Hypothermia. It was mid summer and we went on a Sunday Club run to Hawes. The first 60 miles were great fun. Tea stop Gargrave, lunch Hawes, over Fleet Moss twice. Passing over the wide exposed Ribblehead moor, the heavens opened. Now when it rains in the Yorkshire Dales, it really rains. Sheets of cold rain. I had a waterproof though it soon started to seep through. The leader of our group is a veteran with 50,000 miles under his belt (and not an ounce of spare fat). However for some reason he didn’t have a good waterproof. When we finally reached some civilisation, we stopped in a cafe, and our poor leader is shaking uncontrollably with hypothermia. It was quite something to see someone suffering so much. He was given hot drinks, blankets and went home on train. But, just shows even most experienced cyclist can get caught out. I didn’t get hypothermia but those 10 long miles in the desolute Yorkshire moors seeing only blankets of rain come down was an experience I will never forget. At the time I was 16 and glad I wasn’t on my own
Road Rage. I’m pretty good at avoiding road rage incidents. I’ve learnt to keep on the right side of other road users (see: enjoying bike). However, it is inevitable that you get some experience like this. A motorist started chasing me for no good reason. He kept stopping in front of me, but I saw the fire in his eyes so cycled on and refused to engage. He almost caused a crash with another car because he had completely lost it and seemed only intent on having an argument. But, the sense of his anger was really bad.
Two Up Time Trial after interval session. I went to marshall a two up time trial at Weston on the Green. Since I was marshalling, I thought I’d do some interval sessions before race. Just before the start a rider didn’t have a partner so the organiser chose me to be the stand in. The problem was this guy was really fast and I was really tired after interval session. Staying on his wheel for 10 miles was torture.
National 50 Mile TT. In 2008 I did National the 50. The first 10 miles were great. Averaging about 28mph. The first 25 miles were good, though I’d started to slow down averaging 26mph. The last 25 miles were absolute torture – the slowest I’ve ever ridden a bike in a race. To make it worse it was confusing how far I’d ridden. When I thought I’d finished I still had another 7 miles to go. I could no longer race, but just went through the motions. I’ve never slowed down so much in a race so long.
The Wrong TurnIn this 25 mile Time trial, there was a roundabout with 5 exits and you have to come off at exit 5. Now when you’re racing its very easy to think 320 degrees is already 360 degrees, so I came off an exit early. Often when you’re time trialling you don’t see riders for quite a long time. After a few miles I started to wonder why I hadn’t seen any. After 5 miles, I realised I’d definitely gone wrong, and I didn’t know where to go. I retraced my steps 5 miles and finished course. It was the first time I’d come last in a race, so at least I got a new experience.
Six Punctures in Six Days. I was young, I didn’t know how to put on a tyre without tyre leavers – I almost threw my bike in a skip and gave up cycling.
Forgot Pedals I once took bike up to Matlock and was really looking forward to cycling in the hills of Derbyshire. I got out my lovely bike to discover the speedily pedals were left at home. The worst thing is that six months later, I drove all the way up to Yorkshire and left front wheel at home…. Technically speaking this isn’t my worst experience on the bike because I never got to ride it..
Falling Off
Fortunately, never had too many bad crashes, though the sight of blood sends me into a comatose state on my bed.
I realise I could go on for ever with these kind of experience! Actually only the road rage was really unpleasant. You can look back on others and have a laugh or learn something from it. But, if you want to share a similar experience, feel free!
Related
Your Best Experience on A Bike
15 years ago I came off my mountain bike whilst racing a friend downhill. I was probably doing 20 mph plus. We hit a patch of rough ground and I ended up hitting a rock and I along with my bike were catapulted through the air. For one beautiful moment i realised my long standing dream and was flying like superman! Yes, thats right with my left arm outstretched. Seconds later my dream turned into a nightmare as I realised that I was going to end up crashing head first into a massive bolder that I imagined to be like a iceberg (mostly under the ground) It was definitely not going to move. I ended up using my left arm to break my fall which buckled instantly. On impact my handlebars, which had turned sideways rammed into my chest. I lay there in agony thinking this might be it! Though teared eyes I could see my friend laughing and only after several minutes did his face to turn to real concern. I then started to laugh myself. Bruised, sore and sporting damaged cartilage in my shoulder I climbed my bike and rode the 5 miles back home. One handed. To cut a long story short I have spent the last fifteen years spending trips to have MIR scans, physio and far too many trips for pain killers from my doctors. Three years ago I bought myself a road bike and whilst I am loving getting into biking again I have and always will have that day in the back of my mind whenever I go out on my bike.
Sounds pretty tough experience. Glad you were able to get back on a bike!
My worst experiences are probably also my most embarrassing; they’re both related involving pedals. I’m sure I cannot be alone with these….
About 30 years ago I remember once stopping at traffic lights late at night and simply forgetting to take my feet out of my toe clips and the inevitable happened: I fell over in front of loads of girls on a night out. The other, much the same but more recent, involved SPD pedals and falling off right in front of a neighbour.