[jcwhite]

So, nuisance of a time on the thanksgiving (canadian) roadtrip.  I’ll tell you all the story, then does anyone have any pointers on not having it happen again?

I hit a rock with my front tire as I was coming to a stop sign. Because I was slowing (at a reasonable and calm rate), instead of going over the rock, it got jammed under my tire. As the tire rode up the rock a bit, I had no rubber in contact with the pavement, and no traction with my front tire (Yes, I went down).

First of all, I recognize that the way to avoid that in the future is to scan the freaking intersection properly, instead of focusing on only the traffic. I’m suitably angry with myself. However, if you found yourself in that situation, what would you all do to try and get out upright? Giving it throttle was a non-solution, because I was coming to a t-junction (with a stopsign, too). Steering didn’t help (I did try). Rear brake was already on, but gently. I’m not sure that stronger rear braking would have helped, but that’s really the only thing I can think of that might have done something. Any other ideas would be welcome, especially if anyone has been in the same situation.

[Munch]

Go back to MSF basics, let go of the brake. Of course as quick as it happened you probly didn’t think on it, but burn it in your brain. Let go of the front brake to let the tire roll over the rock…your back brake was already applied so it would have continued your braking to keep you from shooting into traffic.  Remember , front traction/brake problems….let go and re apply. Backs….. stay on it.

[Zig308]

How big was the rock?

I also read on another forum that it’s a bad idea to stop with your rear wheel on a man-hole cover. Too much throttle on the cover will equal little traction and when it does grab will shoot out from under you.

[jcwhite]

Fair enough, I guess I should have remembered that. Not sure if it would have been enough (Elwood is entirely right about my speed), but it would have helped. Mostly at the time I was bloody confused, because I knew that I wasn’t on gravel/sand/oil/rain/paint or anything else that would have made me lose traction (granting that I was mistaken, as it turned out). I didn’t clue in until afterwards, when I saw the rock.

Didn’t even land on my face, although I’m wearing full gear. Once it because apparent the bike was going down I was jumping clear – I think I touched the ground with one hand.

We live and we learn.

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