Jim writes: > I don't remember if that bike had the little safety hooks that > retain the front axle, (this was the early 50s) but if they did, > I surely took them off .
"Lawyer tabs" were mandated by the CPSC in the early to mid-80s, and every self respecting roadie files them off before ever turning a pedal in anger. Closest I ever came to a stupidity-induced face plant was when I brought home a new-to-me track bike out of my car and decided to take a quick spin just to see how crazy riding a fixed gear is. For the first time in about 10 years I didn't put on a helmet. Took the bike out for a quick spin, about a half mile out. Stopped at a stop light and decided to move the bike out of the lane. I lifted up on the handlebars and...you guessed it...the front wheel dropped right out of the fork. Doh. If I had taken any sort of jump or pulled up on the handlebars at all while I was riding, I would have been toast. I don't remember how I got home. Track bikes don't have quick releases, they have solid axles and nuts. And I had no tools (to go along with my no helmet) Doh. God does watch out for little kids and drunks. Wonder which he mistook me for that day. Lee
