Stupid Things We Have Done

[SadieKate]

Not all bici tires have directional tread. I suspect it's not that huge of an issue in any case, since the contact patch is so small. Probably more of an issue in the wet than in dry conditions. As I said, I didn't notice any handling issues when my rear tire was on backwards. But then again, it was likely underinflated in the field, too.

It's a VERY big issue on mtb tires - wet or dry.

[indysteel]

My biggest mistake was a crash that I caused while riding with 3 other friends. We were riding two abreast with me in the front left We were doing a route that we do together, and I do alone, all the time.

Part of the route goes through the grounds of our art museum. We're supposed to take the second right turn along the main road. For whatever reason, however, I always want to take the first right turn. Do you see where this is going?

Normally, I catch myself but on this particular ride I started to make the turn. A split second later, I realized my mistake but by then the damage had been done. My riding buddies scattered in different directions and one of them fell from his bike,although he caught himself before he hit the ground.

Nobody got hurt, thank God. But I burst into tears; I was so upset. My friend that fell tortured me about it for a while, no matter how much I apologized. The other people in the group were more forgiving.

It was a humbling experience, especially since I pride myself on being a good group rider.

[smurfalicious]

Oh my, good thing I don't possess a whole lot of pride. I got bucked off a spin bike. Uh huh. Over the handlebars on a spin bike.

Picture this, I've been mountain biking for a while, feeling pretty hot about myself. I've decided to try racing and since I lacked a road bike I figured spin class was perfect. I got myself some shorty shorts and a snug little basic jersey. I made a big show out of grabbing a bike with clipless pedals and adjusting my seat.

As the class progressed I was thinking I was quite hot stuff against these little soccer moms. 1/4 turn? P'shaw! I did full turns, and full turns, and full turns until all of a sudden I realized I was going to vomit if I didn't stop.

Naturally I just stopped pedaling forgetting all about the big red brake. With the force of an elephant that 40lb flywheel came around and shoved my legs another rotation, hurtling me into the bars. I probably would have gone over had my cleats not faithfully held me. I do believe I eventually went off the side, with a bang, of course. The whole class was staring at me. I started taking a class at a different time.

This is not my stupid but I became involved in it. While doing a "fall colors" photo shoot for work we approached a light behind our "team car." I don't think we were expecting it to turn red, but it did. As we stopped Staci apparently forgot about her pedals and started to topple towards me. She screamed, I looked and saw what was going down and as I was unclipping my left foot, tried to dive right. Fortunately I got my right foot out, but not until my bike had slid left with my foot attached and I was squatting quite awkwardly in the middle of the road. Impressive stuff right there.

[Zen]

though it's not bike related.

The instruction for black dye say to use gloves.
There is good reason for this.
I look like I just rebuilt a Chevy engine.

[Aiacha]

Fallen being unable to get my feet out of the clips. Standing perfectly still.

When I first started using the clipless petals, I quickly got the knack of taking my feet in and out. Then I went for my first (well it was supposed to be) longish ride with them. I was with a friend who just got on a bike and I had gotten to the top of a little rise, waiting for her. I was almost perfectly still, until something happened (lost my balance, wind blew hard, who knows) and I found myself going shoulder first into the grass.

Since then I've gone down three more times, all while standing perfectly still.

[bmccasland]

Ride 40 miles on an MS training ride with rubbing brake pads, not knowing my brake pads are rubbing, push hard, think I'm a wimp, or having a bad day, and, give myself an asthma attack. I was pretty used to having good days and bad days with my lungs, but refusing to give up. The wonderful SAG volunteers are trailing along trying to get me to stop. I finally stop, rest, and quit. And feel like a quitter, like I let someone down. SAG crew takes great care of me, loads bike, and hauls me back to the parking lot. When I load my bike in the car, I discover the brakes have been rubbing. Now I check them, twice, before every ride (have to take the
front tire off to get bike in the car).

Have also fallen over with my feet stuck in the clipless pedals, resulting in a minor break to my nose. My helmet probably saved me from having worse injuries from the face plant to the concrete steps.

[out_spokin']

some good ones...reading through just reminded me of pretty much my worst adult crash. going to meet a friend at the bagel shop, taking the uncool but hey it's early in the morning and no one's really out "shortcut" by riding the 1/4 block up the sidewalk instead of going two full blocks around to hit the one way streets correctly...huh, there's a guy power washing the sidewalk, better watch that hose across my route...yeah, wet hose, very slow moving tire = unbelievably quick trip to the ground! Road rash, sore hand for weeks, and SUPER grateful I wear a helmet! dumb....

[Zen]

Fallen being unable to get my feet out of the clips. Standing perfectly still.

That's so not uncommon that I don't even count it at a stupid thing at all, just something that happens.
If I thought that was a qualifier to post in this thread i would have done so much sooner.
Said Zen, who fell at the corner of Connecticut and L street in downtown DC

[Selkie]

Said Zen, who fell at the corner of Connecticut and L street in downtown DC

That was you? :-)

I once got stuck in my pedals. New pedals, didn't test out the tension before I took out (a mistake made only once). Tried to unclip and both feet were firmly stuck. I stopped by a parked car, leaned against it, and took off was able to free myself.