How often do you fall ...... and why?

[Ron Wallenfang]

I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. I
know experience is an issue. I only occasionally get my wife out and
she's by no means clumsy, but she has fallen twice doing fewer than
1000 miles. Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
of my spills -

- riding with my head down, I saw a parked van too late and glanced
off the back corner

- same with a construction warning sign

- hit a big pothole that was under an innocent looking puddle

- wandered into deep sand while riding a gravel road

- hit a patch of ice pulling into a driveway

- tried to run over a hose at an insufficient angle

- same (twice) with trying to get on a bike path that was at a higher
grade

- same not noticing a low ledge between the road and a sidewalk

- sideswiped by a car

- hit by a left turning car

- had my foot get stick in a pedal clip

- tried to turn too sharp on a slippery road

- hit a ledge of snow on a snow packed road

- hit a bike that pulled in front of me and flew over my handle bars
and his bike

- blinded by bright headlights and just stopped and fell out of
indecision

- tried to ride through a muddy detour and didn't make it

- had a stick get stuck in my front tire and went over the handlebars

- couldn't control bike on an uneven rocky surface

There are others but those are what come to mind

[ZBicyclist]

Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> [list of falls]

The last two I remember both involved entering a driveway (up a small curb)
at an acute angle. This is ordinarily quite doable, but not when there are
wet leaves around.

--
Mike Kruger
Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.
Claudius; 10 BC-AD 54, Roman Emperor

[Kristian M Zoerhoff]

On 2008-01-28, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenfang@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so.

Going back to 1989, I can think of just 4 falls:

1. Fell on some wet leaves at the bottom of the hill I lived on, early in the
fall (!), right after getting a bike for commuting to high school (we lived
too close for busing). 1989.

2. Failed to extract from a toe clip while mountain biking in college (single
track/ski trail). 1994.

3. Was trying to cheat traffic in a construction zone and rode around a
barricade on the outside -- into loose cinders that resembled asphalt from a
distance. 2005.

4. Failed to extract from my new clipless pedals the second day I had them --
at a stoplight. 2007.

But I've also ridden a heck of a lot fewer miles than you have.

--

Kristian Zoerhoff
kristian.zoerhoff@gmail.com

[Hank]

On Jan 27, 6:29 pm, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. I
> know experience is an issue. I only occasionally get my wife out and
> she's by no means clumsy, but she has fallen twice doing fewer than
> 1000 miles. Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> of my spills -
>

Here's what I can remember -

Front tire caught in an almost-parallel train track - Spring 1986

Numerous spills on ice, when I wanted but couldn't afford studded
tires - Winter '86/87

-off the bike for many years-

Couldn't unclip from my SPDs while stopped - spring 2004

Slid out on what looked like a thin layer of mud on a paved trail next
to a recently-flooded creek, Mud was actually 3" thick - summer 2004

Hit an unmarked speed bump at 20mph in a parking lot that had been
repaved the day before - July 2006

Wipperman Quick-link broke while starting out from a 4-way stop -
August 2007

No broken bones from any of these, but I had bursitis in my left elbow
for about 6 months after that speed bump.

This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
are too numerous to remember.

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 3:29*am, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. *I
> know experience is an issue. *I only occasionally get my wife out and
> she's by no means clumsy, but she has fallen twice doing fewer than
> 1000 miles. *Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> of my spills -
>
> - riding with my head down, I saw a parked van too late and glanced
> off the back corner
>
> - same with a construction warning sign
>
> - hit a big pothole that was under an innocent looking puddle
>
> - wandered into deep sand while riding a gravel road
>
> - hit a patch of ice pulling into a driveway
>
> - tried to run over a hose at an insufficient angle
>
> - same (twice) with trying to get on a bike path that was at a higher
> grade
>
> - same *not noticing a low ledge between the road and a sidewalk
>
> - sideswiped by a car
>
> - hit by a left turning car
>
> - had my foot get stick in a pedal clip
>
> - tried to turn too sharp on a slippery road
>
> - hit a ledge of snow on a snow packed road
>
> - hit a bike that pulled in front of me and flew over my handle bars
> and his bike
>
> - blinded by bright headlights and just stopped and fell out of
> indecision
>
> - tried to ride through a muddy detour and didn't make it
>
> - had a stick get stuck in my front tire and went over the handlebars
>
> - *couldn't control bike on an uneven rocky surface
>
> There are others but those are what come to mind

There is a distinction between crashing and falling. Falling over from
fumbling with pedals, etc does not count as a crash.

I have crashed twice on the road, both times over 20 years ago. One
was T-boning a taxi in NYC, the other was just a wipe out around a
street corner in Berkeley. I have done numerous off-road excursions to
avoid crashes in races, and I have been struck by riders, but so far I
have been able to keep myself off the asphalt.

On a mountain bike, I have also only had two crashes. One on ice, the
other an endo face-plant.

Joseph

[catzz66]

Last two times were both related to getting used to cleated shoes.
First time was my first bike ride with the new shoes. After the finish
line, a rider abruptly cut in front of me and I went down. Second time
was a couple months later when I just got caught in the pedal at a
traffic light and went down in what seemed like super slow motion. It
was one of those dumb things where you hope nobody noticed. =]

[Stephen Harding]

Ron Wallenfang wrote:

> 1000 miles. Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> of my spills -

I probably fall at the same rate as you: 10-15K miles. Just
it takes me 3-4 years to put on those sorts of miles.

In the past 15 years, my crashes were due to:

-- Mountain biking "over my head". I'm not very technically
adept at riding a MTB *really* off road, so I hit the
rocks, ruts, roots, gravel, at generally insufficient
speed. Never anything serious though. A sort of half
hearted toss of me over the bars or off the side of the
bike.

