/members/effective_cycling/rock_dodge.html)" in anticipation of the next time this happens.

I call it the caterpillar dodge/snake dodge/spider dodge..... always executed at the last second when you suddenly see the tiny critter right there in your wheel line, too late for a normal swerve. :)

[Lise]

This conversation reminded me of a wierd experience, sort of a reverse pothole. On a bright sunny day, I rode up a little driveway, planning to get onto the sidewalk. Except there was curb between the driveway and sidewalk which I could not see, due to the angle of the sun, the brightness, something. At the last second I saw it, and reflexively did what hipmama mentioned above, a lift/jump move. Scared the bejeebers out of me for a moment.

[ttaylor508]

Hi Ana-- you might want to repot the pothole here using this form: http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151--69798--,00.html It might save someone else from an accident in the future.

[sbarron01]

I feel your (almost) pain! Yesterday I was going at a good pace on my way home, hit a bump, rear bag bounced off & rack clip broke, bungy wrapped around tire stopping it immediately. I, though, keep going and slid across the grass median. Got up, continued home as road rash is ugly to look at but not too painful but lost a lot of skin on my hand.
Advice??...wear those cycling gloves you bought but aren't using because "I'm not going fast on my commuter bike; I only wear gloves on my road bike!" (at least that was my excuse!)
Oh, and I also ride with my mouth slightly open. Better to suck down a bug every once in awhile then hit a bump and have your jaws crush together. ouch.

Suzanne

[runner2]

That's it, I hit a pothole and broke my collar bone, my bike was OK but only has some scartches on the handlebar and paddle.
So, pay attention! ( I am talking to myself )

[badger]

gosh, it brings back painful memories. Last year while riding back from a friends' to look in on their house while away, I went on a road I'm not too familiar with. It goes from one block, down another, and over to another in a zig-zag, and trying to be consciensious I used my hand signal to turn left. Then *BAM* I'm trying so hard to regain my balance but with only one hand it was hard so over I went onto the road.

It was the worst spill I ever had, I thought I'd broken my leg as my right leg was covered in blood. I still have nasty scars from that spill on many places of my body. And speaking of broken, I was sure my poor bike was. The handlebar was twisted about 30 degrees, and my chain had come off but otherwise none the worse for wear (phew!)

The pothole was narrow but deep and right on the bike path. I limped back home and called the City to bring it to their attention. I went back half an hour later to take photos in case my injuries were severe enough, and the road crew was already there filling it. Very impressed at their speed and diligence. Though I must say that pothole was an accident (and potential lawsuit) waiting to happen.

So I can thoroughly sympathise!

[ginny]

The other day, I was riding about 500m to have lunch with a friend. I too signaled the turn and while executing it, (nearly) ran over a big pot hole - grabbed my bars - thought I was going to die... ran over ANOTHER pot hole - still, barely have control of the bike - still think I'm going to die - am headed right for grass and curb! Luckily, our curbs are rounded here and I was on my surly, so I decided to take the curb rather than wiping out... still thing I'm going to die... get onto the grass... bummpidy bummpidy bummpidy, somehow fix all the discombobulation - and now I'm laughing my a$$ off... then I ride back down the curb and am shaking like a leaf when I finally lock the bike up for lunch... tee hee My friends really think I should stay off the bike...:D what do they know ? :rolleyes:

[Geonz]

On GITAP this year (last week - week long tour of the Grand Illinois Trails and Parks) one of our Dept. of Natural Resources staff guys did 90 miles and then hit a pothole in the motel parking lot ... broke the collarbone in two places and it's surgery with metal pieces. So -- do the tents, not the motels... and watch that last stretch in!!!

[Pedal Wench]

Oh yeah. I hit one at about 40mph on the descent into Telluride. Hit it so hard it knocked my handlebars loose. It was all I could do to safely stop as it was quite steep and my brake levers were moving around on me. Took 2 minutes to tighten them back up, 15 for the adrenaline to stop shaking my knees.

Well, that was last year's Ride the Rockies. Had the same thing happen this year. Grrr. They do an awesome job of marking all potential hazards, but the road down from Independence Pass was in pretty bad shape in places. They marked a really bad pothole, but missed a divot that was just deep enough to once again knock my bars - not loose, but down a bit. Luckily, I was already slowing because some other riders had gone down just ahead. I had the SAG driver go back up and mark this one too.