So, there I was on my ride today...

[Dec66]

Pootling along from Downe toward Keston at about 20mph when in front of me, a lady cyclist and a car pulled out together from the right hand side of the road, about 50 yards ahead of me.

"Good", I thought, "as the car pulls away I'll have the room to pass the cyclist, no need to slow down".

Just as I'd computed all that in my head, I failed to notice the square, slightly sunken manhole cover, still wet from the overnight rain, which my back wheel clipped, knocking the back end out and spinning the front end round.

A big " S**T" was uttered by me, as I mentally pictured going for a spill and smashing myself up... And yet, somehow, I snatched it back and straightened up, without falling off.

A marvellous, yet inadvertent, piece of bikemanship, which I've applauded myself in my own head for since.

Anyone else save themself from near disaster today?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

No, but then I can't ride 20mph
Well done, I can't even do u-turns!

 

[NorthernDave]

I had a bit of similar fun last weekend, as posted in "Your ride today":

Through the village and took Milner Lane rather than the obvious route up the hill, looping round onto Thorner Lane where I had a bum clenching moment on discovering a bit of mud in road in the dip when I was powering on. The bike had a bit of a squirm under me but thanks to my excellent bikemanship (or good luck, you choose ) I stayed upright and carried on without incident. Mr Garmin says I hit 33.6 mph through there, so that could have been interesting had it turned out differently....

 

[Kedlin84]

I have these moments on my 27.5 mtb while Road riding if I hit a drain cover while putting some power down or on bends and that's with some decent shwalbes... Starting to think the road bike I'm getting this month will be the death of me

 

[Moodyman]

Was once bombing down a long fast descent I'd ridden umpteen times on the commute. The section near the top of the hill is lined with a couple of large trees and the roots went under the asphalt causing small undulations in road.

I went through one such undulation which knocked the rhythm out of the bike's front wheel and as it picked up momentum down the hill, the small wobble quickly accelerated into a violent high speed shimmy.

I did the usual things - avoided the brakes and leaned a leg in the top tube but it was no good. The descent usually lasts for circa 30 seconds but it felt like 30 minutes. This was down a dual carriageway with a big roundabout at the bottom.

I thought I was a gonner as the road had concrete paths and metal railings on both sides so nowhere to purposely crash.

I then thought if the bike stayed upright, I would ride into the roundabout's kerb and jump into the flowerbeds in the middle. Thankfully, the bike gained its stability as I approached the roundabout and I was safely able to navigate it. I came off the main road and sat on a wall near the industrial estate to calm down. Took me a good 20 minutes to stop shaking and I'm still nervous about fast descents after more than 18 months.

 

[Dec66]

I have these moments on my 27.5 mtb while Road riding if I hit a drain cover while putting some power down or on bends and that's with some decent shwalbes... Starting to think the road bike I'm getting this month will be the death of me

A swing of the hips on a good road bike sees you around such hazards. If you see the bloody things, of course

 

[Kedlin84]

I guess I'll take a few knocks before I get the rhythm heh

 

[Bryony]

My back wheel decided to slide out a bit going over a speed bump that was a bit on the slippy side. Managed to stay upright but had to check my shorts afterwards!