davidd Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 nearly came off my racing bicycle at 30+ mph last night was going down a steep hill when I felt a bit of a wobble, wasn't sure if it was front or back wheel at first. Pretty quickly it was clear that it was the front - flat as a fart. So the problem was little control for hard braking but had to try stop to avoid a coming off. A bit of brake = squirm & wobble, but lots of squirm & wobble might mean coming off anyway. tyre is less than half=inch wide which means next to no stability. Sh1tt1ing myself! My thoughts were 'how much bleeding/whats gonna break?' and 'try jump off or stay on?' and 'road vs grass verge?' I'll own up at this point, I've never jumped off a bike in this situation so chose to stay on. Eventually stopped at least a quarter of mile down the hill. Checked the tyre, no visible damage so tried to pump it up - no good. I knew Liz was out & my phone is at home anyway, so no pick up - had to leg it home. Its a bit awkward walking in clip-on cycling shoes, took an hour to get home. Well this morning put things into perspective with Dustin Hofmann's line from Rain Man ' excellent rider, yeah, yeah I'm an excellent rider, yeah ...' ;D anybody do anything exciting last night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 a while back I did 43mph down Sutton Bank (near Thirsk) on a mountain bike... I'm a big lad so doesn't take me too long to pick up speed.. my mates were at the bottom all moving out the way cause they knew my brakes weren't too hot!! managed to stop just in time... and I'll *never* do it again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSZ Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 Thankfully I've never (touch wood!!) had a puncture going down hill I got a huge blow-out (as in an almighty bang) at the top of the Alps years ago after having spent all day climbing. Just got to the pas, re-grouped ready for a 15k wizz downhill when my front tyre let go in spectacular fashion!! Had a 6" split in the inner tube which took ages to fix/change as my hands were frozen (-5c and snow down:() FInally got it done and had a most enjoyable trip down into Como:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 My mate got done for speeding in 40 on his bike once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psymon Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 My mate got done for speeding in 40 on his bike once Yep, i know someone who also gone done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class One Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I always carry a spare tube and a pump and a crank bros toolkit.Never had to walk home once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I once topped 50 on the road down from Cissbury Ring (Worthing) to Findon Village. It was only after that I thought about the several driveways that cars could have poked their noses out of and the very hard concrete. Never went down as fast again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSZ Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 The best one I've come accross is Jubilee Way in Dover. It drops down from the downs to the harbour and I've managed 62mph with my ass hanging off the back and my belly on the saddle - crapped myself LOL. Also got pulled over for doing 42mph in a 30 zone in Hythe - I asked the cops to please do me as it'd look great in the newspapers - they declined :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidd Posted August 23, 2006 Author Share Posted August 23, 2006 I once topped 50 on the road down from Cissbury Ring (Worthing) to Findon Village. It was only after that I thought about the several driveways that cars could have poked their noses out of and the very hard concrete. Never went down as fast again. I had done 41 earlier in the ride. It happened on a quiet lane (from High Hoyland towards Clayton West) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSZ Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I had done 41 earlier in the ride. It happened on a quiet lane (from High Hoyland towards Clayton West) I don't mind wizzing on decent smooth open roads but I'm a little lairy of doing those sorts of speeds on country lanes - don't fancy ending my days whith my head stuck up a horses ass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 sweet you have just reminded me the is a camera down by my dads house and the bottom of a big hill i am going to take my bros bike up there next time i am home and try and set it off . i had a blow out while doing a bunny hop off a curb when i was about 15, the back tyre blew out and i swerved staight across the road near miss with a car behind me then the bike hi-sided me off only to stop skiding across the road under a double decker bus that was just pulling off. the bus drivers face was a picture, i just got up with a very dead arse and leg to limp back to pick my bike up then colapse and the path Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 My mate and I used to manage 45 down the hill from Studland into Swanage. When I tell you that it was back when I was 15 or so (1970?) you can guess what sort of technological marvels our bikes were in those days compared to the carbon-fibre wonders of these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 Back in the early 70s I had a Chopper bike and set off from the top of this hill and was going at a fair whack when I spotted the road bent at 90 degrees and there were concrete bollards lining the bottom of the hill. I braked very very hard, came to a juddering stop and slid off the seat and caught my dooberies on the gear stick. Never really recovered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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