Lawyers lock their mistakes up, doctors bury their mistakes, KZfaqrs film and post their mistakes! Your down to earth willingness to show both good and bad is a big reason I’m here. Always forward!

My worst ride was actually on Zwift during lockdown. I hadn’t been cycling long but decided to do the Uber Pretzel. I didn’t eat or drink nearly enough and was completely empty on the finish up the Alpe. I had just enough energy to drag myself back in from the garage and then laid flat out on my living room floor feeding myself pretzels for what felt like an eternity.

The wilderness, Wales 1987. Solo mtb touring in June. No phones, internet back then just maps. Decided to cut across " the wilderness" it was called then over forested logging roads, farm tracks and sheep trails to get to Western coast. Just winging it, ended up lost, cold, wet and lost! Wore ALL my gear too, ran out of food, water and bravery. Hypothermia set in in the snow spits. Very scary , most scared, lost and grim situation I've ever experienced. Never saw any humans, or dwellings. Quite serious. I made it out - but it was as close to dying as I've ever experienced. Thank you for asking me to remember this truth.

Katie, you are lovely. I'm glad you left out the most serious mess-up - the one where you were in hospital with eyes swollen and black with the head injury. I was shocked then and still would be, but I'm so glad that you are you in health and kindness.

And yet, despite all sham and drudgery of those events, here you are smiling and excited to seek out new adventures and fun times on your bike. 🎉🎈🥳 You go girl!!!

Hi Katie, well for me the worst day was back in 2017. Been out for a ride with my wife on nice quiet roads close to home in the February sun, glorious winter day. I decided to go a bit further and do a couple of hills as I was training for the Gran Fondo world championship. Top of a gentle hill my rear wheel hit a patch of mud a slid violently from underneath me, my foot didn’t unclip. I suffered a spiral fracture tib and fib, had a prolonged recovery as I needed an external fixator on my leg which was on for 8 months. I did get back in the bike, 363 days after the accident, and a year later in 2019 qualified and rode in the Gran Fondo world championship in Poland. I didn’t win my age group, but just being in the start line was winning enough.

We all learn more from our (and others) mistakes than we do from getting it right, whatever 'it' is. I blummin' love you for this video

My worst day on a bike was years ago. I did my regular ride from home to the local country park, for a quick "play" in the woods. Only a few miles, but hilly and I never was the fittest on a bike...... Then I had the bright idea of extending the ride to go over the motorway bridge about 3 miles beyond the country park, with the intention of looping around on main roads and working my way back home. But, having crossed the bridge, I began to feel a bit weak and wobbly, so thought I would turn round and retrace my route. But its a long steep climb from the bridge to the country park, so I took a bridleway that I thought would get me there. It didnt. And it was horribly muddy, so I ended up walking for a good couple of miles, and by that time I was feeling really rough. My first experience of "bonking" ( no rude jokes!). Fortunately the cafe at the country park supplied a coffee and a couple of chocolate bars, which fuelled me enough to ride slowly home. A couple of years later, my doctor informed me that I am diabetic...... That might have had something to do with my bad day out!

Thanks for the mention! This year am riding great British Escapades on a mtb 😅

Falling off on my commute in front of a row of stationary traffic and broke my collarbone! 💪🏻

Just a couple of weeks ago, I went to go out on a 42-mile ride. The winds were 18 mph and wasn't looking forward to it but still went out. The guts ended up being over 31mph. I was being lifted off my bike and riding sideways to cut the wind. I turned around and only did 20 miles. I hate the wind, but the Midwest (USA) and wind are normal here. I was so sore from fighting that wind.

Got a bee or other flying insect ('straya - we got lots of stinging things...) stuck in my helmet vent and stung me on the top of the head, face blew up like you wouldn't believe! Keeping some antihistamine tablets in my saddle bag now. Gotta admire your courage attempting these big rides Katie, they don't always go to plan, but they don't stop you either. Chapeau!