-- A stealth flat front tire. The tire went "critically"
soft as I made a sharp (slow) right turn and the front
wheel went out from under me and down I went.

-- Wind. On a loaded tour, going up a steep hill, a blast
of wind pushed me off the road onto gravel/sand and then
obliquely over the handlebars.

That's about it.

In general, I now regard myself as being too old to be crashing,
so I don't do speedy downhills or ride too technically off road.

Riding slower and paying attention largely eliminates crashing
for me. I can handle going slow, but paying attention to "the
details" of what's around me isn't always so easy.


SMH

[SparkoHeaps@gmail.com]

On Jan 27, 7:29*pm, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. *I
> know experience is an issue. *I only occasionally get my wife out and
> she's by no means clumsy, but she has fallen twice doing fewer than
> 1000 miles. *Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> of my spills -

Three years ago, I started taking Tai Chi classes. Before that, I
would crash or fall about 2/3 times a year. I have not had a single
bicycling accident (knock on wood) since discovering Tai Chi. It could
be coincidence. It could also be related to the fact that I have also
decided that I was tired of broken bones and have not done any serious
off-road biking since then. I have ridden thousands of miles on the
roadbike, however.

[Alan Hoyle]

On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:29:26, Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. I
> know experience is an issue.

I've fallen a hand full times, but I've only been cycling regularly
about 13 years:

1. 1995: was going slightly too fast for curve on road while
commuting on my MTB. There may have been sand or gravel too, and the
bike slid out. skinned knees, elbows, palm. (started wearing gloves
all the time after it hurt to type for a week)

2. ~1999: tried to hop over a grating in a parking lot, but misjudged
it. I came down too soon and landed on the grating. Skinned elbows,
knees.

3/4. ~2002: Fell twice when stopping at intersections during the
first month I switched from toe-clips to clipless. No injuries except
for pride.

5. ~2004: in line at intersection to turn right. Light turned green.
I clipped in and car in front of me moved 3 feet and abruptly stoppped
to let pedestrians. I couldn't unclip in time, and I hit the bumper
of the car in front of me. I fell in slow motion and was laughed at
(appropriately). No injury.

6. 2006: Traffic was stopped and backed up a full block for a light
and I was trying to get ahead of the backup by scooting up the gutter
(I stay in line when traffic is moving). An SUV was fairly close to
the right, but I thought I had room enough. I was wrong. I hit the
right-side mirror with my left arm and shoulder. Luckily it was a
break-away mirror and it didn't damage the vehicle. I, however, got a
bad bruise from the impact, but was otherwise fine.

-a

--
Alan Hoyle - alanh@unc.edu - http://www.alanhoyle.com/
"I don't want the world, I just want your half." -TMBG
Get Horizontal, Play Ultimate.

[Claire Petersky]

"Ron Wallenfang" <rwallenfang@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2298f5fd-83fa-4ad4-baa7-1cc70a0057ab@n20g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> of my spills -


Falls in the last year: I was creeping down a slicked-over black-iced
overpass and managed not to fall the entire way until I got to the
stoplight, and the act of actually stopping caused me to fall.

I fell when I ran into Mr. Cell Phone. For all of you who yelled at me SLOW
DOWN, I guess you really didn't understand the situation. I managed the
other day to spot a dark-complexioned African man walking a black dog in the
utter darkness the other day with lots of room to react. Further, since it
was on the East Channel Bridge, if I hadn't slowed to a near crawl (and he
hadn't reined in the dog's leash), my other options would have been a flip
over a three foot barrier into four lanes of speeding interstate traffic; or
an arabesque over a five foot barrier, and then a descent of maybe 100 feet
into the frigid wintery waters of Lake Washington. But Mr. Cell Phone
stepped from behind a barrier (where he was completely out of sight)
immediately into me without looking. It would have happened in broad
daylight - and in fact, the area was pretty well lit. It wasn't a matter of
me riding too fast or out-running my headlights, it was a matter of someone
else being an idiot. So there.

I fell when I rode on some slippery bit on the Montlake Bridge in the dark
in the pouring rain. I was coming back from doing some volunteer work, it
was late, and I was really tired.

I can't think of any other recent falls. I still bear the scars on my knee
and elbow from crashing Ryan C's bike several years ago. I was an idiot, and
I still feel bad about that.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

[Brian Sanderson]

Hmmmm....

Have done the "insufficient angle thing"...all of the above...and *twice* at
a level Rail Crossing.

-most recent fall was on AF bridge on one of those @#$%^&*!!! cable
protector boxes the Hwy maint guys were nice enough to place on the path, in
the dark, with no appreciable lighting or warning signs.

-most spectacular fall (more of a "wipe out", really) came 20 years ago when
I rode my newly-reassembled machine without toeclips...wearing flat-soled
leather shoes...*Yes* I stuck my foot in the front FORK and *yes* I hit hard
and fast. I have a permanently dislocated left clavicle because of it.

-had a jeep pull in front of me while riding past a sidewalk ramp. I did a
handspring over his hood, and landed on my arse next to his DS front
wheel...fortunately, he had the presence of mind to *STOP* after seeing
myself vault over his car right in front of him.

B.

[DennisTheBald]

On Jan 27, 8:29 pm, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls,

Failed to clip out is certainly one of my most popular causal events.

Another that I can recall happening at least twice was heel to front
tire contact during a low speed turn.

[Jay]

"Ron Wallenfang" <rwallenfang@wi.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2298f5fd-83fa-4ad4-baa7-1cc70a0057ab@n20g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. I
> know experience is an issue. I only occasionally get my wife out and
> she's by no means clumsy, but she has fallen twice doing fewer than
> 1000 miles. Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> of my spills -
>
>(snip)
>
I take full responsibility for my spills.

