Bad few cycling days...

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mgarl10024

Über Member
Location
Bristol
It's not been a good week for me cycling. I've done 1450 miles since March 2010, pretty much incident free.

So, on Thursday, I get my first p*ncture. I'm so proud that I was able to fix it, I posted here: Unplanned Deflation Event 1

On Friday, I go to use the bike and find that having repaired the rear tyre the day before, the front tyre is now flat. I pump it up, it holds, I set off, and 3 miles in I'm by the side of the road replacing the tube: Unplanned Deflation Event 2

So, today, a cycling companion and me go for a 35 miler.
Near the town of Bath, I'm cruising along a canal path at 7-8mph as it's quite narrow. A walker is walking away from me on the right, so I go to move down the left and slowly pass (happens all the time on the path). As I do, a lady on a mountain bike coming the other way hasn't looked at all and just dives out into my path - too late for me to do anything. I apply the brakes but we collide at a low speed. I've attached a drawing (of which I reckon Jimbolee would be proud) to make it clearer, but I don't think there's a lot I could have done. I was worried that I'd end up in the canal!
Due to the force of me hitting her, and her being diagonal across the path, she is pushed back into the path of the walker who collides with her bike.
I looked at the lady who looked a little shaken and gave me a sort of timid "what is this guy gonna do now?" look, and I asked her first whether she was alright which she said she was. The walker has kept walking so I assumed he was fine.
Apart from my cycle computer being pushed around the handlebars, my bike seemed ok - it was mainly my straight front wheel that went into her bike which was diagonal - I'd be more concerned about hers although she seemed to ride off fine.
Shook me up a little if honest, even given the low speeds.

A few hours later we near the end of our ride and our a few miles from home when my cycling companion says "oh no, I think I've got a p*ncture". Now this is the third one I've seen this week! We were about a mile from my parents so as it has got dark I suggest that we walk there and change it. We say hi to my parents and use their garage - my companion only has a p*ncture repair kit, so I offer him one of my two tubes that I carry. He takes his old tube out, fits the new one and all looks good. We say thanks and goodbye to my parents and head off. At the end of the road he says "I don't believe it..." - yep, another p*ncture. I asked if he checked the tyre for what p*nctured it the first time and he admits that he didn't as he thought it would be fine. :angry: Back to the parents, said hello again (!), another tube installed after a very thorough check!

So, that's 1 week, 4 p*nctures and a [low speed] collision. I'm beginning to think that I'm cursed. :angry:
 

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deptfordmarmoset

Full time tea drinker
Location
Armonmy Way
I've no idea who Jimbolee is or was, but I love the diagram! My jinx of the week seems to be turning left on big roundabouts. Today it was a puncture on the Elephant and Castle RB, last week it was my computer jumping under the wheels of the artic following closely behind me somewhere in Wandsworthless. Next roundabout I get to, I'm turning right.
 
.....so I offer him one of my two tubes that I carry. He takes his old tube out, fits the new one and all looks good.

Smugness factor +1

The bright side to this is that you were better equipped than another rider and were able to assist in their plight!
 
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