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The "biking related mistakes you only make once" thread

CrabJoe StretchPants

Reincarnated Crab Walking Head Spinning Bruce Dick
Nov 30, 2003
14,163
2,484
Groton, MA
eaterofdog's superstition thread reminded me of a thread topic I meant to start a couple weeks ago but forgot to. Title says it all; what biking related mistakes/goof-ups do you only make once? Stuff like:

- throwing the Camelbak in the trunk without locking the bite valve
- putting a bike in a sidearm carrier without locking the arm
- running WTB tires

Degreasing my parts in a tub of Greased Lightning and watching in horror as they all came out in various states of having the anodizing stripped.
 
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Scrub

Turbo Monkey
Feb 4, 2003
1,453
119
NOR CAL, Sac/CoCo County
I went to a National race half way across the country only forget my helmet, never again happened. Check ALL gear and have a checklist now.

Putting the presta cap on w/o screwing the valve all the way down=slow flat tire and then thinking it was a hole in the tube. dohhhh
 
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CrabJoe StretchPants

Reincarnated Crab Walking Head Spinning Bruce Dick
Nov 30, 2003
14,163
2,484
Groton, MA
Forgot one:

Driving 45minutes to ride trails in the early spring, trusting the word of a redhead that there's no snow left on the trails.
 

kazlx

Patches O'Houlihan
Aug 7, 2006
6,985
1,957
Tustin, CA
eaterofdog's superstition thread reminded me of a thread topic I meant to start a couple weeks ago but forgot to. Title says it all; what biking related mistakes/goof-ups do you only make once? Stuff like:

- throwing the Camelbak in the trunk without locking the bite valve
I seem to do this all the time.
 

mandown

Poopdeck Repost
Jun 1, 2004
20,130
7,679
Transylvania 90210
ignoring my gut instinct to pump up my air fork a few psi before my last run.

spending money on POC pads and a new custom wheelset, but thinking that a Leatt would be uncomfortable and expensive.
 

mantispf2000

Turbo Monkey
Aug 9, 2001
1,793
243
Nevada, 2 hours from Mammoth
Wearing neon pink. Yeah, I can admit it. Not proud of it, but I rocked it, back in the day...
I finally have a custom pink jersey from Voler. Love it completely.

Wife had to work on a day I was off. I wanted to ride around Lake Tahoe. Loaded up, take her to work, park the van, only to then realize I didn't have gloves or helmet. Didn't want to go home, did the ride any way, and survived (do you know how crazy the tourist drivers are around the lake???).

Say "yes" to the checklist...............
 

Polandspring88

Superman
Mar 31, 2004
3,066
7
Broomfield, CO
Degreasing my parts in a tub of Greased Lightning and watching in horror as they all came out in various states of having the anodizing stripped.

Oh wait, that wasn't me! :rofl::rofl::rofl::D
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
Meeting the wife at our local riding spot after work with her bike in tow, only to forget her front wheel at home.

Buying a complete used bike. Should have bought just the frame and fork since I've replaced pretty much everything else.
 

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,596
5,894
in a single wide, cooking meth...
I could have my own thread on this topic, but I will throw out a few:

* Believing the weather forecast and not bringing mud spikes to a DH race
* Not wearing arm protection at Windrock
* Assuming an innocuous dirt lump is a roller and not a gap jump
* Leaving trailhead, do a U-turn and notice a decidedly familiar SC Nomad sitting on the side of the road
* In a rush to get to trailhead and upon arrival I notice the bed of my truck is decidedly empty (but in my defense, I did have my shoes and helmet)
* I've forgotten my shoes too many times to count, but I do have an extra pair in the car now
* Riding Wintergreen drunk, at night, with no lights...Actually, I'd do that again
 

denjen

Certified Lift Whore
Sep 16, 2001
1,691
36
Richmond VA
-Stuck my finger in the rotor after spinning the wheel. Cut half my fingernail off.

-Dropped the tailgate on my truck and laid the bike down in the bed, and then forgot to close the tailgate. Didn't notice my fvck up till 10 miles down the road, and saw there was no bike in the back. Luckily it had slid out when I stopped at a toll booth and they put it in the office. Only a little rip on the seat.
 
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Mo(n)arch

Turbo Monkey
Dec 27, 2010
4,441
1,422
Italy/south Tyrol
- I didn't check a tyre before mounting it. There was a wire not molded in resulting in two flats in 10 minutes. Had to take the lift DOWN the mountain.
 

say 10

Chimp
Jul 30, 2004
84
0
NH
not checking camelbak or short pocket zippers.

tossing small parts away that I could use for repairs, wife's bike
 

eaterofdog

ass grabber
Sep 8, 2006
8,189
1,431
Central Florida
Buying a cheap, heavy bike and upgrading around the crap frame.

Not draining and airing out camelback.

Riding hard on single wall rims.

Sticking finger in moving drivetrain while stoned.
 

denjen

Certified Lift Whore
Sep 16, 2001
1,691
36
Richmond VA
Buying a cheap, heavy bike and upgrading around the crap frame.

Not draining and airing out camelback.

Riding hard on single wall rims.

Sticking finger in moving drivetrain while stoned.

LMAO I didn't mention in my post that I had a pretty good buzz on when I stuck my finger in the rotor
 

Angus

Jack Ass Pen Goo Win
Oct 15, 2004
1,478
0
South Bend
I learned this "mistake" as a kid, I had a Mongoose w/ Motomags (yes I know I Am Old) any way we had a primitive track near some sand dunes we raced on. During one race I got to close to the saw grass and some got collected on the front fork. I decided to remove the grass while riding, by leaning over the bars and pulling it off. I must of hit a bump as my hand went into the mag, going all the way around to the back of the fork and then a spectacular front flip endo!

my hand was a wreck for weeks, till this day I don't pluck anything off the bike while riding, it its small like a leaf I just pedal faster, if its big like a stick I stop to remove it....