Bottom clencher
 

How often do you have a ‘clencher’ moment on your bike … you know … ohhhh that was a bit tight … ohhhh … the back end nearly went there … holy smokes, they nearly took me out etc etc …

I’d say I average 1 a ride …

Re: Bottom clencher
 

Bottom clenchers due to other drivers nearly hitting me probably something like 1 a week.

Bottom clenchers because of my riding (too hot into corners etc) maybe 1 a month if that.

IMO, if I was clentching once on every ride on average, I'd be looking at changing my riding a little.

Re: Bottom clencher
 

Wot he said

Re: Bottom clencher
 

Bottom clenchers due to other drivers nearly hitting me, probably less than once a month on average (had two recently in a week and I realised how long it had been since it'd last happened).

Bottom clenchers because of my riding, maybe once every 3 months. I have 'spirited' moments, where the bars wag, front goes light, etc. more frequently than that, but when I'm going for it, I half expect it and it doesn't worry me.

As Baph says,

Re: Bottom clencher
 

If you don't get your heart rate raised at least once, what is the point!?!? ;)

Re: Bottom clencher
 

I can do that without clenching my bottom ;)

Re: Bottom clencher
 

Suppose I class a "clench" moment as something with a reasonable chance of a fairing-tarmac interface situation, perhaps if with hindsight I'd judge a 10% chance of an off that's a proper "clencher". If I was having one of those every ride then every ten rides I'd be sliding along in the gutter :D

Have plenty of "he could of had me off there" moments, but these are generally precursed by "he might do something silly here, be ready to take avoiding action".

As for self caused clencher moments, not too many really. I'm generally very cautious into unknown corners and only once I've done a sighting lap will I start to push it, and even then incrementally. I'd say Baph's guestimates are pretty accurate in my case too.

At the very grave risk of sounding like I should be donning my pipe & slippers I'd suggest that pushing it to look for clencher moments on every ride is going to end in tears.

Re: Bottom clencher
 

At this point I think I have to point out that my guesstimates are proposed with the fact that I do roughly 600-700miles a week on the bike (depending how far I ride on the weekend). 1 or so clenchers (due to me) in 2400miles isn't that bad going. :D

Re: Bottom clencher
 

To be honest I never take it for granted that I will get 'home' before ANY ride ... its actually quite a nice feeling shutting the garage door on a Friday after work, thinking ‘well not this week then’! :o

Re: Bottom clencher
 

Well, as I say, I have 'spirited' moments quite regularly, which get my heart going in a much more pleasent manner than nearly going over the bonnet of a car at 50mph. I'd class a clencher as something you're surprised by/weren't expecting, as in 'bloody hell, where did that tractor come from!' or that you saw in time, but only narrowly avoided.