Very close call on Saturday's ride

[BeeLady]

Well, I started my thirty-mile charity ride on Saturday with my DH, his first "long" ride. My head was full of all this new stuff I've been reading on this forum, like steering with my hips, how to make a turn at high speed, etc.

Well, there weren't many riders around us and we came to our first 90 degree turn. I was moving at a good clip (sorry, no computer on my new bike yet to give specific speed) and felt I could really buzz around the corner. No other riders near me, the line I was holding was clear. So, I go scooting around without slowing down, actually for some reason down in the drops, leaning my bike into the right-hand turn, trying to feel the counter-steering, leaning to my left, etc. I make the corner, still at high speed, and then this kid makes a left hand turn RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!

I hollered Whoa, hit my rear brake, still in the drops, the brake locked up and the rear wheel skidded to the right about 18-inches. I figured I'd go over but at least I missed the kid. But somehow, I maintained balance (I guess being low helped) and just went on with the adrenaline pumping but no loss of skin. The kid just yelled "sorry" and then rode back against bike traffic to terrorize other riders.

Must say that close call added an extra level of excitement. Otherwise, except for my DH going over again due to a shoe clip episode, the ride was very nice and enjoyable.

[Geonz]

I hope somebody takes him to task!!!! GRRRRRR.... (Tho' I suppose he could have just laughed...)

[pooks]

YIKES!

When you say "kid" do you mean little kid, teenager or ...? In other words, old enough to know better?

Glad you made it without road rash!

[bikerchick68]

oh my gosh... that is SO scary... I've had close calls where I shake for 5 minutes afterward... sounds like one of those huh? glad you stayed upright... skin and pavement is baaaaad....

[lph]

I can feel my adrenaline level rising just reading this

[BeeLady]

The kid was an older teen on a pretty nice and pretty well-used mountain bike. He probably thought skidding around corners was what we all look forward to doing!

My 19-year-old son said he woulda just run him down on general principle, or at least tried to clip his rear tire! Oh, to be young, fearless and have strong bones again. My DH went over once at a stop due to his new clipless pedals; it took him about 10 minutes to fully shake it off. At another stop a 14-yr-old went down for the same reason and bounced back up like one of those clown punching bags -- never interrupted what he was talking to me about!

[Grog]

I'm sorry about your close call, but really happy it was just that, a close call!

Please start using your front brake and learn how to use it properly. Take a bike skills workshop maybe? We've had numerous conversations about use of rear and front brake, you could find them easily on this forum, but basically it will be safer for you and others to get in control of both brakes.

Take care!! Good luck on your next ride!

[BeeLady]

Thanks Grog, I've been looking for a course to take. Part of the problem was I had a mirror in the way of reaching my front brake from the drop. I can reach the brake from the hoods. I am scared of the front brake tho and really need to get over that.

[Kalidurga]

If you haven't searched the forum yet for the braking discussions, I'll tell you right now that the biggest tip I picked up from one of those threads is that you need to bend your elbows and brace your arms when you hit that front brake. It really does make a difference and I barely ever use my rear brake now. If only I could figure out how to get rid of the ugly squeal that my front brake makes, though...

[spokewench]

Great Save Bee Lady! Emergency stops are something everyone should practice - you probably did this but don't know it. When you make an emergency stop - you shift your weight way back off of the back of your seat over your rear tire. That will keep the back end of your bike from lifting off the ground!

[Grog]

If only I could figure out how to get rid of the ugly squeal that my front brake makes, though...

Usually you need to "toe-in" your brake pad, i.e. make the front of the pad touch the wheel a tiny bit before the rear.

I have no idea why this works but mechanics have told this to me over and over.

I have never had to do it myself though so I can't help any more than that...

[CyclChyk]

GGRRRRRR!!!! Tho I am glad you handled it likr a pro and stayed upright.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Beelady,
I FEEL for you!
I tend to be more cautious than necessary when I am biking. When I drive my car, I always anticpate that there will be a deer standing in the middle of the road around that next turn, and I try not to drive faster than I could brake for that. I anticipate wrong moves by others a lot.
From your description, it sounds like you may have been taking that 90 degree turn faster than your skills could handle if anything went wrong....which it did.
I try not to go faster than I feel confident going, but hey that's just me.
I do like going fast sometimes- but only when there is nobody anywhere in sight that might do the wrong thing! (DH doesn't count- he never does the wrong thing)