dumbest thing I've done

[eclectic]

I just have to share this.

As some realize I have just finished my first long tour (about 436 miles) this past week.

All in all it went well.

On one brutal (25-30 mph sustained headwinds) day I was mentally and getting to be physically exhausted. At the last rest stop I sat on a metal mesh bench and when I went to get up I was stuck, I thought dang these are my favourite shorts and now they are snagged. I unhooked and discovered I had sat on some gum Everyone was feeling sorry for me until one of my riding partners let everyone know that at the last improvised rest stop I had taken the gum out of my mouth and set it on my seat

Why I did that I will never know, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time of course I rode on it for 10 miles, shifting around so now I have a long strip of gum on the back of my best shorts that the world could see for another 3 days AND of course the story made its way around camp AND beat me back home

[Bad JuJu]

Still trying to think of the dumbest thing I've done, so I can share and you can feel better. Meanwhile, if you haven't been able to get the gum out of your shorts (there's a phrase you don't hear every day ), try putting them in the freezer. That should harden the stuff enough that you can gently scrape it off.

[oxysback]

I got a chuckle out of your gum story!

Dumbest thing I've ever done? No question....when I applied my front brakes (and only my front brakes) to see if I could get them to stop rubbing. Can you say endo? Doh! Thank goodness for helmet visors and gloves, that's for sure!

[mimitabby]

I think part of this thread should also read "the dumbest thing I have ever done after riding a bike for the greater part of a day"
on the ends of both of our rides on the RSVP, I made dumb mistakes.
1/ I was so addled after 100 miles I COULD NOT READ A MAP.
2/ second day i did almost the same thing you did. I put my digital camera
in a DIFFERENT PLACE than where i had been keeping it; and then freaked
because i forgot... and thought i lost it so started backtracking the ride.

[bcipam]

I've done so many dumb things - well I don't have the time to tell them all... but I did get a kick out of your story. Note I'm laughing with you not at you!!!

[Geonz]

My dumb things are usually before rides... before caffeine... like putting the wheel on with the derailleur on the wrong side... Ya know, the pedals don't work then! And no matter how you *implore* people to please keep going and not wait for you...
I got the best workout in all my riding days when I did the 50 mile TUesday tour with a stiff headwind, then realized at teh last minute that even tho' I was too tired to ride ... the car was in the shop so I *had* to *sprint* the seven miles to class... (slow ride back)... then hop on the Western Flyer Repro (45 pounds) and ride out to the "Level 1" ride. Man, I was tired, my legs were jelly, and I could barely keep up with the very last rider! Whew... ten of the longest miles... pull in to the parking lot and realize that the kickstand had jammed into the tire and just about worn it through. (Those retro repro bikes were *not* meant to actually be *ridden...*)
But... gum Talk about highly visible!!!

[li10up]

When I first started mtn bike riding I rode with a friend who called out objects in the path...roots, rocks, turns, etc. Once I was working really hard to make it up a pretty steep hill - head down and really crankin' - and she called out duck. I thought she was telling me there was a duck in the middle of the trail (there are ducks in the area - just not where we were). I quickly figured out what she meant AFTER my forehead smacked right into a low hanging tree branch. Thank goodness for helmets...you don't have to crash for them to help you! NOW THAT WAS DUMB!

[Geonz]

Goose

[chickwhorips]

so many stupid things so little time.

though i still get a hard time from my co-worker when i attempted to stop and look at his new puppy and crashed and burned. between not clipping out, wetness, and soft gravel and landing hard.... lets just say he reminds me about it everytime i bring up cycling.

at least tasha (the puppy) doesn't think any less of me.

[bcipam]

OK you guys top this - dumbest cycling related oops...

My friends and I rode down to Huntington Beach when the RAAM used to start from the pier. Main Street was lines with many spectators. Riding up the street looking for a friend, I heard my name called out. I turned, so did my handlebar and up and over the bars I went in from of all those people and TV cameras to boot. Of course, I was still locked into my pedals. I laid there for some time before someone came out to help me up. I still laugh from embarassment when I bring this up. Thankfully the only thing bruise was my ego!

[eclectic]

When I first started mtn bike riding I rode with a friend who called out objects in the path...roots, rocks, turns, etc. Once I was working really hard to make it up a pretty steep hill - head down and really crankin' - and she called out duck. I thought she was telling me there was a duck in the middle of the trail (there are ducks in the area - just not where we were). I quickly figured out what she meant AFTER my forehead smacked right into a low hanging tree branch. Thank goodness for helmets...you don't have to crash for them to help you! NOW THAT WAS DUMB!

This is too funny - oh the English language.

When I was little my cousin and I would ride our grandparents welsh pony without a saddle, halter, reins or anything. Just hop on and around the pasture we would go wherever the horse would take us.

We got into the trees and my cousin said "lay down" I did - on my back, the tree branch hooked my neck and off slid the 2 of us with her catching the brunt of it and me on top. No injuries except my cousin chewed me out and wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the day.

[eclectic]

I love the stories! I needed a good laugh today - thanks for sharing

[tygab]

ok, I'll share a non-bike but riding story... the horse mention reminded me of it.

When I was a kid, I took riding lessons (horse) for years. A friend and I were hanging out early one day at the barn, and we noticed the shetland pony in the pasture. Of course we thought we were great riders and the pony would be docile and happy to oblige us. We bridled up the pony, and I jumped on (bareback). The shetland would have none of it and promptly bucked me off.

So, I say with pride, I have been bucked off a Shetland pony!

The duck story was great!

[GLC1968]

When I first started mtn bike riding I rode with a friend who called out objects in the path...roots, rocks, turns, etc. Once I was working really hard to make it up a pretty steep hill - head down and really crankin' - and she called out duck. I thought she was telling me there was a duck in the middle of the trail (there are ducks in the area - just not where we were). I quickly figured out what she meant AFTER my forehead smacked right into a low hanging tree branch. Thank goodness for helmets...you don't have to crash for them to help you! NOW THAT WAS DUMB!

Now that I've given my abs a good workout from laughing so hard...I can share my dumb story. (this story literally had be in tears!)

My stupid biking story:

I had just completed day two of our MS Tour last fall totalling about 115 miles. After lunch, after it was over, I was riding my bike down a cement path to the parking lot where our car was. My tire slipped into a small gap between the cement blocks and immediately came to a stop. I wasn't going very fast to begin with, so I just kind of came to an abrupt halt. Instead of unclipping, I somehow thought that the tire would magically pop back out of this gap...duh...and then I toppled over to my right, landing on (and crushing) a decorative light. Of course, hundreds of people were still around (of the 1500 who rode that tour!) and those that weren't rolling on the grass from laughing so hard, offered to help me up. By the time I got to work the next day, my whole team had heard what had happened to me. I still haven't lived it down!

[Dogmama]

I divorced the dumbest thing I've ever done.