Guess the CycleChatter?

[redjedi]

Ow! Looked painful Mat.

Glad you're alright and no serious damage done.

 

[theclaud]

I want to look good when I hit the floor...

Quite! Glad to see the incident hasn't upset your priorities.

 

[Origamist]

Ow! Looked painful Mat.

Glad you're alright and no serious damage done.

Thanks, Luke. I'm glad I had the wherewithal to steer away from the bollard - I was heading straight for it. If I'd been closer to the kerb, I may well have skewered myself.

 

[HobbesChoice]

Good to know you're ok Origamist! That fall did look painful.

In this weather I didn't think you looked lardy at all, just well insulated with clothing for the freezing temperatures we're having!

 

[Rob3rt]

Glad your okay! Lucky the cars had given plenty room!

I'm most definatelly replacing my bars (after a recent spill) now incase they fail like this.

 

[BrumJim]

Broke my stem in 2008 on my hurricane. No fall though, perhaps because the cables held it all together, and there's so little force on recumbent handlebars:

That one looks like bad welding. Shouldn't fail through the weld like that if it has been done properly.

 

[Bollo]

P1ss-taking aside, that sent a chill right down my spine. Glad you're ok Matt.

 

[GrasB]

I'm hard on bikes. Less like a swan, more like a hippo.

Those bars had seen 2 minor crashes (I checked them after each crash) - and were due to be replaced in April after 15000 miles (2 and half years use). I should have been more diligent...

...

Didn't sleep too great last night, but cycled in this morning OK.

Well firstly glad to hear that you're generally okay & there are no serious injuries after the incident.

Problem with visual checks is that you often can't see the really small micro-cracks without dyes, a process that makes buying new 'bars look rather cheap iirc. Or worse the cracks are on the inside of the tube where you have no hope of seeing them until they get to full depth, at which point you'll probably have a catastrophic failure. The only way to be more diligent is to replace the 'bars every year which is starting to get a little ridiculous.

 

[mistral]

Lucky escape Matt, all the best & safe cycling!

 

[Tharg2007]

its a feeling of utter helplessness where a few seconds seem like a long time, it cant be described and can only be experienced to get a true idea of what its like.. SCARY!!!

 

[Origamist]

.

Problem with visual checks is that you often can't see the really small micro-cracks without dyes, a process that makes buying new 'bars look rather cheap iirc. Or worse the cracks are on the inside of the tube where you have no hope of seeing them until they get to full depth, at which point you'll probably have a catastrophic failure. The only way to be more diligent is to replace the 'bars every year which is starting to get a little ridiculous.

I'm going to err more on the side of caution from now on. New bars after any spill or 20K miles.

its a feeling of utter helplessness where a few seconds seem like a long time, it cant be described and can only be experienced to get a true idea of what its like.. SCARY!!!

Yep, it's a horrible sensation when there's suddenly no resistance on one side of the bar...

 

[magnatom]

Not wanting to start a debate, but.....Origamist, did your head hit the tarmac? It looks like it did, or at the very least, it was close. If it was close, I wonder if it would have hit, had you been wearing a helmet......

 

[HJ]

I do look lardy in that jacket - note to self -get a fitted Gore jacket next time. I want to look good when I hit the floor...

Marks out of 10 for the dismount?

Good to see you are OK!

 

[Origamist]

Not wanting to start a debate, but.....Origamist, did your head hit the tarmac? It looks like it did, or at the very least, it was close. If it was close, I wonder if it would have hit, had you been wearing a helmet......

No, my head did not hit the ground.

Marks out of 10 for the dismount?

Good to see you are OK!

Thanks.

Technical merit: 6 (I didn't really get a chance to roll, but did kept left). Artistic impression: 3 (lacked grace).

 

[MacB]

Yeah, but a helmet could have saved the bars