When I have fallen, I always should have known better.

I have had some spectacular falls, but at 54 years of age, I can't afford
too many more of them.

My current mantra is *avoid risk*.

J.

[Tom Sherman]

Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>
I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)

[1] <http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/>.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

[bdbafh]

On Jan 27, 10:09 pm, Kristian M Zoerhoff <kristian.zoerh...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> On 2008-01-28, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> > to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> > years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so.
>
> Going back to 1989, I can think of just 4 falls:
>
> 1. Fell on some wet leaves at the bottom of the hill I lived on, early in the
> fall (!), right after getting a bike for commuting to high school (we lived
> too close for busing). 1989.
>
> 2. Failed to extract from a toe clip while mountain biking in college (single
> track/ski trail). 1994.
>
> 3. Was trying to cheat traffic in a construction zone and rode around a
> barricade on the outside -- into loose cinders that resembled asphalt from a
> distance. 2005.
>
> 4. Failed to extract from my new clipless pedals the second day I had them --
> at a stoplight. 2007.
>
> But I've also ridden a heck of a lot fewer miles than you have.
>
> --
>
> Kristian Zoerhoff
> kristian.zoerh...@gmail.com

Kristian,

What, no squirrel incidents?
No mention of a canine-indunced crash?
I nearly ate it last year when a goose took off right next to me on
River/Opie Rd along the South Branch of the Raritan river.

My only crash last year was on a (wet) open grate metal bridge near
French Creek on the BicyclePA South route (fell short of my goal of 5K
miles for the year as a result).

As far as prior years go and adjusting to clipless pedals, does
failure to unclip the left foot (right unclipped) and falling over to
the left side while stopping while no one is watching count? I believe
that it only counts if it leaves a mark on the bike.

The first ride out on a new bike in 2005, less than 3 miles from the
store, I got pinned to a curb by an NJT bus pulling in to drop off a
passenger. I fell over into the grass, still clipped in, laying on my
back (turtled). The girl that got off the bus said to me "nice bike".

Too bad that I lacked to poise to say something along the lines of
"I'm just breaking it in."

-bdbafh

[Tom Sherman]

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> ...
> This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> are too numerous to remember.
>
If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

[SlowRider]

On Jan 27, 8:39 pm, Hank <h...@wirtznet.net> wrote:
> Numerous spills on ice, when I wanted but couldn't afford studded
> tires - Winter '86/87
>
> Couldn't unclip from my SPDs while stopped - spring 2004
>
> Slid out on what looked like a thin layer of mud on a paved trail next
> to a recently-flooded creek, Mud was actually 3" thick - summer 2004

You reminded me of at least two I'd forgotten about:

- ~1996, wet bike trail (twice within 30 minutes, d'oh!)
- ~1998, mud slick
- ~1998, black ice
- ~1999, cyclist rear-ended me at a red light and I went over the bars
- ~2000, car forced me off the road (driver was oblivious)
- ~2006, failed to unclip from Look pedals


- JR

[Marz]

On Jan 27, 10:12*pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > ...
> > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> > are too numerous to remember.
>
> *>
> If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> - A. Derleth

True.

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 5:12*am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > ...
> > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> > are too numerous to remember.
>
> *>
> If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> - A. Derleth

Reminds me of "advice" a friend gave about racing crits: "If it is
raining, put vaseline on your knees because you will crash. If you
don't crash, it means you weren't racing."

Joseph

[frkrygow@gmail.com]

On Jan 27, 11:12 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > ...
> > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> > are too numerous to remember.
>
> >
> If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!

I've never bought into that. I enjoy getting into the woods just
because I like the woods.

See http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm

- Frank Krygowski

[Fer]

>>>Couldn't unclip from my SPDs while stopped...

So I'm not the only stupid...

Another example:
I did fall ---ty (more then 20) times while I had my nose on my GPS...
Fer

[It's Chris]

I've plowed into a couple of parked cars in my life, both times I was
checking my handlebar mounted mirror instead of watching where I was
going (one reason I use the helmet "Fred" mirrors now).

Never done the RR track at the wrong angle trick, I prefer drainage
groves.

Gone down on sandy spots in curves enough to meet my quota. On and off
road!

Ice, no. Water, yes.

The most memorable was going down a hill at 40 mph and had some guy pop
out from behind a parked truck. Clipped my shoulder, turning the front
wheel and down I went. Witnesses say I tumbled over three times, bike
and all. I layed unconscious in the hospital for three days. This was
the accident that cost me my sense of smell.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 12:27*pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
<joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 28, 5:12*am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > > ...
> > > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> > > are too numerous to remember.
>
> > *>
> > If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> > --
> > Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> > "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> > - A. Derleth
>
> Reminds me of "advice" a friend gave about racing crits: "If it is
> raining, put vaseline on your knees because you will crash. If you
> don't crash, it means you weren't racing."
>
> Joseph

I am replying to my own post here so as not to seem that I am picking
on anyone one in particular (which I am not).

Many of the crashes related here seem to me to be entirely preventable
user error.

Obviously I wasn't there for these crashes, so I can't say for sure,
but if people maintain adequate berths to obstacles (and potential
obstacles!), and pay attention to the surface, they won't crash as
much.

It may be difficult to expect the unexpected, but it ought be a tad
easier to expect the expected!

