I needed to carry a relatively large box on the back of my bike two days ago and used a fabric ratchet-strap to tie it down - once the cargo was offloaded, I wound the strap up, neatly, put a rubber band around it then placed it under the seat...

... yesterday I exited the freeway (having just been traveling at reasonably high speed), turned a corner and as I straightened up, the rear suspension suddenly bottomed out and the rear wheel locked up for a split second - the strap had broken free of the rubber band and worked its way through the gaps - got caught up in the chain, wrapped itself around the hub and tried to kill me!

Luckily the strap tore off and all that we needed was a messy 10 minutes by the roadside unraveling the strap from the hub. Luckily I was moving in a straight line. Luckily I was not belting down the freeway!





Amazingly the split rubber band was still under the seat though! 

Wow, glad all you got was a fright!  Thanks for the sharing! 

Oh yeah, there are Big Gaps between the side plastics. Next time yiuo want to carry something under there, get a small box that fits across or a larger pencil case that fits across and stow your goodies in those. Can't fall out then.

Michael

Glad your okay!   

I had a feeling something like that could happen with that storage area. I read about a guy that ran across one  of those reflective vest that road workers use on the highway. It ignited around his rear axle. He didn't make out as well as you did.

I had my chain come off once and my back wheel locked up. Luckily I wasn't going as fast as you but it's still an uncomfortable feeling.

Same thing happenned to me and the straps to my backpack.  I bungeed the backpack to the seat instead of wearing it.  One of the backback straps came loose.  Next thing I know the backpack flips over to the side and wheel locks up for a split second.  I was luck I was slowing down at the time.

Glad to heard you made it through unscathed.

- Porkchop

Quote from: mister on March 31, 2011, 01:43:53 AMOh yeah, there are Big Gaps between the side plastics. Next time yiuo want to carry something under there, get a small box that fits across or a larger pencil case that fits across and stow your goodies in those. Can't fall out then.

I learned that the hard way, when I left a screwdriver in the tail section of my bike before race practice. Damn thing rattled out the back where the tail light is supposed to be, and ended up falling on the track where a turn-worker found it. I ended up recovering it in front of everyone in the race club at the rider's meeting. Very embarassing. 

Quote from: burning1 on March 31, 2011, 11:28:50 AM
I learned that the hard way, when I left a screwdriver in the tail section of my bike before race practice. Damn thing rattled out the back where the tail light is supposed to be, and ended up falling on the track where a turn-worker found it. I ended up recovering it in front of everyone in the race club at the rider's meeting. Very embarassing. 

I had a similar experience of losing a screwdriver I had stowed in the tail section. However I am not sure when nor where (but I have my suspicions), only that I had a need for it and mysteriously it was no longer there.

Glad you're safe. I'll be sure to remember this next time I go to put something under the seat.

I usually store my cargo strap under the seat but I keep it inside a plastic bag in order to keep it dry as well.   I think I'll invest in a few heavy duty zip lock bags, especially for the toolkit for added measure.