Fumbles and miscalculations, I've got a few! • One wintry morning I was feeling dizzy and used up and so brilliant of me I took paracetamol and set off anyway; the headache wouldn't go away though and the moment I landed back home I threw up badly and felt nauseous the rest of the day. I simply learned that : - You have to listen to your own body or it will make itself heard by screaming louder. • One time it was late spring to early summer, much like these days. I wanted to push myself and so I did, one climb after another under the baking sun; the problem was at some point, I almost blacked out and laid down flat in the grass not knowing what to do. I dozed off for a while, recovering just enough to get going backwards which was a that point almost all descending and flat. The experience taught me that : - Proving yourself at all costs doesn't align well with cycling in that there's a fine line between pushing yourself and run yourself into the ground. • Nutrition habits play a part too : I happened to buy a pack of gels one time, oddly enough because I never do; I am very fruit and vegetables oriented even when it comes to fueling my rides. Well, I tried one of those but something went wrong and my stomach started bursting into flames; a series of very unpleasant occurrences followed.. the gist of the whole matter was : - stick to your eating habits and even if you do want to try something new, do it on your local loop. I've outlived many more failures that I can count today but the things passion will make you do, are something else.

My biggest lesson was having shoe laces too long on the penny farthing, got a lace caught in the pedal, leg was stuck, couldn't pedal, stopped & bike fell to its side with me on it (only time I have fallen off the PF). Luckily just some bruising, now I triple or quad knot the laces so no big loops 😅 😅😅

I made it 18 miles into climbing Mt. Lemmon. I left later than I meant to and it was hot. I didn’t stop to rest enough. Got to Windy Point and my daughter was there on SAG duty, ready with water and food, and she took one look at me and just said, “nope, old man, you are done for the day.” :D

My worst was on a cheap (thus heavy) MTB when I hadn't been cycling that long. I thought, I've done a few 10 mile rides, let's try a 50 mile ride. I set off after eating nothing at all and rode all the way over Snake Pass and all the way back again. Coming back up the 9 mile side of Snake Pass was the worst. I was so hungry I was looking for any bags of discarded sandwiches, biscuits, or anything along the road and I would have eaten it as well. Looking for bushes with blackberries, but there were none. To make matters worse, I had a 11-23t cassette on (with 22t inner chainring) and while that sounds like it's a low gear, I really could have done with the usual 32t at the back. Countless times I tried to go for a lower gear that just wasn't there. One lucky thing is, I found a stream where I could fill up my water bottle, otherwise I would have had no water. I'll never forget the moment I realized I had got to the summit and could freewheel down into Glossop. It was midnight by this point! I ended up going to a garage to get any sugary milkshake type drink I could with some fat, protein and carbs in it. After drinking that I came alive again and was OK for the rest of it, but I only had about 5 miles to go at that point. That whole ride took me 6.5 hours.

Mine was the Dragon Ride in 2019. It took me 14 hours to complete the 200miles across Wales, and the first 9 hours it rained heavily non-stop! My feet were like lagoons, and my hands were so cold I had to use my opposite hand to lean over and change gears! (I've since bought better waterproofs!)

I just saw you in the co-op in Whalley. I was gonna say hi but I thought it would have been weird. I was going to show you a picture of my bike. I got milk instead 😊

I did break my neck once. It was somewhat of an inconvenience. Kept me off the bike for 6 months. PTSD lasted for a year or so. I got better.

Not a 'tough day' but this one was one heck of an experience! Cycling on the road from the top of Snowdon to Capel Curig with an approx 50mph tail wind and in the rain. This was in the days of rim brakes and 19mm tubular tyres pumped up to 100 psi. The only aspect that went to sort of went to plan was, I actually survived intact! One heck of an experience, that I would never 'plan' to do! If there had been bike cameras in those days, I think that the video would have been interesting and gained a few KZfaq hits. I don't think I would watch it though haha

Great video, I’ve been following you for ages and I remember some of these times, great to watch🚴🏼‍♀️💨👍

Well I have many Mess Ups, one that springs to mind staying at my mates in Stevenage< some years back, few beers night before hungover we must ride we'll feel better for it, middle of nowhere warm day drunk all my water and I knew if we didn't find a shop or something I'd be toast. Finally came into a village and it had a shop that was open had a small orange juice was sick minutes later. Waited and then ate some food was okay after that, bottles of lucozade isotonic water and I long sit down felt well enough to ride back, felt like a very long day.

Worst day on the bike for me was last August (8 months ago) when I crashed on a solo ride and broke two bones in my left hand … ouch! Bones all healed now but still working on stiffness. I also seem to have lost a step since then when riding … not sure how much of that is fitness or just in my head. Thanks for sharing these experiences … some good lessons learnt and inspiration to carry on. 🚴‍♂️😄

Had many unpleasant bike experiences but the other 99.9% of the times are well worth the risks,of those difficult periods. One of my worst ones was, my shirt I had off ,went into the front brake. Flew off the front and face into the pavement. Helmet saved my life but it took a month to heal the injuries.

