Unexpected pothole almost threw me off my bike!

[Biciclista]

as they say in Italy, Stai attento (or attenta)

pay attention

potholes can break your bike OR you or both!

[Lise]

Chicago's city streets are famous for gawd-awful potholes. One day I was admiring someone else's panniers and nearly bit it when I hit a pothole. I am normally so attentive to the road (it's called survival around here), that it really shocked me. Whoa.

[Trek420]

I've read the recommendation perhaps here or I forget if it was an article from a TdF rider to keep your thumbs wrapped/draped around the bar if you're on the top bar. A lot of riders have taken minor bumps and lost control/attachment to the bike.

Glad you are ok Way to recover from the bump

[Mr. Bloom]

You might research and practice the "rock dodge manuever" in anticipation of the next time this happens.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You might research and practice the "rock dodge manuever" in anticipation of the next time this happens.

I call it the caterpillar dodge/snake dodge/spider dodge..... always executed at the last second when you suddenly see the tiny critter right there in your wheel line, too late for a normal swerve.

[Lise]

This conversation reminded me of a wierd experience, sort of a reverse pothole. On a bright sunny day, I rode up a little driveway, planning to get onto the sidewalk. Except there was curb between the driveway and sidewalk which I could not see, due to the angle of the sun, the brightness, something. At the last second I saw it, and reflexively did what hipmama mentioned above, a lift/jump move. Scared the bejeebers out of me for a moment.

[ttaylor508]

Hi Ana-- you might want to repot the pothole here using this form: http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,...9798--,00.html It might save someone else from an accident in the future.

[Ana]

I've read the recommendation perhaps here or I forget if it was an article from a TdF rider to keep your thumbs wrapped/draped around the bar if you're on the top bar. A lot of riders have taken minor bumps and lost control/attachment to the bike.

I ride with my thumbs wrapped around all the time on my flat bar Since my commuter is my main mode of transportation and I live in a small town, I can get almost anywhere I need to go within 20 minutes on the bike

Thanks for all the support! It was just so unexpected. Usually, I am very careful about these things but it really startled me!

[hipmama]

I had one at night the other night- more of an unexpected ledge, but still... was in a group so I couldn't scan too far ahead- riders called out that there was a ledge, but when we had come in from that direction, I hit a spot where it was rather low- coming out it was much darker and the edge I hit had a much larger drop- cobblestone onto gravel- I didn't crash, thankfully, as there were about 8 riders right behind me but it was really startling.
When I can't react in time to do a rock dodge move- as mentioned above- I quick spin my pedals so they are parallel to the ground, hoist myself out of the saddle, and relax my elbows while holding tight- it lessens the blow and helps balance.