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.

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.

Glad to hear you are OK. Now learn how to jam your foot in the rear tire. Please.

****, you have a rack on there. Nevermind. Still, glad you're OK. Don't sleep on the streets, G!

Also, front brakes are a really really good idea. I think.

...damn...I panicked and didn't think of that in time at all.

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.

Slack chain is a whack chain...

You're lucky that it's only the bike that got hurt. Now buy a helmet.

Glad you're OK. Sounds like it was terrifying.

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.

Well at least now you learned to check your chain tension. It's way too low in the before pic.

I'm glad you are ok--don't trust fate twice so
learn how to keep that chain tight.

That stem's still looks ok, at least from that pic. Just put a new wedge on it.

technically, "brake" gave out

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?

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!

if the chain came off, the brake didn't fail

That's what I was thinking. Get a front brake.

Slack-ass Chains Ftw!!

sucks, man, sorry to hear.

Looks like your chain was way loose, in the "before" photo. Perhaps that was a contributing factor.

true, just emphasizing the singular

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.

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.

good thing it wasnt a garbage truck

or a canadian cop

grab the front wheel next time.