#03 sounds like the rain at the end of the MUFC v. Arsenal game at OT on Sun 5/12/2024 (41mm in two hours) -- _brutal_ !!

Another great Vid. 🙌

Oh no clumsy 🙈🙈🫣🫣

Touring On my drop bar mtn bike with full panniers fore and aft, trying to descend a frozen snow slope at about 13000 ft above Telluride. Pushing my bike across the slope When the grip gave way and I slid about 1000 ft trying in vain to get the pedal on the underside to dig in and slow me down. But the panniers acted as sleds and I picked speed until after a bit of fast sledding I hit a a ramp of snow momentarily goin airborne. As I reconnected with the slope the panniers ejected and I was then able to use the pedals as ice axes and self arrest. Once I reached the bottom I gathered my gear, re assembled the rig, and watched my traveling buddy kick off on his flat bar mtn bike. He quite skillfully used the flat bar as an ice axe all the way for much more controlled descent.

Ok, first of all, brilliant idea for a video. Second, I do NOT want a reminder of your 50mph wind on your APN Great Dun Fell, just over a week before I ride it in this year’s APN 🥺🤣🤣

Good one! I even forgot how many mistakes I had in the past, and repeated the same mistakes too!! 🤓✌🏾

Love the vids!

get well soon

I’ve been following so long I feel like I know you, how odd! Great memories! For me, a soggy 600km Audax along the Welsh coast with a strong headwind 😩. Although, I’ve a feeling this summer will be even more epic.

Worst ride was when I bought my first road bike. On a bike what I never rode before, with not really enough food or water I cycled the longest distance till that point. I bonked and the last 20 km was such a pain... But I learned from it at least.

Always going to be a few "nightmare" rides the amount of stitching woven into your "Bayeux Tapestry" of adventures ! :) I've just had the odd mechanical on the "horse", touch wood :) 🙉 Really bad experience at a Half Marathon once, where too much carbo loading resulted in having to dive behind some bushes ! May the "Cycling Gods" watch over you Katie ☀️ 🐿🐿

Hmmm my worst ride was bonking badly at about 70 or so miles into a 100 mile race…. It was a stage race too. Had to abandon. Pretty much the end of my racing days

Hi Katie what do think best cheep bike tyre I’m riding 25 size Gears are slipping now and a gain so lovely here fry you xx

Non video related question, please? Which road do you take from Rochdale to Edenfield? I remember you saying about “your favourite valley”

My worst one was getting hit by a taxi. Don't remember the impact but do remember being in the air with my feet over my head thinking "this is going to hurt".

Cycling along in my village a year ago last Jan, about 11.00am a beautiful sunny but frosty morning, I was mindfull about probable ice so I went Very slowly near the middle of the lane. I hit a patch of polished black ice and I fell directly onto my elbow. Oww, a bit sore but I got up and carried on my usual route and steep hill walk.When home, I tried to take off my sweaty thick sweatshirt and after my head was inside my collarbone broke away near my shoulder, Big Oww ! Took 1 year to regain near full strength and movement. I wont ride in frosty conditions again. I always wear eye protection now too, after nearly losing my eye when a sticking out thorny bramble hit me in the eye whilst cycling alongside a tall hedgerow.

Your swollen thumb and hand is how mine gotten after a bee sting. Was horrible for 2 weeks. But I think you would've known if it were a Bee. Maybe a spider bite

Hi Katie, the link to your ebook isn't working for me!

What did you do now Katie Kookaburra? 🙈

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger (Friedrich Nietzsche)

I’ve done some rides in 30+mph winds. No excuses. But it was not fun at all.

Same thing happened to me in the South of France with regards to the swollen hand, I'd put money on it being a spider bite.

Well luckily you've survived all that, but i still remember your eye / head injury, you looked very bad there😮😢😂

How old are you ?

Bug bite = swollen hand

Oh man, lots of awful rides. But two of my favoriate "worst rides"... 1) first time I did a 100 mile ride. Unfortunately did it on a day the high was 104F. Absolutely brutal. Hit the wall at mile 70. Longest 30 miles of my life to finish. 2) was bike packing, had my tires at max psi (don't ask), stopped at a hat springs and layed my bike in the sun and long story short both tires blew off the wheels and had to walk out until someone finally picked me up (about 8 miles).

Surely the faceplant from two years ago could’ve been your finest hour 🫣