Joseph

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 12:33*pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
<joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 28, 3:29*am, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> > to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> > years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so. *I
> > know experience is an issue. *I only occasionally get my wife out and
> > she's by no means clumsy, but she has fallen twice doing fewer than
> > 1000 miles. *Anyway, at the risk of appearing a real oaf, here's some
> > of my spills -
>
> > - riding with my head down, I saw a parked van too late and glanced
> > off the back corner
>
> > - same with a construction warning sign
>
> > - hit a big pothole that was under an innocent looking puddle
>
> > - wandered into deep sand while riding a gravel road
>
> > - hit a patch of ice pulling into a driveway
>
> > - tried to run over a hose at an insufficient angle
>
> > - same (twice) with trying to get on a bike path that was at a higher
> > grade
>
> > - same *not noticing a low ledge between the road and a sidewalk
>
> > - sideswiped by a car
>
> > - hit by a left turning car
>
> > - had my foot get stick in a pedal clip
>
> > - tried to turn too sharp on a slippery road
>
> > - hit a ledge of snow on a snow packed road
>
> > - hit a bike that pulled in front of me and flew over my handle bars
> > and his bike
>
> > - blinded by bright headlights and just stopped and fell out of
> > indecision
>
> > - tried to ride through a muddy detour and didn't make it
>
> > - had a stick get stuck in my front tire and went over the handlebars
>
> > - *couldn't control bike on an uneven rocky surface
>
> > There are others but those are what come to mind
>
> There is a distinction between crashing and falling. Falling over from
> fumbling with pedals, etc does not count as a crash.
>
> I have crashed twice on the road, both times over 20 years ago. One
> was T-boning a taxi in NYC, the other was just a wipe out around a
> street corner in Berkeley. I have done numerous off-road excursions to
> avoid crashes in races, and I have been struck by riders, but so far I
> have been able to keep myself off the asphalt.
>
> On a mountain bike, I have also only had two crashes. One on ice, the
> other an endo face-plant.
>
> Joseph

I forgot the best one!

Riding a 3-speed down a steep grass hill in the rain I decided to do a
skid. It was much slipperier than anticipated and I went down hard and
fractured my shoulder. That was 22 years ago.

Joseph

[frkrygow@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 7:58 am, Stephen Harding <smhardin...@msn.com> wrote:
>
>
> In general, I now regard myself as being too old to be crashing,
> so I don't do speedy downhills or ride too technically off road.

I think I've always regarded myself as too old to be crashing. At
least, since beginning avid adult riding in 1972.

> Riding slower and paying attention largely eliminates crashing
> for me.

I've relied entirely on the "paying attention" part. Although my age
is now starting to impose the "slower" part, as well.

My complete adult falling record:

1972, cutting through a parking lot at dusk. Front wheel came to a
dead stop in the slot between a platform scale and the parking lot
surface. Over the bars, scraped my palms.

About 1978. Solo training ride, toe clip straps uncharacteristically
cinched. Got distracted by a pretty dirt road, slowed to explore it,
stopped in a grassy field at a beautiful view, and "laugh-in" tumbled
into the grass.

Around 1990, mountain biking. One slide-out on glare ice. And a
couple over-the-bars, when repeatedly practicing trying to "clean" an
impossible-for-me steep short downhill with an obstruction to hop at
the very bottom. I finally gave up trying that one.

About 1990, commuting home. Standing at a traffic light, took a
moment to inspect my rear brake, since I thought it might be
scraping. Twisted around to one side, with one foot still in that toe
clip. Lost my balance to that side. Got up pretending "I meant to do
that."

About 1996(?) My only on-road, moving fall: Winter riding down a
deserted city street so steep it's now been closed to traffic, going
about 3 mph. Saw a patch of glass ahead, swerved to avoid it, but
slid out on fresh road salt. Scraped my knee, about 3/4" diameter
spot.

So that's seven falls in 35 years. I didn't count any mountain bike
dismounts that left me standing. Only one moving, on-road. Except
for tiny road rash, never an injury.

- Frank Krygowski

[Marz]

On Jan 28, 10:00*am, frkry...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 27, 11:12 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > > ...
> > > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> > > are too numerous to remember.
>
> > If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> I've never bought into that. *I enjoy getting into the woods just
> because I like the woods.
>
> Seehttp://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm
>
> - Frank Krygowski

Ditto, but even during my most sedate ride theres always one section
I'd like to clean without dabbing, some sort of challenge that's going
to test my riding skills and possibly lead to a crash.

Maybe I don't mountain bike like a 'grown up' should (as per your
link), but if that's how 'grown ups' are supposed to ride maybe I'll
never grow up (is 39 considered grown up these days?). Careful you
don't age yourself before your time.

[Stephen Harding]

frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:

> I've never bought into that. I enjoy getting into the woods just
> because I like the woods.
>
> See http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm

My kind of mountain biking!

Essentially I "road ride" where the road just happens to be
dirt and perhaps a bit narrower and rougher than a very badly
maintained paved road.

Once the road becomes too rutted, too many rocks or roots,
too much loose gravel or sand, or too much incline, I'll be
headed off on another tack or turned back.

Furthermore, one of the great thing about biking off road is
observing nature. I find if the road is too rough for my
technical abilities, I spend all my time looking only at the
road ahead of me, plotting my lines, estimating how much
speed I need to get up over a rock or root ledge, etc.

There could be the long sought after photographic proof of
Big Foot himself napping alongside the road awaiting my
camera shot...but I wouldn't have seen a thing!


SMH

[Tom Sherman]

frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote:
> On Jan 27, 11:12 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> wrote:
>> Hank Wirtz wrote:
>>> ...
>>> This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
>>> are too numerous to remember.
>> >
>> If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> I've never bought into that. I enjoy getting into the woods just
> because I like the woods.
>
> See http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm
>
Nothing wrong with what Frank is advocating - unless you are Mikey V!

