Lets discuss uphill crashing.

[arTNC]

I’ve dropped my bike or had the occasional crash. All the things mounted on our bar are exposed to breakage which is why I now don’t over-tighten any clampy-things on my bar. With some reasonable force they spin on the bar.

It’s not 100% protection but it can help. Snapping a master brake cylinder can be expensive. I’ve done that.

Slightly loose handlebar controls is a long standing dirt motorcycle thing from way back and not a bad idea at all. I should buy a lottery ticket because now that I think about it, I've yet to break an MTB lever. Trust me...that's not from a lack of trying or having getoffs. I've broken maybe a couple of dirt motorcycle levers over several decades, but the slightly loose clamp has probably saved me quite a few. Good advice.

 

[steve_sordy]

Back when I was fit the up hills were always a fun challenge but with the emtb I pretty well clear them all now unless it's really steep but then it wasn't really rideable anyways.

I think it's just when the motor puts out more power then expected on uphill switch backs that can catch me off guard.

Which early on with the emtb I dropped the bike and broke a lever. Found out the Shimano SLX and above lever members are pretty well the same for left and rights as it's just the spring that is left or right. Incase anyone needs one but can only find the opposite lever but still has a good spring.

That reminds me, I have a nearly new XT Shimano left brake assembly with a missing lever. When I broke it, the pandemic was in the full flow of its effects and Shimano had closed most of its factories. I will try again.

Just in case anyone is in possession of a broken left brake but with an intact lever, mine is a Shimano BL-M8100-L. It would be nice to have a spare brake.

 

[pagheca]

I often see challenges on Youtube that make sense, and others that are really absurd. The other day I happened to see one guy going with his bike over the edge of a very high dam and another - very well known - traversing a tennis court over the net on his bike.

Now, while the latter however is a sign of great skill but not of a desire to kill himself, the former is really, in my opinion, a big, stupid nonsense.

Unfortunately, there are dozens and dozens of clips on Youtube of people doing unnecessarily dangerous things, where the risk is not related to the lack of skill but to the situation: narrow routes over cliffs traveled at high speed and without any safety, jumps in uncontrollable situations, where a gust of wind is enough to kill you.

Does this really make sense?

That's fine, long live freedom of choice when you don't harm others (except your loved one when you loose your life, or the risk associated with the recovery of your body in case of accident in remote areas). Unfortunately, however, these kinds of videos incite people who do not have the required skills to emulate them, and that is bad, really bad.

I personally have no stories of big falls while going uphill to tell. Only the occasional fall almost from a standstill, often because to get over an obstacle I had to set turbo. In that case it is difficult to control the pulse of the engine well. As a result, I sometimes happened to lose my balance and fall sideways or backwards, without any damage except for some crass laughter from those who saw me falling like an idiot....

 

[Binhill1]

I often see challenges on Youtube that make sense, and others that are really absurd. The other day I happened to see one guy going with his bike over the edge of a very high dam and another - very well known - traversing a tennis court over the net on his bike.

Now, while the latter however is a sign of great skill but not of a desire to kill himself, the former is really, in my opinion, a big, stupid nonsense.

Unfortunately, there are dozens and dozens of clips on Youtube of people doing unnecessarily dangerous things, where the risk is not related to the lack of skill but to the situation: narrow routes over cliffs traveled at high speed and without any safety, jumps in uncontrollable situations, where a gust of wind is enough to kill you.

Does this really make sense?

That's fine, long live freedom of choice when you don't harm others (except your loved one when you loose your life, or the risk associated with the recovery of your body in case of accident in remote areas). Unfortunately, however, these kinds of videos incite people who do not have the required skills to emulate them, and that is bad, really bad.

I personally have no stories of big falls while going uphill to tell. Only the occasional fall almost from a standstill, often because to get over an obstacle I had to set turbo. In that case it is difficult to control the pulse of the engine well. As a result, I sometimes happened to lose my balance and fall sideways or backwards, without any damage except for some crass laughter from those who saw me falling like an idiot....

I go round a ledge bit regularly that I really shouldn't it's only 2 feet wide with a drop off in to sea or rocks if tide out. Sometimes I walk it . Only fall once there that's for sure. But yes some mental stuff some folk are capable of.

 

[arTNC]

I often see challenges on Youtube that make sense, and others that are really absurd. The other day I happened to see one guy going with his bike over the edge of a very high dam and another - very well known - traversing a tennis court over the net on his bike.

Now, while the latter however is a sign of great skill but not of a desire to kill himself, the former is really, in my opinion, a big, stupid nonsense.

