Warning: Plastic Predatore

[dumbod]

I was riding on Sunday and noticed a plastic bag blowing along in the wind (think American Beauty.) I was in traffic so I rode over it and didn't think anything of it until the sneaky little bastard struck.

Two pedal strokes after I rode over it, the bike came to a dead halt. I got off my bike and looked at the rear wheel. The bag had wrapped itself in the chain. Looking closer, I realized that the it had sheered the derailleur off at the bolt. Fortunately, the hanger and the frame are OK but the derailleur is obviously toast and I'll have to replace several spokes.

I was going to try out a pair of Q36.5 bibs but I guess we know where that money is going now. Sigh.

I can't wait for NYC to enact deposits on plastic bags.

[teleguy57]

Now you and Thomas Wegmuller have something in common (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYcZvqPUJU) (fwd to 6:20):

[benb]

Try having one hit you in the face at speed and wrap around your helmet!

If you're going fast enough you will not be able to pull it off.

Okay, so this didn't happen to me cycling and you're unlikely to have it happen at a high enough speed for it to be a problem cycling, but it did happen to me some years ago riding my motorcycle about 60mph.. luckily motorcycles do not require two hands to operate 100% of the time and are nice and stable, I was able to roll off the throttle and slow down just enough to be able to pull it off with my left hand.

VERY scary though!

My wife had a plastic bag wrap around the axle of her car and she though the car was on fire...

[sandyrs]

Get the bibs and ride your bike singlespeed, problem solved!

[dgauthier]

Good thing you didn't get it caught in the front wheel and go over the bars.

[AngryScientist]

another related hazard is driving over a drifting plastic bag. the heat from the exhaust/muffler can suck them right up and you have a melty plasticy mess for days that constantly smells like burning plastic. mess.

[SoCalSteve]

Get the bibs and ride your bike singlespeed, problem solved!

Post of the day!!! :banana:

[William]

Glad you are okay!

You are not alone! This reminds me of the Starbucks Napkin story of yesteryear...
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=2974&highlight=starbucks+napkin







William

[jtakeda]

I have a similar experience. I hate plastic bags.

[malcolm]

Glad you are okay!

You are not alone! This reminds me of the Starbucks Napkin story of yesteryear...
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=2974&highlight=starbucks+napkin







William

I was just about to search for that. I remember the original post and thinking ***.