Beware Falling Tree Limbs

Jack Sweeney, Tampa's famed Ghostrider, reported on his bikecommuters web site the unfortunate freaky tree limb fall that befelled his cool Xtracycle bicycle that he used for the Seminole Heights Bicycle Club family rides. Here's Jack's account:

"For the July 4th holiday, my wife and I spent the day doing yard projects — building a better compost bin and doing some landscaping. I had moved my Xtracycle up onto the back deck to get it out of the way of some of these projects, and when we wrapped things up and made our way inside for my customary afternoon nap, everything was kosher…

When I went to let the dog out later in the afternoon, I saw a HUGE tree limb laying on top of my bike.

That sucker weighs a good 400 lbs. Apparently, when it broke and fell 25 feet to the ground, it landed squarely on the bike’s saddle — utterly destroying the saddle (bending the rails like taffy), bending and ovalizing the seatpost and shearing the leg off the kickstand. My Xtra’s Snapdeck was thrown about 10 feet away from the impact, too."

Here are Jack's photos.