I'm sure there's a similar thread in the archives, but what's your most embarrassing accident on a bike? I started thinking about this after a near miss this morning. Here's the story:
Recently decided to take the plunge and buy a dedicated tri-bike. Previously had only ridden on a road bike. Never even tried aero bars. Of course one week after ordering bike I throw out my back forcing me to stop all training (for the first couple of days I couldn't even get out of bed). Bike arrives and I'm still in no shape to ride. All I can do is look at it longingly.
Finally, after another week, back is a little better so I decide to at least take it out for a quick spin. Basically do 3 one and one half mile loops around my subdivision. I'm definitely finding the new position takes a little getting used to. It's also very weird to have to get out of aero position to brake.
A couple of days later I take it out a second time and do 4-5 loops. Starting to feel a little more comfortable on the bike, but I definitely don't have the confidence I do on the road bike I've ridden for the last 12 years.
Nevertheless, I decide to try a real ride this morning. Figure if I go out early on a Sunday there won't be much traffic. I'm about 4 miles into my planned twenty mile loop. There's no traffic. I'm riding down a slight down hill in my best aero position. Probably going about 24 or 25 mph and feeling pretty good. Suddenly, from out of nowhere a large dear starts to run accross the road. Right now my ability to do quick swerves in the aero position is zero. There is no time for me to get to the brakes. It's basically up to the deer.
I look at the deer. The deer looks at me. I can basically see it thinking "WTF". I am basically 4 feet from the deer, still going about 25 mph and it looks like I'm going to t-bone it dead center. The deer puts on one last desperate burst of acceleration and I miss it by inches.
Obviously I'm a little shook up. But I also can't help thinking how embarrassing it would be been to be found unconscious by the side of the road, lying on top of a dead deer. My brand new carbon Cervelo, which basically has about 12 miles on, it in pieces around me.
I was definitely a little nervous when I went out this morning. Worried that I might hit a pothole and lose control. Or take a turn too fast in my aero bars and go off the road. Or get hit by a car. Or throw my back out again. But I honestly never thought I'd almost get taken out by a deer.:)
Recently decided to take the plunge and buy a dedicated tri-bike. Previously had only ridden on a road bike. Never even tried aero bars. Of course one week after ordering bike I throw out my back forcing me to stop all training (for the first couple of days I couldn't even get out of bed). Bike arrives and I'm still in no shape to ride. All I can do is look at it longingly.
Finally, after another week, back is a little better so I decide to at least take it out for a quick spin. Basically do 3 one and one half mile loops around my subdivision. I'm definitely finding the new position takes a little getting used to. It's also very weird to have to get out of aero position to brake.
A couple of days later I take it out a second time and do 4-5 loops. Starting to feel a little more comfortable on the bike, but I definitely don't have the confidence I do on the road bike I've ridden for the last 12 years.
Nevertheless, I decide to try a real ride this morning. Figure if I go out early on a Sunday there won't be much traffic. I'm about 4 miles into my planned twenty mile loop. There's no traffic. I'm riding down a slight down hill in my best aero position. Probably going about 24 or 25 mph and feeling pretty good. Suddenly, from out of nowhere a large dear starts to run accross the road. Right now my ability to do quick swerves in the aero position is zero. There is no time for me to get to the brakes. It's basically up to the deer.
I look at the deer. The deer looks at me. I can basically see it thinking "WTF". I am basically 4 feet from the deer, still going about 25 mph and it looks like I'm going to t-bone it dead center. The deer puts on one last desperate burst of acceleration and I miss it by inches.
Obviously I'm a little shook up. But I also can't help thinking how embarrassing it would be been to be found unconscious by the side of the road, lying on top of a dead deer. My brand new carbon Cervelo, which basically has about 12 miles on, it in pieces around me.
I was definitely a little nervous when I went out this morning. Worried that I might hit a pothole and lose control. Or take a turn too fast in my aero bars and go off the road. Or get hit by a car. Or throw my back out again. But I honestly never thought I'd almost get taken out by a deer.:)