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.
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10-23-2006, 07:26 PM #1
aka "Bee-anchi" Lady!
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Very close call on Saturday's ride
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10-23-2006, 08:03 PM #2
Sue
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I hope somebody takes him to task!!!! GRRRRRR.... (Tho' I suppose he could have just laughed...)
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10-23-2006, 08:03 PM #3
Registered User
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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!
“Hey, clearly failure doesn’t deter me!”
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10-23-2006, 08:31 PM #4
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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....
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".
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10-24-2006, 02:47 AM #5
Grizzled
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I can feel my adrenaline level rising just reading this
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10-24-2006, 06:14 AM #6
aka "Bee-anchi" Lady!
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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!
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10-24-2006, 07:44 AM #7
Northern Amazon
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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!
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