1st Commute back

[iwf]

So tomorrow will see me back on the commute for the first time since the accident.

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=28388 has the detail.

I've done some good work outs on the Tacx indoors and a few runs around the area, but tomorrow is the first time on the commute for real. Oddly the hip has mended very well, though I still have quite a limp if i don't use a crutch. So I'll cycle to work, park the bike then grab the crutch to go get a shower.

Readers will remember my brand new Condor was delivered the week after the accident, but as it going to piss it down all day I'll use my old Trek tomorrow.

Going to commute one way only, then come home by train, riding home Thursday. Very tempted to push some padding down the pants, just in case I have another off. Another serious fall and I'm truly buggered.

More dangerous will be all the loonies cycling tomorrow because of the tube strike. luckily I'm in SW London traveling the back roads to Tooting.

So if you see a very tentative cyclist traveling at about 5 mph don't laugh and woe betide any ped walking out in front of me. Next time I'm not swerving!

iwf

 

[fossyant]

Thought you'd be using the Condor....well jolly good luck - bet your colleagues will have a shock, he rides in, then hobbles along on a crutch - cool !!!!!

 

[purplepolly]

woe betide any ped walking out in front of me

You should be able to hit them quite easily with the crutch. Try using it like a kind of snow plough.

 

[magnatom]

Great to hear your getting back behind the handlebars. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

 

[PBancroft]

Good for you. I know plenty of lesser people - myself included - who would have called it a day after that.

You have my Utmost Respect.

 

[HLaB]

Welcome back iwf

 

[iwf]

Thanks for the support. I'll post if i make it safely in, or get the wife too if i end up in A&E again. Actually as I work at St George's in tooting I could simply cycle straight into A&E!

Temping as it is to use the Condor I haven't fitted the rack yet, meaning I'd need to use a backpack. With needing to carry the wet weather gear I don't want to be unbalanced.

Of course if its really chucking it down at 6 i might well change my mind.

Ultimately though I'm much better than a lot of people who have accidents. I didn't fall in front of a bus, my hip has mended well and all in all it hasn't been too bad. There's a lot of folk a lot worse than I.

Next up is london-paris.....

 

[Radius]

Nice one! I'm heading to Tooting from Clapham tomorrow, might come across you! What time will you be going?

 

[Tynan]

hey fella, I remember your off now, good man

surely that Condor is an all weather bike (rack apart), mine certainly is

best of luck, have a good day

 

[iwf]

Radius

I'll be approaching Tooting from Streatham way and will hope to be at the hospital around 7.15. that way I get the showers to myself!

Tynan

The Condor is currently connected up to the tacx and I've not rearranged my space in the shared bike shed yet. the bike's brill of course though i wish I'd bought the sram kit rather than the campo veloce. the veloce's so clunky.

 

[Radius]

Argh way too early! , good luck tho!

 

[Tynan]

The Condor is currently connected up to the tacx and I've not rearranged my space in the shared bike shed yet. the bike's brill of course though i wish I'd bought the sram kit rather than the campo veloce. the veloce's so clunky.

ain't that supposed a campag thing? I did find that a thing when I got mine (humble xenon) but I got used to it very quickly, I think of it as 'positive' rather than clunky and it certainly seems to have got smoother over time, that or I'm used to it now

I'm now Veloce casette, centaur chain, xenon rear mech, veloce front mech and xenon chain rings, all running lovely 18 months in

 

[iwf]

Safely Arrived

After a gentle ride in I've made it safely to work.

Actually it was lovely; no rain; little wind; and reasonable traffic. I was a lot more defensive than I remember being before. Lots of checking behind, eyeballing drivers, taking primary.

Fantastic to be back in the open air. Perhaps I can now loose the few kg I've gained during the spring.

Not sure what the two OAPs sitting in reception thought seeing me walk into the hospital in shorts helmet etc, but with a crutch.

 

[iwf]

Tynan

Because I asked for a triple I got a very mixed bag of campo bits. 2008 Veloce shifters, A Chorus chainset, Record front deraileur, and veloce 10 speed cassette chain etc. Shifting up is a breeze but i don't like the thumb thing, that's the clunky change.

I was a bit annoyed having speced the Veloce Condor fitted their own brand brakes. in the shop they gave me some waffle about the 2008 spec and i couldn't be bothered arguing.

There's tons of campo gear on ebay, so perhaps next year I'll do a wee bit of upgrading.

Meanwhile I need to get it out onto the road.