Don't ride in groups or we will be stopped cycling completely.

[vickster]

A piece of unseen twisted wire hiding in the road fairly recently entangled around my wheel and hub, ripping the rear mech off as well as twisting and jamming the chain. That bike wasn’t going anywhere afterwards, couldn’t be wheeled 10 feet let alone 10 miles. It was also pi$$ing with rain. I was a couple of miles from home only.
Fortunately, I had a D lock, a handy signpost and was on a bus route.
Bike locked up and collected later in car.
A pretty freak occurrence but clearly can happen!

 

[snorri]

A piece of unseen twisted wire hiding in the road fairly recently entangled around That bike wasn’t going anywhere afterwards, freak occurrence but clearly can happen!

I've had a similar experience in the dark, managed to steer the bike while lifting the back wheel off the road as I walked the three miles home.
On another occasion a bolt sheared leaving the handlebars attached only by the gear and brake cables while touring in mainland Europe. Fortunately an English language speaker appeared on the scene and assisted me to a railway station then directed me to a repair shop.
The third incident was a broken handlebar, but I was able to cycle one handed, holding the loose half of the bar in the other hand for 6 miles to my parked car.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Just goes to show how we all define risk & what with our own experiences we feel we can accept, I've just looked & I have not been more than 8 miles from home on any ride I have done & in most cases less than 5, this is not intentional it's just where I normally ride & continue to do so. Although I have to say I have Mrs P & a son at home so that if it was that bad either could come fetch me, probably after a walk to get to somewhere they could also get with a car.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

To the people who are going "well I've never experienced a ride-ending mechanical so obviously they don't happen" - is it a medal you're after

Some novice riders - and those who have recently taken up cycling during lockdown are novices - don't even know how to change a tyre, and with social distancing they're unlikely to get roadside assistance from passing riders.

I've ridden more than a few sketchy bodge jobs to get me home (inc. 10 hilly miles on a flat tyre after I hit a pothole and dented my rear rim so badly that it shredded any tube I put in it) but have also seen a number of ride-ending mechanicals, particularly with the terrible roads around here which have a penchant for eating wheels.

We’re just saying they are so unlikely as to be not worth worrying about. Riding into potholes can be avoided if you watch where you are going and don't ride too fast. I don’t buy pot holes being big enough they can make a wheel unrideable but small enough you don’t spot them. If you are a novice or not mechanically minded then sure stay within a couple of miles from home. Bikes don’t just suddenly fail if you look after them.

Some of the stories up thread sounds like the riders shouldn’t be let near a bike the number of mishaps they have.

 

[matticus]

We’re just saying they are so unlikely as to be not worth worrying about.
<snip>...
I don’t buy pot holes being big enough they can make a wheel unrideable but small enough you don’t spot them.

Yes exactly. If we look at the numbers, you're looking at 10,000s of miles between these sort of incidents. COULD they happen? Yes! But you could have a heart-attack while driving your SUV in a crowded ALdi car-park too!

If you are a novice or not mechanically minded then sure stay within a couple of miles from home.

... and it's hardly likely that novices are the ones contemplating "reckless" 50+ mile loops. They are a non-issue.

 

[derrick]

A piece of unseen twisted wire hiding in the road fairly recently entangled around my wheel and hub, ripping the rear mech off as well as twisting and jamming the chain. That bike wasn’t going anywhere afterwards, couldn’t be wheeled 10 feet let alone 10 miles. It was also pi$$ing with rain. I was a couple of miles from home only.
Fortunately, I had a D lock, a handy signpost and was on a bus route.
Bike locked up and collected later in car.
A pretty freak occurrence but clearly can happen!

Well thats a simple job. Rear mech off, chain shortened. Single speed ride home.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Very slowly! It was my rear tyre, the roads were only damp. If it had been the front or properly wet I'd have had no choice but to walk, any time I hit water or road markings the back end would try to squirm out from under me.

Mostly standing with my weight as far forward as possible, lots of freewheeling. Had no feeling in my hands by the time I got into the office well over an hour late. Ruined the tyre, but the rim was surprisingly ok after all the sharp dings were filed off and the dent was straightened out by the LBS.

I was a much braver/idiotic rider in those days.

I've done something similar (I punctured but had taken my Brompton (schrader) pump with me by mistake. But mine was pretty much all downhill and only for a couple of miles until I flagged down some nice cyclists who lent me a pump. Good upper body workout.

 

[Dogtrousers]

And also bear in mind the possibility of another vehicle interfering with your ride and damaging you and/or your bike. Lots of posts about incidents like that. Well, a lot more than posts celebrating 6 numbers on the lottery.

 

[vickster]

Well thats a simple job. Rear mech off, chain shortened. Single speed ride home.

There was no need. Bus came and I was home in 30 minutes if that
And the wheel was rather buckled too as the wire had wrapped around the spokes on its way to the hub.
Oh and I don’t do maintenance beyond fixing punctures as I’m inept and utterly disinterested in doing so

 

[matticus]

And also bear in mind the possibility of another vehicle interfering with your ride and damaging you and/or your bike.

Just stay indoors my friend. I don't think you are well-suited for the real world with its myriad hazards.

 

[derrick]

There was no need. Bus came and I was home in 30 minutes if that
And the wheel was rather buckled too as the wire had wrapped around the spokes on its way to the hub.
Oh and I don’t do maintenance beyond fixing punctures as I’m inept and utterly disinterested in doing so

As long as you stay close to home, you will be fine then.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Just stay indoors my friend. I don't think you are well-suited for the real world with its myriad hazards.

Better be aware than to pretend these myriad hazards don't exist. Or are as likely as an asteroid.

 

[vickster]

As long as you stay close to home, you will be fine then.

Indeed, I’m rarely more than a mile from a station or bus route on my rides and ride with a good lock

 

[Blue Hills]

Well thats a simple job. Rear mech off, chain shortened. Single speed ride home.

Exactly, as long as the chain isn"t toast, which is unlikely as chains are tough, tougher than most modern rear mechs.that was the bodge I was thinking of when puzzled by the chap in the tunnel. Maybe some folks think that bikes didn't exist before the comings of the rear mech. Or that the mech is an engine.

There is the chance a rear mech could take out spokes but a good chance the wheel will still be rideable if you catch things early.

 

[screenman]

A small village near us on the Sustrans route had many locals wanting cyclist banned even down to not wanting anyone entering the village on foot also, until it was pointed out they had to leave to going shopping as they are a shop free village.