There was a huge raised platform near the train station. At one side you could walk on, but to the other end there was a steep drop. Two paths branched of to either side of it. In the middle was a sign, directing foot passengers one way, and any form of transport the other (bikes or pedestrians).

Along comes our intrepid mountain biker. He cycles slowly up to the sign, and reads it. Then he puts on a spurt of speed. Which way did he go? Your thinking foot path, aren't you?

Wrong.

He went STRAIGHT ON. presumably he expected to make a daring leap down to the ground. Suddenly he decides that this is not the best idea, and aplies the brakes.

The front brakes.

He flew straight over the handlebars as the bike flipped, plummeting down the slope. His bike landed on top of him. I assume he lived, as he got airlifted off in a helicopter to the nearest hospital (wherever that is), but he just might have died later on.

I know mountain biking is an extreme sport, but I feel this guy is elegible since he never reached the extreme bit.

No mountain bikes were injured in the making of this Darwin Award.

Submitted on 09/24/2005

Submitted by: Iain Macdonald
Reference:

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I'll take it as a personal account (he did stop and read the sign before deciding to be a daredevil), but the write-up leaves a lot to be desired. I found myself quite confused as to who was supposed to go where according to the sign...

Kelly said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I'm curious whether the biker could actualy read the language on the sign?

Jack said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I like this as a personal account.

Charles said:
Neutral: Personal Account
I have to assume that the sign was in pictographs, as so much is in Europe. Given that he had seen and presumably comprehended the sign, this is wirthy of a second look as a personal account at least.

Greg said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
Arg. I don't know. I decided "Lacks Excellence", because I didn't particularly like the story (write-up) but it probably could be included if it were better as a PA. Everyone else is Neutral, so someone has to make a swing one way or the other!

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