Non-technical riding off road is certainly enjoyable, but maybe we need
a better name than the generic "mountain biking". In addition, some such
as Jobst Brandt would likely say that non-technical off road riding can
be done acceptably well on a road bicycle.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

[Patrick Lamb]

On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:00:41 -0800 (PST), frkrygow@gmail.com wrote:

>On Jan 27, 11:12 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
>wrote:
>> Hank Wirtz wrote:
>> > ...
>> > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
>> > are too numerous to remember.
>>
>> >
>> If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
>I've never bought into that. I enjoy getting into the woods just
>because I like the woods.

Shoot, Frank, you're probably one of those characters who rides across
the country just for fun, taking months instead of weeks!

:)

Email address works as is.

[It's Chris]

From: frkrygow@gmail.com
>I've never bought into that. I enjoy
>getting into the woods just because I like
>the woods.

>See
>http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm

>- Frank Krygowski

Cool site! I saved that one.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

[Ted]

> > I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> > to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> > years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so.

You have ridden 270,000 miles? (> 18 falls at 15,000 miles between
falls) Wow!

I fell on the ice two times without complications. Then the third
time my rear wheel slid to the right, I put my left foot down but that
also hit the ice and my knee bent sideways. I suffered a plateau
tibial fracture and avulsed both cruciate ligaments. (I rode back
home with one leg.) I am now petrified of riding on ice. I have been
fine on asphalt, but no where near the mileage of you guys.

Ted

[frkrygow@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 1:30 pm, Marz <marzjenni...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Maybe I don't mountain bike like a 'grown up' should (as per your
> link), but if that's how 'grown ups' are supposed to ride maybe I'll
> never grow up (is 39 considered grown up these days?). Careful you
> don't age yourself before your time.

Actually, one of the perks of being a grown up is, you don't have to
worry about "should." You can bike pretty much how you like!

My point in writing that article, though, was that people can use
mountain biking as a wheeled version of hiking, rather than (say) as a
wheeled version of freerunning. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_running)
or mall walking.

ISTM that most adults use their mountain bikes only on perfectly
smooth surfaces. Most of the enthusiasts that take them off-road
often seem willing to risk injury by adventure, by "pushing the
envelope." I know relatively few who use them for the equivalent of a
pleasant hike. But that's my favorite way to mountain bike.

But no worries about aging myself before my time. That time has
already come! ;-)

- Frank Krygowski

[DanKMTB@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 1:30 pm, Marz <marzjenni...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 28, 10:00 am, frkry...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jan 27, 11:12 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > > Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > > > ...
> > > > This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> > > > are too numerous to remember.
>
> > > If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> > I've never bought into that. I enjoy getting into the woods just
> > because I like the woods.
>
> > Seehttp://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm
>
> > - Frank Krygowski
>
> Ditto, but even during my most sedate ride theres always one section
> I'd like to clean without dabbing, some sort of challenge that's going
> to test my riding skills and possibly lead to a crash.
>
> Maybe I don't mountain bike like a 'grown up' should (as per your
> link), but if that's how 'grown ups' are supposed to ride maybe I'll
> never grow up (is 39 considered grown up these days?). Careful you
> don't age yourself before your time.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I fall fairly often, and for the same reasons Marz listed. The short
of it is that I outride my abilities and equipment, or as I like to
say, "run out of talent". I almost never crash on pavement. Last
time I did I fell onto the pavement from a very steep rock that I was
trying to ride up, 180 on my rear tire and ride back down. The rock
was steep enough that when I lifted my front wheel it came over
backwards as well as around. Sore elbow, no big deal. The last time
I fell on the mountain bike, there was a wooden platform that led off
the top of a large rock, and a couple feet past the end of the
platform and down a bit was a halfpipe looking landing ramp. Not
wanting to come in between the ramp and the landing, I came off the
platform a little too hot and had to push my rear wheel down to keep
from landing past the ramp on the flat. I manualed down the ramp and
looped backwards, smashing the back of the helmet into the landing
ramp. After a discussion with tweety I was back on my way, and after
the day long headache was gone all was back to normal. My last
thought before trying that move was "I really shouldn't do this today,
when I'm alone and there's no one else riding here. Oh well." At any
rate, when I do fall off my bike it almost always seems to be part of
a stunt, not JRA. I have not had an on-road JRA wreck since I was a
kid, and then it was either from equipment, assembly issues or some
sort of distraction.

Dan

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 28, 7:59*pm, frkry...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 28, 1:30 pm, Marz <marzjenni...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Maybe I don't mountain bike like a 'grown up' should (as per your
> > link), but if that's how 'grown ups' are supposed to ride maybe I'll
> > never grow up (is 39 considered grown up these days?). Careful you
> > don't age yourself before your time.
>
> Actually, one of the perks of being a grown up is, you don't have to
> worry about "should." *You can bike pretty much how you like!
>
> My point in writing that article, though, was that people can use
> mountain biking as a wheeled version of hiking, rather than (say) as a
> wheeled version of freerunning. *(Seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_running)
> or mall walking.
>
> ISTM that most adults use their mountain bikes only on perfectly
> smooth surfaces. *Most of the enthusiasts that take them off-road
> often seem willing to risk injury by adventure, by "pushing the
> envelope." *I know relatively few who use them for the equivalent of a
> pleasant hike. *But that's my favorite way to mountain bike.
>
> But no worries about aging myself before my time. *That time has
> already come! *;-)
>
> - Frank Krygowski

That is all true. But there is nothing that says going fast has to be
pushing the envelope or necessarily leads to crashes. The best and
fastest mountain bike riders I (try to) ride with never crash.