Unfortunately, there are dozens and dozens of clips on Youtube of people doing unnecessarily dangerous things, where the risk is not related to the lack of skill but to the situation: narrow routes over cliffs traveled at high speed and without any safety, jumps in uncontrollable situations, where a gust of wind is enough to kill you.

Does this really make sense?

That's fine, long live freedom of choice when you don't harm others (except your loved one when you loose your life, or the risk associated with the recovery of your body in case of accident in remote areas). Unfortunately, however, these kinds of videos incite people who do not have the required skills to emulate them, and that is bad, really bad.

I personally have no stories of big falls while going uphill to tell. Only the occasional fall almost from a standstill, often because to get over an obstacle I had to set turbo. In that case it is difficult to control the pulse of the engine well. As a result, I sometimes happened to lose my balance and fall sideways or backwards, without any damage except for some crass laughter from those who saw me falling like an idiot....

I get what you're saying. But let me get all philosophical for a bit. Some of the folks you see trying this stuff are potential Darwin victims...and that's not always a bad thing. However, some are the reason we've had great explorers, innovators, etc. The human spirit in many cases will not be denied. I don't wish death or serious injury on anyone, but in many cases you have to thin out the herd and/or celebrate those who inspire us.

 

[The Hodge]

I often see challenges on Youtube that make sense, and others that are really absurd. The other day I happened to see one guy going with his bike over the edge of a very high dam and another - very well known - traversing a tennis court over the net on his bike.

Now, while the latter however is a sign of great skill but not of a desire to kill himself, the former is really, in my opinion, a big, stupid nonsense.

Unfortunately, there are dozens and dozens of clips on Youtube of people doing unnecessarily dangerous things, where the risk is not related to the lack of skill but to the situation: narrow routes over cliffs traveled at high speed and without any safety, jumps in uncontrollable situations, where a gust of wind is enough to kill you.

Does this really make sense?

That's fine, long live freedom of choice when you don't harm others (except your loved one when you loose your life, or the risk associated with the recovery of your body in case of accident in remote areas). Unfortunately, however, these kinds of videos incite people who do not have the required skills to emulate them, and that is bad, really bad.

I personally have no stories of big falls while going uphill to tell. Only the occasional fall almost from a standstill, often because to get over an obstacle I had to set turbo. In that case it is difficult to control the pulse of the engine well. As a result, I sometimes happened to lose my balance and fall sideways or backwards, without any damage except for some crass laughter from those who saw me falling like an idiot....

Wow ..you sound like a right bundle of fun
Lighten up a little ..
As far as this is concerned ..
"Unfortunately, there are dozens and dozens of clips on Youtube of people doing unnecessarily dangerous things,"..
If it bothers you so much ..don't watch them in the first place.
Simples.

 

[irie]

... some crass laughter from those who saw me falling like an idiot....

... showing no intelligence or sensitivity

Laughter from those who see you "fall like an idiot" is not 'crass' but instead richly deserved. More skill and/or thicker skin required.

 

[pagheca]

Laughter from those who see you "fall like an idiot" is not 'crass' but instead richly deserved. More skill and/or thicker skin required.

thanks for the correction... I am not a native English speaker but I am always eager to learn...

p.s. great signature! Giordano Bruno is one of my heroes:

 

[pagheca]

I get what you're saying. But let me get all philosophical for a bit. Some of the folks you see trying this stuff are potential Darwin victims...and that's not always a bad thing. However, some are the reason we've had great explorers, innovators, etc. The human spirit in many cases will not be denied. I don't wish death or serious injury on anyone, but in many cases you have to thin out the herd and/or celebrate those who inspire us.

I partially agree. Explorers, innovators, usually risk their lives for something, not to show off. I have had a pretty risky career too. The picture in my avatar is of me riding a bicycle near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Once I lost my bearings in a snowstorm (complete whiteout - visibility 5-10 meters) during the long winter night and barely survived. Just an example to say that I am not risk avers. I have had a pretty adventorous life, actually. But with a scope.

I'm sure this is old topic, complex and controversial. I know some people will disagree with my opinion, others will agree. But what I can't stand is taking risks without any motivation other than the risk itself. Alex Honnold's free ascent of El Capitain is something that still makes sense as an absolute challenge and took YEARS of preparation and highly exceptional skills. Going over the low wall of a dam and posting the video on the Internet... ok, do it, but frankly, I'm not convinced.

And unfortunately, people who die don't always win the Darwin Prize: sometimes they leave behind a partner and/or maybe small children.

But what puzzles me the most is that all this exposure on the Internet has created a powerful spirit of imitation.