André Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Hi everyone, I just thought this may be a source of amusement for someone as it was fairly rediculous and I couldn't believe it at the time (it was nearly 10 years ago). When I was just starting out riding I had a friend with a new (2 weeks old or so) Orange hardtail dual slalom bike. The frame was very similar to the Orange Zero and the bike cost around £1800 with some top notch components on it, such as front and rear hope discs and massive triple clamp rockshox forks. Anyway we were all waiting at the train station for another friend to arrive to go on a ride and we were doing a few tricks. My friend with the Orange didn't know many tricks but he was able to jump off the bike and let it roll, then run after it and jump back on again (we called it a 'Ghosty / Ghostee', is this still a known phrase?). Unfortunately on one of his 'Ghosty' attempts his bike veered off course a little and ended up falling off the platform onto the electric train tracks! The bike managed to land on the live rail and there was a loud bang and a flash followed by some sizzling! The electric shock had managed to blow / burn a hole in his frame and it looked as though one of his hope levers had possibly been melted off too! There was also melted tyre dribbling off the rail. As if ruining a nearly new £1800 bike wasn't bad enough, Merseyrail called the transport police because they saw what had happened on their cameras and my friend had to go to the police station. The accident apparently stopped trains in both directions for a few hours while the rail was inspected and then specially cleaned / repaired. Merseyrail claimed it cost them over £10,000 but luckily no charges were made against my friend. I suppose it's not the most amazing story but it is quite rediculous, we couldn't believe it when the bike landed on the rails and 'frazzled'. It's lucky a train wasn't arriving in the platform at the time I suppose. André Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale-Hill Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 That's why you don't ride your bike in the train statsion or on the platform.Unlucky for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefy Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 :lol:It is a funny story i can just imagine a bike on the rails sizzling away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
André Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Well it was certainly the most stupid trick a novice could attempt on a railway platform. I agree, it's definitely not a good idea to ride on the platform! Yes my friend was thoroughly gutted, but nobody got hurt and it was very entertaining watching the bike go fizzle - pop! André Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Prodigy Trials. Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Oh my god, that's an awesome but true story, would that actually happen to modern bike material's like carbon fibre, magnesium, scandium .? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Oh my god, that's an awesome but true story, would that actually happen to modern bike material's like carbon fibre, magnesium, scandium .?I would think that almost anything that touches a live rail would be fried. E.g. - Humans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Pics of the Boxx? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
André Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 I think it's something like 600 - 700 volts DC running through the rails so it would certainly ruin your day........and your bikes! Plus I think you tend to 'stick' to DC - ouch! I don't have much understanding of materials and their properties but I was very suprised that the electricity 'blew' a hole in the alloy bike frame though....crazy! André Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshlyd1 Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 PICTURES? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdmackay Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 As the ol' TF saying goes: Pics or it didn't happen.Naa, joking. I believe it but wow that's cool. Haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
André Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Sorry guys, there were no mobile phones with cameras 10 years ago (well if there were none of us had one anyway). I wish I could have got a photo of it sat on the rails, i'm sure it would have made good 'caption competition' material. André Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex copcutt Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Wow that's unlucky :Lbut funny:Lwhen i was a kid well i still kinda are:P i usta love ghostieng my bike oo the good ol days:P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefy Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Wow that's unlucky :Lbut funny:Lwhen i was a kid well i still kinda are:P i usta love ghostieng my bike oo the good ol days:PSame with my gt bmx, we used to see who could ghost ride it furthest down a field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bob Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 lol "good ol ghost ride" allways manages to please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefy Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 lol "good ol ghost ride" allways manages to please.It sure does until you realize you just knackered your bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Tomo Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Mike Winton on here dropped his bike under a train that was stopped at the station. He got it back in one piece though lmao. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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