Joseph

[Marz]

On Jan 28, 12:59*pm, frkry...@gmail.com wrote:
> Actually, one of the perks of being a grown up is, you don't have to
> worry about "should." *You can bike pretty much how you like!
>
> - Frank Krygowski

That's the truth and I'm all for bike how ever you like. I actually
liked the ride report, it reminded of the types of rides I used to
enjoy back in the UK and what sort of riding seems difficult to find
in Houston. Most of the dirt trails in and around town are within
designated areas and therefore don't actually go away useful. I
shouldn't have read too much into the report's title.

[Marz]

On Jan 28, 6:42*pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> frkry...@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote:> On Jan 27, 11:12 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> >> Hank Wirtz wrote:
> >>> ...
> >>> This does not count any falls while BMXing or mountain biking. Those
> >>> are too numerous to remember.
>
> >> If you do not fall while riding off road, you are not trying hard enough!
>
> > I've never bought into that. *I enjoy getting into the woods just
> > because I like the woods.
>
> > Seehttp://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/GrownUps.htm
>
> Nothing wrong with what Frank is advocating - unless you are Mikey V!
>
> Non-technical riding off road is certainly enjoyable, but maybe we need
> a better name than the generic "mountain biking". In addition, some such
> as Jobst Brandt would likely say that non-technical off road riding can
> be done acceptably well on a road bicycle.
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> - A. Derleth

That's a good point, under the umbrella of 'mountain biking' we have

XC -- cross country-- weight weenies and mountain goats; roadie
equivalent Cat 1 racer
DH --downhill-- adrenaline junkies who can use the word 'knarley' in
every sentance; roadie equivalent Track.
DJ -- Dirt Jump -- masochistic nutters who like crashing into things;
roadie equivalent Urban Trials
AM -- all mountain -- cycling gymnast with a passion for balance beams
(skinnies); roadie equivalent NY messenger
4X -- full body contact bike bashing; roadie equivalent BMX
Marathon -- folks who enjoy endurance pain; roadie equivalent Audax

Just having a nice ride in the woods -- needs a better name,
suggestions please; roadie equivalent 'not sure, sort of a Tourer'.

I guess mountain biking magazines haven't seen the need to pigeon hole
folks who just enjoy a day in the woods. How about Orc's as a name,
off road cyclists. :)

[DanKMTB@gmail.com]

On Jan 29, 5:15*am, dedendaddy4spamm...@webtv.net (It's Chris) wrote:
> I've plowed into a couple of parked cars in my life, both times I was
> checking my handlebar mounted mirror instead of watching where I was
> going (one reason I use the helmet "Fred" mirrors now).

Replace "helmet mounted mirror" with "local coeds" and I've done that
once or twice myself, though not since high school. :)

[It's Chris]

From: joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

>I am replying to my own post here so as
>not to seem that I am picking on anyone
>one in particular (which I am not).
>Many of the crashes related here seem
>to me to be entirely preventable user
>error.

Absolutely! It is a statistical fact that about 90% of bicycle accidents
are due to rider error. In fact, the majority of bike accidents don't
even involve a motor vehicle at all.

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

[DanKMTB@gmail.com]

On Jan 29, 11:09 am, Marz <marzjenni...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 28, 6:42 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> > Nothing wrong with what Frank is advocating - unless you are Mikey V!
>
> > Non-technical riding off road is certainly enjoyable, but maybe we need
> > a better name than the generic "mountain biking". In addition, some such
> > as Jobst Brandt would likely say that non-technical off road riding can
> > be done acceptably well on a road bicycle.
>
> > --
> > Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> > "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> > - A. Derleth
>
> That's a good point, under the umbrella of 'mountain biking' we have
>
> XC -- cross country-- weight weenies and mountain goats; roadie
> equivalent Cat 1 racer
> DH --downhill-- adrenaline junkies who can use the word 'knarley' in
> every sentance; roadie equivalent Track.
> DJ -- Dirt Jump -- masochistic nutters who like crashing into things;
> roadie equivalent Urban Trials
> AM -- all mountain -- cycling gymnast with a passion for balance beams
> (skinnies); roadie equivalent NY messenger
> 4X -- full body contact bike bashing; roadie equivalent BMX

As an XCer, DJer, AMer & BMXer I take serious offense to saying BMX is
the roadie equivalent of anything. Roadies don't BMX, do they? None
of the roadies I know BMX, and 90% of the BMXers I know consider
roadie bashing a part of BMX and touching a road bike the equivalent
of sin. One of my BMX buddies, after giving me **** about the single
speed road bike for over a year without ever touching it, ran into me
in a parking lot one day when he was in the truck and I was on the
bike in the middle of my 40ish mile ride home from work. I finally
got him to touch the bike, which was only due to its lack of gears and
my comparison to it being a fast BMX for the street. I kid you not he
looked around to make sure no one would see him, rode it for about 20
seconds, and almost threw it back at me while looking around to be
sure he hadn't been spotted. Once he was safely out of possession of
the bike he admitted it was "kind of cool, and I guess I can see why
you like that" in the same way he might after getting caught on the
proverbial moped & equivalent. I'm fairly certain he went from that
parking lot straight to the skate park to "cleanse" himself, allowing
the food in the truck to get cold.
I should mention this is a happily married man with a house and two
children, not a junior high student.


> Marathon -- folks who enjoy endurance pain; roadie equivalent Audax
>
> Just having a nice ride in the woods -- needs a better name,
> suggestions please; roadie equivalent 'not sure, sort of a Tourer'.
>
> I guess mountain biking magazines haven't seen the need to pigeon hole
> folks who just enjoy a day in the woods. How about Orc's as a name,
> off road cyclists. :)

I like ORC. You've got my vote, take it to the counsel. =)

[It's Chris]

From: marzjennings@gmail.com (Marz)

>Just having a nice ride in the woods --
>needs a better name, suggestions >please; roadie equivalent 'not sure,
sort
>of a Tourer'.

