Subject: Richard Branson Crashes his Bike The story is here. He hit a speed bump and did a face plant. Scary stuff, but he is going to be ok. Sometimes, when I wonder if I should try to take a corner without braking or should roll out to max RPM on a descent, I shall remember pictures of Branson's face. I am too old and no longer bounce very well to make intimate contact with the pavement. Back in the old days, the manufacturing process of bike tires left little whiskers of rubber on the sides of the tires at about 45 deg leftover from the tread molding process. (The tires I buy today all seem to have a central eel-fin.) We referred to these as the chicken fingers. You were supposed to wear them off by laying the bike over in turns according to the purists of the day. I don't think I ever even touched them once in a turn personally. I don't know if the reference to chicken fingers is common other places and times but it was discussed in my biking crowd in the 80's. I am still pretty much a chicken about high speed bike handling. Apparently, Sir Richard is not. TW |