Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 23:08:11 GMT
Well I managed to get out for ride 5 yesterday on my new bike which turned into a bit of a nightmare.
I have got myself into the routine of checking my tire pressures before I set off out but for some reason my pump has decided to stop registering on the pressure gauge so I resorted to the thumb test and they felt firm enough, so a little thing like that wasn't going to stop me. (I'll just take the pump back and swap it as I only got it a couple weeks ago).
So kitted up started up Strava which I was trying for the first time and off I rode into the glorious midday sun. Now the route I have been doing is a long cycle path which is straight and easy going for me to judge my distances, getting into the swing of things and not having to worry about traffic until I hit the road junctions. (I'll come back to these later)
Nearing the half way point I remember thinking to myself its bloody warm and when I get to my half way point Id wet my lips as I was a lot thirstier than usual. Then released I hadn't had a drink all morning as I had been to busy with the little one. Not a problem, so I reach for my drink and low and behold it was nowhere to be seen, Id left it on the side in the garage near my amazingly broken pump. A few choice words were muttered but I wasn't going to die of dehydration. From this point on it was hard work and all I could think about was getting a drink and how hot it was but before I knew it I was about half way home.
As I was approaching one of the busier road crossings I had notice the traffic had backed up and the lights were due to change to red so I had slowed down to try and time it right. As I got closer to the crossing the traffic was stopped dead around the bend blocking the crossing but there was plenty of room between the cars to get through so I had slowed down to a crawl at this point and right at that moment the cars on the junction decided to edge forward leaving not gap to get through.
Now at this point I will say I normally unclip one foot a good bit before the junction when the lights are against me but on this very occasion I hadn't.
So in my panic as the world started to lean sideways I try to pull my foot out of the clip and ended up with the wrong foot unclipped flailing around in the air trying to find the floor while I landed on my side like a felled tree.
When I eventually opened my eyes the older couple in the car that was now across the junction had stopped to see if I was ok, which was nice of them, but I did ask if they had just made themselves Β£250 and got it on film.
Quick check over of the bike and everything was fine and I made my quick exit to save any more embarrassment. Then I get the gradual throbbing from my shoulder, hand, elbow and knee and i'm starting to think could it get much worse?
I then came across someone stopped on the grass with a flat so I slowed and ask if they needed a hand as I have a few bits in my bag but remembered I still don't have a spare tube, but he was fine so I plodded on homeward bound.
I was literally 2 mins from home when I looked down and a bright glint caught my eye which was a big piece of glass that was covered by grass that had been cut from between the road and the cycle path. Evasive action was taken and I just caught it with the side of my front tire and heard it ping off, followed by the ping and hiss from the rear!
Lucky for me I was so close to home so I walked the rest of the way to complete what was pretty much a bad days work.
What I did manage to notch up though was my first off on the bike, which was pretty comical and has given my other half,mates and me a good laugh. I just wish I could watch it back now.
My new bikes first war wounds, break leaver scratched and peddle well scratched.
I think I need a new tire as its a decent size gash in the rear where the glass did its job, and I've managed to aggravate my old back/shoulder injury when I fell.
Oh and I didn't stop Strava so my battery died on my phone and didn't save anything.
All that aside thinking about getting out on the bike again still puts a smile on my face and I can't wait to get it sorted and out on it again, so role on ride 6!
I have got myself into the routine of checking my tire pressures before I set off out but for some reason my pump has decided to stop registering on the pressure gauge so I resorted to the thumb test and they felt firm enough, so a little thing like that wasn't going to stop me. (I'll just take the pump back and swap it as I only got it a couple weeks ago).
So kitted up started up Strava which I was trying for the first time and off I rode into the glorious midday sun. Now the route I have been doing is a long cycle path which is straight and easy going for me to judge my distances, getting into the swing of things and not having to worry about traffic until I hit the road junctions. (I'll come back to these later)
Nearing the half way point I remember thinking to myself its bloody warm and when I get to my half way point Id wet my lips as I was a lot thirstier than usual. Then released I hadn't had a drink all morning as I had been to busy with the little one. Not a problem, so I reach for my drink and low and behold it was nowhere to be seen, Id left it on the side in the garage near my amazingly broken pump. A few choice words were muttered but I wasn't going to die of dehydration. From this point on it was hard work and all I could think about was getting a drink and how hot it was but before I knew it I was about half way home.
As I was approaching one of the busier road crossings I had notice the traffic had backed up and the lights were due to change to red so I had slowed down to try and time it right. As I got closer to the crossing the traffic was stopped dead around the bend blocking the crossing but there was plenty of room between the cars to get through so I had slowed down to a crawl at this point and right at that moment the cars on the junction decided to edge forward leaving not gap to get through.
Now at this point I will say I normally unclip one foot a good bit before the junction when the lights are against me but on this very occasion I hadn't.
So in my panic as the world started to lean sideways I try to pull my foot out of the clip and ended up with the wrong foot unclipped flailing around in the air trying to find the floor while I landed on my side like a felled tree.
When I eventually opened my eyes the older couple in the car that was now across the junction had stopped to see if I was ok, which was nice of them, but I did ask if they had just made themselves Β£250 and got it on film.
Quick check over of the bike and everything was fine and I made my quick exit to save any more embarrassment. Then I get the gradual throbbing from my shoulder, hand, elbow and knee and i'm starting to think could it get much worse?
I then came across someone stopped on the grass with a flat so I slowed and ask if they needed a hand as I have a few bits in my bag but remembered I still don't have a spare tube, but he was fine so I plodded on homeward bound.
I was literally 2 mins from home when I looked down and a bright glint caught my eye which was a big piece of glass that was covered by grass that had been cut from between the road and the cycle path. Evasive action was taken and I just caught it with the side of my front tire and heard it ping off, followed by the ping and hiss from the rear!
Lucky for me I was so close to home so I walked the rest of the way to complete what was pretty much a bad days work.
What I did manage to notch up though was my first off on the bike, which was pretty comical and has given my other half,mates and me a good laugh. I just wish I could watch it back now.
My new bikes first war wounds, break leaver scratched and peddle well scratched.
I think I need a new tire as its a decent size gash in the rear where the glass did its job, and I've managed to aggravate my old back/shoulder injury when I fell.
Oh and I didn't stop Strava so my battery died on my phone and didn't save anything.
All that aside thinking about getting out on the bike again still puts a smile on my face and I can't wait to get it sorted and out on it again, so role on ride 6!