>I guess mountain biking magazines
>haven't seen the need to pigeon hole
>folks who just enjoy a day in the woods.
>How about Orc's as a name, off road
>cyclists. :)

ORC's. I like that. None of the the other MTB "designations" really
cover the non racer. It's high time we made one for the everyday
recreational non-competitive "Off Road Cyclist".

- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

If you want to E-mail me use:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

[Marz]

On Jan 29, 10:29*am, "DanK...@gmail.com" <DanK...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 29, 11:09 am, Marz <marzjenni...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jan 28, 6:42 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> > > Nothing wrong with what Frank is advocating - unless you are Mikey V!
>
> > > Non-technical riding off road is certainly enjoyable, but maybe we need
> > > a better name than the generic "mountain biking". In addition, some such
> > > as Jobst Brandt would likely say that non-technical off road riding can
> > > be done acceptably well on a road bicycle.
>
> > > --
> > > Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> > > "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> > > - A. Derleth
>
> > That's a good point, under the umbrella of 'mountain biking' we have
>
> > XC -- cross country-- weight weenies and mountain goats; roadie
> > equivalent Cat 1 racer
> > DH --downhill-- adrenaline junkies who can use the word 'knarley' in
> > every sentance; roadie equivalent Track.
> > DJ -- Dirt Jump -- masochistic nutters who like crashing into things;
> > roadie equivalent Urban Trials
> > AM -- all mountain -- cycling gymnast with a passion for balance beams
> > (skinnies); roadie equivalent NY messenger
> > 4X -- full *body contact bike bashing; roadie equivalent BMX
>
> As an XCer, DJer, AMer & BMXer I take serious offense to saying BMX is
> the roadie equivalent of anything. *Roadies don't BMX, do they? *None
> of the roadies I know BMX, and 90% of the BMXers I know consider
> roadie bashing a part of BMX and touching a road bike the equivalent
> of sin. *One of my BMX buddies, after giving me **** about the single
> speed road bike for over a year without ever touching it, ran into me
> in a parking lot one day when he was in the truck and I was on the
> bike in the middle of my 40ish mile ride home from work. *I finally
> got him to touch the bike, which was only due to its lack of gears and
> my comparison to it being a fast BMX for the street. *I kid you not he
> looked around to make sure no one would see him, rode it for about 20
> seconds, and almost threw it back at me while looking around to be
> sure he hadn't been spotted. *Once he was safely out of possession of
> the bike he admitted it was "kind of cool, and I guess I can see why
> you like that" in the same way he might after getting caught on the
> proverbial moped & equivalent. *I'm fairly certain he went from that
> parking lot straight to the skate park to "cleanse" himself, allowing
> the food in the truck to get cold.
> I should mention this is a happily married man with a house and two
> children, not a junior high student.
>
> > Marathon -- folks who enjoy endurance pain; roadie equivalent Audax
>
> > Just having a nice ride in the woods -- needs a better name,
> > suggestions please; roadie equivalent 'not sure, sort of a Tourer'.
>
> > I guess mountain biking magazines haven't seen the need to pigeon hole
> > folks who just enjoy a day in the woods. How about Orc's as a name,
> > off road cyclists. :)
>
> I like ORC. *You've got my vote, take it to the counsel. *=)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Yea, I wasn't sure about using the BMX comparison and now I come to
think about again, 4x could be compared to Crit racing, short course,
physical riding.

BMX is its own thing I guess.

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article
<6959bdb8-fe8e-4398-9b48-4938d343d38b@1g2000hsl.googlegroups.com>,
"DanKMTB@gmail.com" <DanKMTB@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Jan 29, 11:09 am, Marz <marzjenni...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Jan 28, 6:42 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> > > Nothing wrong with what Frank is advocating - unless you are Mikey V!
> >
> > > Non-technical riding off road is certainly enjoyable, but maybe we need
> > > a better name than the generic "mountain biking". In addition, some such
> > > as Jobst Brandt would likely say that non-technical off road riding can
> > > be done acceptably well on a road bicycle.
> >
> > > --
> > > Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> > > "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> > > - A. Derleth
> >
> > That's a good point, under the umbrella of 'mountain biking' we have
> >
> > XC -- cross country-- weight weenies and mountain goats; roadie
> > equivalent Cat 1 racer
> > DH --downhill-- adrenaline junkies who can use the word 'knarley' in
> > every sentance; roadie equivalent Track.
> > DJ -- Dirt Jump -- masochistic nutters who like crashing into things;
> > roadie equivalent Urban Trials
> > AM -- all mountain -- cycling gymnast with a passion for balance beams
> > (skinnies); roadie equivalent NY messenger
> > 4X -- full body contact bike bashing; roadie equivalent BMX
>
> As an XCer, DJer, AMer & BMXer I take serious offense to saying BMX is
> the roadie equivalent of anything. Roadies don't BMX, do they? None
> of the roadies I know BMX, and 90% of the BMXers I know consider
> roadie bashing a part of BMX and touching a road bike the equivalent
> of sin.

My roadie racing club:
http://www.escapevelocity.bc.ca/

My roadie racing club's BMX team:
http://www.escapevelocity.bc.ca/bmx

There are several adults who ride BMX or Cruiser, but they're pretty
much all involved because they have a kid in there.

I'm rebuilding my brother's crazy-retro Kuwahara for the upcoming season.

