I fell in the canal with my bike!

Who else has fallen in the canal?

I was tootling along the Regents Canal from Hackney to Islington on Tues morning, felling a bit smug as I had finally got to grips with my clipless pedals. BUT then forgot to unclip when doing an emergency stop under a bridge for another cyclist.

So - I did a Frank Spencer and fell in sideways.

Fortunately I didn't sink to the bottom glued to my bike as my feet inclipped. But, I had to croak "help me out" to the other cyclist who was just staring in disbelief.

Another cyclist stopped and used a massive stick to get my poor old bike out as I was too feeble and upset to know what to do, being a lady.

I went back later to try to fish out my lock and then found the water was only four foot deep after all - and not the bottomless lagoon I had always imagined.

So now just feel like an utter clown!

Has anyone else fallen in?

And - THANK YOU to the nice fellow who saved my bike: a true gentleman.

Never done it but there are occasions when passing folk on the water side that I have minor palpitations and wonder if it's ever happened. Clearly, yes it has.

I would have been pretty shell shocked and pissed off if it was me... glad you got out ok and retrieved your bike. On another note I cycled up to Waltham Abbey via the canal on Sat and saw a fecking huge pike sunning itself in the water-about 2 1/2 ft long-so you're also lucky you didn't get a wee nibble taken out of you ;)

I've often wondered how often this happens!

Glad to hear you're ok...must have been quite a shock...

I assume you found the lock? I have a spare old Abus if not...

Never done it but there are occasions when passing folk on the water side that I have minor palpitations and wonder if it's ever happened. Clearly, yes it has.

I would have been pretty shell shocked and pissed off if it was me... glad you got out ok and retrieved your bike. On another note I cycled up to Waltham Abbey via the canal on Sat and saw a fecking huge pike sunning itself in the water-about 2 1/2 ft long-so you're also lucky you didn't get a wee nibble taken out of you ;)

Didn't see any pike. Just scummy oily stuff on the surface sprinkled with a few bottle tops, crisps packets and murky looking wierd stuff.

Just waiting for the first signs of Weil's disease ...

you are not alone i have done this too. . . iFail

I have almost done it a couple of times. Closest was when the polo mallet in my bag caught on the bridge

You and hippy should get together and share canal stories.

I've often wondered how often this happens!

Glad to hear you're ok...must have been quite a shock...

I assume you found the lock? I have a spare old Abus if not...

We haven't got the lock out yet - but are going back on Saturday with our Super-magnet on a rope! My lock is only a month old, and it pains me to think of £90 lying down there in the sludge ...

And - BLESS - so kind of you to offer me an old lock! If the magnet fails, I'll take you up on that offer

you are not alone i have done this too. . . iFail

I was on my condor and got fished out by a ridgeback rider ... so it was sort of humiliating and probably serves me right for getting above my station.

What happened to you?

Maybe we can have badges made?

Pics or it didn't happen!

Epic fail, oh dear! My sympathy goes out to you.

Still, at least it was on a warm sunny day and not in the middle of winter...

Is this the lock you've managed to fish out of the canal?

on a serious note, glad to hear you're alright.

Pics or it didn't happen!

Sadly I have no pictures. Maybe it was just a bad dream ...

Actually, I did have a dream last night about cycling shoes in the style of high heeled purple strappy sandals - with cleats. In the dream I nearly bought them but realised just in time that they weren't such a good idea (purple will clash with my hi-viz jacket)

I was on my condor and got fished out by a ridgeback rider ... so it was sort of humiliating and probably serves me right for getting above my station.

What happened to you?

Maybe we can have badges made?

riding a brakeless BMX round a blind bend near three mills and a another cyclist poped round from the corner well you know where it gos from there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruceshart/5464320043/

Who else has fallen in the canal?

I was tootling along the Regents Canal from Hackney to Islington on Tues morning, felling a bit smug as I had finally got to grips with my clipless pedals. BUT then forgot to unclip when doing an emergency stop under a bridge for another cyclist.

So - I did a Frank Spencer and fell in sideways.

Fortunately I didn't sink to the bottom glued to my bike as my feet inclipped. But, I had to croak "help me out" to the other cyclist who was just staring in disbelief.

Another cyclist stopped and used a massive stick to get my poor old bike out as I was too feeble and upset to know what to do, being a lady.

I went back later to try to fish out my lock and then found the water was only four foot deep after all - and not the bottomless lagoon I had always imagined.

So now just feel like an utter clown!

Has anyone else fallen in?

And - THANK YOU to the nice fellow who saved my bike: a true gentleman.

HA! a friend who works in my studio saw this - it kept us amused all afternoon!

Glad you're ok though.

riding a brakeless BMX round a blind bend near three mills and a another cyclist poped round from the corner well you know where it gos from there.

Oof nasty.

was only 15, hahaha.

was only 15, hahaha.

You had an excuse then. I was only 43.

Liverpool - Leeds . 127 miles. on my own.

Making good time 15 miles out of Liverpool lost my front wheel in a rut (it was grassy and wet, couldn't see how bumpy it was) spd fail on dabbing my foot. Came off bike, wacked head on wall of canal and went in head first...

Don't know how deep it was, but I'm 6'2 and feet didn't touch the bottom.

Damn lucky my bike didn't go in, as I was on my own in the middle of nowhere, 112 miles from home.

That was a tough day... still, Paris Blackpool the following week was easy by comparison.

I alos had always wondered if I was the only one.

HA! a friend who works in my studio saw this - it kept us amused all afternoon!

Glad you're ok though.

I wish I had seen myself do it, as it must have been pretty funny.

I am now cycling to work in a big fuzzy yellow wig and massive floppy shoes.

Liverpool - Leeds . 127 miles. on my own.

Making good time 15 miles out of Liverpool lost my front wheel in a rut (it was grassy and wet, couldn't see how bumpy it was) spd fail on dabbing my foot. Came off bike, wacked head on wall of canal and went in head first...

Don't know how deep it was, but I'm 6'2 and feet didn't touch the bottom.

Damn lucky my bike didn't go in, as I was on my own in the middle of nowhere, 112 miles from home.

That was a tough day... still, Paris Blackpool the following week was easy by comparison.

I alos had always wondered if I was the only one.

Blimey! That sounds like a real accident. Mine was only a comedy one

You had an excuse then. I was only 43.

ahh well was 10 years ago, shouldnt have put the pain back in my thought train.

Blimey! That sounds like a real accident. Mine was only a comedy one

Believe me, it gets alot of laughs when I tell people about it!

Liverpool - Leeds . 127 miles. on my own.

Making good time 15 miles out of Liverpool lost my front wheel in a rut (it was grassy and wet, couldn't see how bumpy it was) spd fail on dabbing my foot. Came off bike, wacked head on wall of canal and went in head first...

Don't know how deep it was, but I'm 6'2 and feet didn't touch the bottom.

Damn lucky my bike didn't go in, as I was on my own in the middle of nowhere, 112 miles from home.

That was a tough day... still, Paris Blackpool the following week was easy by comparison.

I alos had always wondered if I was the only one.

That sounds an epic ride!

Did very similar to that years ago, hit a rut and over the bars at about 20 mph landed on my back winded, cross bike had gone flying. Couldn't see it anywhere when I finally moved and was certain that she must be in the canal, but had thankfully gone the opposite way over a hedge into a field!

Glad the OP is ok!