Came off bike in most plonkerish way

[cyclebuddy]

Received my second one a couple of days ago @ £1.88,
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/what-do-you-get-for-£1-88-these-days.28931/

About a month ago, on a quiet calm early Sunday morning, on a very quiet, narrow, back country road, I sensed - not heard - something behind me. And on looking over my shoulder, there's a massive full-on 18-wheel artic the full width of the road coasting slowly about 20 feet behind me (probably delivering fertilizer or some such to a farm)! Naturally, I pulled over and let him pass, but it was something of a surprise that early on such a small road, to encounter such a large vehicle being so quiet so early on a Sunday morning. So I bought the mirror you suggested Tommie, and it's great!

This morning, along that same obscure country road, I hear what sounds distinctly like a pimped milk-float with a busted gearbox racing up behind me. Glancing in my newly acquired mirror, my safety is reassured when all I see are two wrinkled twats in Lycra on Bosch CD bikes - clearly dongled machines judging by the greatly in excess of 15mph they were doing.

But Jees, who needs a bell to warn of your approach when you've got a Bosch drive whirring it's head-off? They're crazy loud in comparison to my near-silent Bafang Maxdrive.

But the mirror is a peach, and cheap enough to replace if it gets busted! Thanks Tommie.

 

[topographer]

Definitely get a mirror, I also use Mirrycle, very good.
It seems that the geometry/head angle of modern hybrid bikes does cause oscillation, but this is when riding with no hands on bars. I'm guessing this isn't what you were doing. It's not a problem in normal riding.
Tension is a problem. Bikes want to stay upright and in a straight line. Tension in the rider radically affects this. Shoulders, neck and arms principally, but torso too has an affect. Years ago, when motorcycling, I was taught to think of the bar grips as little birds. Hold them too tightly and you will kill them, too loosely and they will fly away. Ride with bent elbows, that way, if the wheel kicks on some stone or bump, it will self correct.
Road position is a biggy. I ride between a quarter and halfway to the centre white line. Take possession of the road, own it. Don't allow yourself to be pushed too close to the curb else you've got nowhere to go if some plonker comes too close. Also, as Flecc says, it's where all the crud, drain covers and rough bits are.
Finally, bikes don't 'steer' like what we all intuitively think they do.
If you, almost imperceptively, push the right bar end away from you, the bike will lean to the right. Sounds crazy but it does work.

Good stuff. I'll try and take that all in. I have no idea if I ride with bent arms. Will have to see next time.

 

[topographer]

This morning, along that same obscure country road, I hear what sounds distinctly like a pimped milk-float with a busted gearbox racing up behind me. Glancing in my newly acquired mirror, my safety is reassured when all I see are two wrinkled twats in Lycra on Bosch CD bikes - clearly dongled machines judging by the greatly in excess of 15mph they were doing.

But Jees, who needs a bell to warn of your approach when you've got a Bosch drive whirring it's head-off? They're crazy loud in comparison to my near-silent Bafang Maxdrive.

Interesting...

 

[tommie]

a pimped milk-float with a busted gearbox

lol, know what you mean!
Can`t understand why a premium product like Bosch can`t make virtually noiseless drives like the newer Bafangs.

 

[Danidl]

lol, know what you mean!
Can`t understand why a premium product like Bosch can`t make virtually noiseless drives like the newer Bafangs.

Mine is pretty low noise. Can just about get a whine on turbo. If those guys were using dongles kit well then they were in super turbo mode and noisier.

 

[Nealh]

I have had a tank slapper some what similar, come off and snapped off a hdb lever.
In my off I came off a corner a bit quicker and soon was on the marbles near the kerb, in the end I ended up brushing the kerb trying not to come off. Instinct comes in to play, then you try to over correct causing the tank slapper.
In your case if the front brake was used then the rear most probably became light causing the off with the bike in a uncontrollable non upright position.

 

[topographer]

I have had a tank slapper some what similar, come off and snapped off a hdb lever.
In my off I came off a corner a bit quicker and soon was on the marbles near the kerb, in the end I ended up brushing the kerb trying not to come off. Instinct comes in to play, then you try to over correct causing the tank slapper.
In your case if the front brake was used then the rear most probably became light causing the off with the bike in a uncontrollable non upright position.

I pulled both brakes together, something I've only been doing recently since I got my first ebike...because I was reading people talking about how the front one does most of the braking...and because the bike's heavy. For all my life previously, I tended to use the back brake most of the time and only use the front when I thought the rear wasn't enough on its own.