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Thread: wet leaves?

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Suburban MA and Western ME
    Posts
    1,815
    Good idea to avoid them if you can - they are VERY slippery, especially if you are trying to turn. I recently did a 'cross race with a pavement section that was leaf covered - because of the risk, the promoters actually raked the leaves OFF of all of the corners.

    Of course, in the woods, you also have to be very careful of the leaves. Not only are they slippery, but they are hiding the hazards underneath.

    That said, as long as you are careful, you can still ride. I'll be out in the woods for a ride tonight.

    SheFly

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    WA State
    Posts
    4,364
    Yeah - you have to be very very careful on wet leaves. We had a gal go over on her first team ride last week because of them. When I was about 11 I slid all the way across a road and hit the guardrail from them (I was totally OK - not even any cuts or bruises). The good thing though - they are so slick that if you fall on them you don't get any road rash.
    "Sharing the road means getting along, not getting ahead" - 1994 Washington State Driver's Guide

    visit my flickr stream http://flic.kr/ps/MMu5N

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    612
    Wet leaves can be very dangerous. That is how I crashed in April - fine layer of wet mud/leaves on a paved trail. Please take caution.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Posts
    1,315
    I heard a guy this morning talking about how he wiped out and cracked his head by WALKING on wet leaves. And I saw a biker wipe out at a dark, wet, leafy intersection the other day. I think he was on a hybrid, and his broke the bars off the bike. Turning and stopping on them is slick.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    508
    As a ride leader once said:

    wet leaves are as slick as snot

    'nuff said
    .......__o
    .......\<,
    ....( )/ ( )...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    My rear tire skidded out and I fell sideways on a wooden bridge covered with wet leaves while mountain biking a month or so ago, so yes, your instincts are correct. Wet leaves are dangerous, on or off-road!

    Emily
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    So many leaves on my street yesterday! I avoid them like crazy, Deb. It was kind of hard to yesterday, but I'm trying to get in every little last minute of riding outside. I went really slow (even more than usual) down my hill and avoided one part where it was totally covered with leaves.

 

 

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