--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@gmail.com http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

[DanKMTB@gmail.com]

On Jan 29, 11:58 am, dedendaddy4spamm...@webtv.net (It's Chris) wrote:
> From: marzjenni...@gmail.com (Marz)
>
>
>
> >Just having a nice ride in the woods --
> >needs a better name, suggestions >please; roadie equivalent 'not sure,
> sort
> >of a Tourer'.
> >I guess mountain biking magazines
> >haven't seen the need to pigeon hole
> >folks who just enjoy a day in the woods.
> >How about Orc's as a name, off road
> >cyclists. :)
>
> ORC's. I like that. None of the the other MTB "designations" really
> cover the non racer. It's high time we made one for the everyday
> recreational non-competitive "Off Road Cyclist".
>
> - -
> Compliments of:
> "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
>
> If you want to E-mail me use:
> ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
>
> My website:http://geocities.com/czcorner

I would have to disagree with this statement. I have not raced since
BMX in the 90's, and have never raced a mountain bike, but still feel
many of the designations fit my styles of riding (depending what I'm
doing). I mentioned the ones that fit me in the above post. I don't
think a very large percentage of MTBers race, even the ones that are
pretty into it and fall into niches like "XC" or "AM". I do like the
ORC designation all the same, and if it takes hold it will likely
describe the kind of loop I throw into a long road ride to keep myself
entertained when out on the road bike.

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 29, 5:53*pm, dedendaddy4spamm...@webtv.net (It's Chris) wrote:
> From: joseph.santanie...@gmail.com
>
> >I am replying to my own post here so as
> >not to seem that I am picking on anyone
> >one in particular (which I am not).
> >Many of the crashes related here seem
> >to me to be entirely preventable user
> >error.
>
> Absolutely! It is a statistical fact that about 90% of bicycle accidents
> are due to rider error. In fact, the majority of bike accidents don't
> even involve a motor vehicle at all.
>

Forget cars! I meant easily avoidable crashes that should be called
mistakes rather than accidents.

Joseph

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 29, 8:32*pm, DennisTheBald <DennisTheB...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 27, 8:29 pm, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > I try to remember to record my falls,
>
> Failed to clip out is certainly one of my most popular causal events.
>
> Another that I can recall happening at least twice was heel to front
> tire contact during a low speed turn.

You sit on the bars and ride your bike backwards? ;-)

Joseph

[Tom Sherman]

DennisTheBald wrote:
> On Jan 27, 8:29 pm, Ron Wallenfang <rwallenf...@wi.rr.com> wrote:
>> I try to remember to record my falls,
>
> Failed to clip out is certainly one of my most popular causal events.
>
> Another that I can recall happening at least twice was heel to front
> tire contact during a low speed turn.
>
I have not had a serious problem with heel to front tire contact since I
sold my Reynolds Wishbone that had crank to wheel overlap and cut off
the front fender on my RANS Rocket about 15-cm in front of the fork. The
latter allow me to get rid of the front set of fender stays, which I
hooked with my shoes a couple of times. No issues on the Earth Cycle
Sunsets, due to the small front wheels.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

[frkrygow@gmail.com]

On Jan 29, 10:28 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> > I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> > to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> > years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>
> >
> I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)

Well, I nearly fell over trying to get out of mine!

- Frank Krygowski

[gabydewilde]

On Jan 30, 4:28 am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> > I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> > to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> > years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>
> >
> I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)
>
> [1] <http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/>.
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> - A. Derleth

Imagine driving an SUV on top of that.

huhuhu

Don't they call that road kill?

[Hank]

On Jan 29, 7:28 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> > I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> > to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> > years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>
> >
> I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)
>

Further proof that Tom is nowhere near as cool as Arte Johnson.

Very interesting.

[Tom Sherman]

gabydewilde Gaby de Wilde wrote:
> On Jan 30, 4:28 am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> wrote:
>> Ron Wallenfang wrote:
>>> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
>>> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
>>> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>> >
>> I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)
>>
>> [1] <http://www.flickr.com/photos/19704682@N08/1939606083/>.
>>
>> --
>> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
>> "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
>> - A. Derleth
>
> Imagine driving an SUV on top of that.
>
> huhuhu
>
> Don't they call that road kill?
>
I appear to have acquired an Usenet stalker. How boring. Mr. de Wilde
obviously has too much free time on his hands.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

[Tom Sherman]

Hank Wirtz wrote:
> On Jan 29, 7:28 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> wrote:
>> Ron Wallenfang wrote:
>>> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
>>> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
>>> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>> >
>> I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)
>>
>
> Further proof that Tom is nowhere near as cool as Arte Johnson.
>
> Very interesting.
>
Mr. Johnson rode an upright tricycle. Upright tricycles are unstable and
are for low speed use only.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Jan 30, 7:25*am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
wrote:
> Hank Wirtz wrote:
> > On Jan 29, 7:28 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@REMOVETHISyahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> >> Ron Wallenfang wrote:
> >>> I try to remember to record my falls, but haven't really added them up
> >>> to get exact information, but I'm guessing that over the last 15
> >>> years, I've gone down about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or so....
>
> >> I have never fallen when riding my trike [1]. ;)
>
> > Further proof that Tom is nowhere near as cool as Arte Johnson.
>
> > Very interesting.
>
> *>
> Mr. Johnson rode an upright tricycle. Upright tricycles are unstable and
> are for low speed use only.
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
> "And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
> - A. Derleth

I used to have a Workman upright trike when I was a teenager. A friend
who was about 300 pounds used to ride behind me standing on the rear
axle. When we were playing bike tag, he would jump off at just the
precise moment and fashion so as to propel me and the trike forward
with amazing speed (conservation of momentum) so I could close on our
victim. We were unstoppable, despite the instability at speed, that
thing was fun!

Joseph