"Oh Shit" moments...

v stupid moment on my part a couple of weeks ago, was going down Northumberland Avenue when a taxi decides that about 5cm is enough space to overtake me, then in front of me suddenly stops without indicating or owt, leading to me slamming brakes on and swearing, then immediate/without thinking reaction is to punch the wing mirror when I go past. Not smart, lots of "oh shit"-ing.

sounds like the taxi driver deserved it

cycling downhill on ssmtb with rear brake only, freewheeling etc going about 30-35mph, about 20-30 metres ahead light turns yellow i start braking but i realise i'm not going to be able to stop in time, car stops in front leaving no space for me to go around, opposite lane is clear but a young girl has already started to walk across the road, i had no choice but to go from the opposite lane, trying not to hit the girl i go around her from her back (does that make sense? basically i didnt cycle in front of her)

then woohey all good, then i realise im still holding the brake lever but not slowing down, the brake cable snapped

o boy

Sorry but it is really not a good idea at at all to just have one brake - you need some kind of back up, part of the reason why two brakes are a legal requirement. One brake failing is a rare occurrence, but both malfunctioning at the same time is even less likely.

Additionally the front break is the one that slows the bike most effectively. I am actually quite amazed that despite your experience you are considering carrying on in the same way.

brake

Sorry

I joke, of course. Arben Zilci I do recall a thread about a year ago where you were warned that something like this could happen - although it could've been someone else.

No but seriously i have looked into getting some brake mounts brazed on by superted as the forks were built by him in the first place, it wouldn't look too great but hey it's just a bike i use for commuting and i usually end up cycling slower in the rain to ensure i'd be able to stop if i need to

and lae, maybe it was me, maybe it wasn't, i can't remember

Foot jams :)

No but seriously i have looked into getting some brake mounts brazed on by superted as the forks were built by him in the first place, it wouldn't look too great but hey it's just a bike i use for commuting and i usually end up cycling slower in the rain to ensure i'd be able to stop if i need to

and lae, maybe it was me, maybe it wasn't, i can't remember

Live fast, die young

But you almost took someone else out with you. The risks have been made really apparent but you selfishly wish to carry on putting others at risk.

you selfishly wish to carry on putting others at risk.

i have looked into getting some brake mounts brazed on by superted

http://www.tedjamesdesign.com/

Sorry, after the image you posted i was not sure if you are actually going to get the brake mounts.

Hoping you do.

Ryan at Oak cycles brazed some mounts on some shop 14 forks for me if Ted ain''t got time, although I think he's pretty busy making shiny, awesome bikes too.

^will check it out

this is probably the craziest lucky escape i've seen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maGcGMtFMa4

Fuuuck.

^^ Pearoast surely?

Rode home my brand new BMC which I've been waiting for a month and a half to arrive and was an unbelievable bargain from Evans in Chalk Farm. The Conti Ultra Sports and the fact that Farringdon Road is doing its best Mickey Rourke's Face impression means I was Oh Shit! all the way home - until my front wheel went 60% out from me on a wet drain cover and I yelled OH FUCK but managed to keep upright. Terrifying.

Thanks for the care guys! Got LV06 thats it. I went back the next night at around the same time to see if it was her route home from work, she didn't show up, I was ready to hunt that bitch down! Couldn't see any cameras either and the Police don't seem to be doing anything..... Typical!

Also my friend that I was riding with told me the next day that after she hit me and he had punched her car she turned to him and quickly apologized and drove off. So this now adds her accepting liability, the police best fuck her over (in the non litteral sense)

I'm sure the police can find the car with the make/model/colour and partial reg. Keep pestering them until they do something about it - failure to stop is serious.

Yesterday i was such an idiot. Forgot to latch the hood pins on my CF hood and you guessed it... after finally getting the car running properly (no engine codes), i hit second gear and in a second i saw the hood fly right off and didn't bother to lift off cause it felt so good it didn't even matter... took it as a sign to put the stock hood back on>>>>>>

#OveriT

i didnt realise these 'oh shit' moments could be non bike related.
.
i put my big, three stage ladder (all 25kg) of it on the roof bats (BARS) of my van. had a quick chat with the client and drove off from e.finchley to childs hill - so plenty of turns and hills to go up and down. i arrived at childs hill and as i stopped the ladder slid forwards off the roof bars, ont the bonnet and under the car in front of me. yes, i had forgotten to attach the ladder to the roof bars!
.
still, at least i didnt kill anyone

You should have have not used cave dwelling animals!

PSA. This was nasty. Roadsafe advisory done also.

Dear Cargo Express,

Please have an urgent word with the driver of vehicle reg BVxx XXX, approx 11:30 today, City Road roundabout London. If he continues to drive like this, he could easily crush a cyclist.,

I was on my road bike, stopped at the red signal on the Southbound City Rd roundabout exit, in the ASL. I was right in the middle of Lane 1: 'Primary position' to discourage vehicles from overtaking on the exit. I'm sure you're familiar with the 'Primary position' concept, and incorporate it into your driver training. So I was shocked that your driver attempted to undertake the bus in lane 2 and force me towards the barriers as we rounded the exit. You may have been reading a different email if I had not emergency-braked.

I don't mind confessing that a momentary loss of stoicism resulted in a small brown deposit compromising rear-wheel traction. And I also don't mind if you report back that it was a momentary lapse of judgement by the driver, if you also promise that steps were taken to ensure there will be no repeat.

I'm copying this to various cycling forums as a Public Safety Announcement (reg redacted), and I'm also informing the Met Roadsafe team in case this character has form.

Hoping for a meaningful reply,

Sincerely,
XX
London Cyclist

Today heading east through the Mile End junction thingy, I went in wayy too hot and the lights changed. Didn't fancy running the red and pulled an emergency stop. Ended up a few metres over the line feeling all flustered and embarassed. Just when I thought it was all over, I realised I was inadvertently trackstanding and so had a massive clipless moment, almost hitting the deck. I apologise to anybody (mainly the guy on the white ss/fixed gear behind me) who saw me fuck up.

On the plus side, I met a guy outside city hall who told me about how he built up a very nice road conversion and also shared his frame stipping methods.

oh shit you had to brake hard?

Was overtaking a car that was turning left. As soon as it turned it revealed a massive pothole and in went my front wheel. Bang went my tyre and smack went my face into the road. Chipped my front tooth busted my lips and scratched my nose about 2 weeks ago.

Helmet saved nothing. Oh I was in the drops spinning. Oh Sh@t