Brakes gave out, and I got hit (agian) HARD!
05-10-07, 10:54 PM
#1
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Brakes gave out, and I got hit (agian) HARD!
I was riding home at night, across campus, crossing a big field that's bi-sected by a long sidewalk. I had the sidewalk to myself as I approached my dorm, so I was going as fast as possible.
That's when I popped my chain off. I ride with a coaster-brake, so I was ****ed.
I reached the end of the sidewalk, still going fast as hell, and flew into the courtyard outside my dorm, screaming at people to get out of the way. Still going hella-fast, I really had no choice but to go into the street.
I got creamed by a car. Me, my bike, my lock, and his license plate all went flying. I thought about the fact that I was helmetless when my hat flew off while I was flying upside down.
I'm fine, it turns out, but my bike is totaled. ****ing shame. Bent my fork and frame, shattered part of my stem, screwed up my front wheel, and of course I'll never use that coaster again. Oh, and I broke my coffee cup holder. Here's the damage:
Before the crash
The bastard coaster-brake that failed and nearly killed me
This shattered inside of the headtube. I just spent 50 on it.
That's when I popped my chain off. I ride with a coaster-brake, so I was ****ed.
I reached the end of the sidewalk, still going fast as hell, and flew into the courtyard outside my dorm, screaming at people to get out of the way. Still going hella-fast, I really had no choice but to go into the street.
I got creamed by a car. Me, my bike, my lock, and his license plate all went flying. I thought about the fact that I was helmetless when my hat flew off while I was flying upside down.
I'm fine, it turns out, but my bike is totaled. ****ing shame. Bent my fork and frame, shattered part of my stem, screwed up my front wheel, and of course I'll never use that coaster again. Oh, and I broke my coffee cup holder. Here's the damage:
Before the crash
The bastard coaster-brake that failed and nearly killed me
This shattered inside of the headtube. I just spent 50 on it.
05-10-07, 10:57 PM
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did the idea of putting your foot on your rear wheel not happen?
... and i'm kinda laughing thinking about how much of a fool you must have looked like.
... and i'm kinda laughing thinking about how much of a fool you must have looked like.
05-10-07, 10:58 PM
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Glad to hear you are OK. Now learn how to jam your foot in the rear tire. Please.
05-10-07, 10:59 PM
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****, you have a rack on there. Nevermind. Still, glad you're OK. Don't sleep on the streets, G!
05-10-07, 11:06 PM
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Also, front brakes are a really really good idea. I think.
05-10-07, 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted by 666pack
did the idea of putting your foot on your rear wheel not happen?
... and i'm kinda laughing thinking about how much of a fool you must have looked like.
... and i'm kinda laughing thinking about how much of a fool you must have looked like.
05-10-07, 11:25 PM
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The before looks pretty close to dropping the chain as it was. It's not a track bike, but you still want to have good chain tension.
05-10-07, 11:34 PM
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When I stop with a foot, I put my heel between the rear wheel and the seat tube, inside the rear triangle. That shouldn't be effected by a rack.
Originally Posted by kwhord
****, you have a rack on there. Nevermind. Still, glad you're OK. Don't sleep on the streets, G!
05-10-07, 11:40 PM
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Well at least now you learned to check your chain tension. It's way too low in the before pic.
05-11-07, 12:46 AM
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some new kind of kick
luck
I'm glad you are ok--don't trust fate twice so
learn how to keep that chain tight.
learn how to keep that chain tight.
05-11-07, 07:30 AM
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That stem's still looks ok, at least from that pic. Just put a new wedge on it.
05-11-07, 07:35 AM
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Even if you couldn't think to put foot on tire instinct should of at least caused you to put feet on pavement like fred flinstone...
Also why couldn't you slow down by riding into the grass of the courtyard?
Also why couldn't you slow down by riding into the grass of the courtyard?
05-11-07, 07:56 AM
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Well, i got 2 things to say Stop knocking him for not thinking fast, We've all screwed up in ooo S**t moments, And HA thats what you get for not maintaining your bike!
05-11-07, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by buzzybelmondo
if the chain came off, the brake didn't fail
05-11-07, 08:57 AM
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sucks, man, sorry to hear.
Looks like your chain was way loose, in the "before" photo. Perhaps that was a contributing factor.
Looks like your chain was way loose, in the "before" photo. Perhaps that was a contributing factor.
05-11-07, 09:39 AM
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Well, are you alright? Any bad bruises or road rash? I've been having a bad 2 weeks, with three accidents. Luckily nothing too destructive on my bike (though I did smash up my friend's crank pretty bad in one pile up), but I have so much road rash. I hate that stuff.
If you'd like I could send you a brake and lever for your next build! Don't ride without a front brake. Even with a coaster brake it's as dangerous as a brakeless fixie.
If you'd like I could send you a brake and lever for your next build! Don't ride without a front brake. Even with a coaster brake it's as dangerous as a brakeless fixie.
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05-11-07, 09:45 AM
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I popped my chain last night running brakeless down a hill, and I pulled a clipless shoe fred flinstone while splitting lanes. No damage done other than some excessive wear on my shoes. 
