ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Spent the morning with my wife teaching her to put on a new chain and give the bike a good old clean up and oil, was really impressed that she's keen to learn to do a bit of maintenance herself.
We had a nice little 20 mile ride planned for the afternoon down to a National Trust park for a cuppa before heading back home, and set off with the bikes all nice and shiny and clean. Literally a hundred metres down the road we encountered a people carrier coming up a narrow, steep downhill corner. I was on my old 1950s roadster which doesn't have the best cornering (my knees hit the handlesbars if I turn them too far!), and only just made it through the gap between the car and the hedge. A few seconds on I looked back to see how my wife was getting on, thinking she'd probably made it past safely by now, only to see her flying sideways over her bike onto the road.
Fortunately she came off past the car rather than in front of it, otherwise things could have been really nasty. As it was she rolled over the bike once and then slid some distance, so she's still pretty banged up - some impressive road rash on one arm, badly skinned knuckles, a nasty raw patch on one shoulder that's pretty deep, and a whacking great crack through her helmet (no helmet debates please, I'm just glad she was wearing one!). The bike lost its saddle (the seat detatched itself from the rails), and the rear wheel was buckled plus the usual marks and scratches, which was also a bit upsetting for her after we'd spent the morning together getting it running nicely again - though I guess by that stage she was pretty much in shock anyway.
The accident was no-one's fault in particular, the road is just intrinsically a little dangerous. I guess all of us should have been going slower, but then no-one pootles around the lanes at the <20mph speeds they probably should, including cyclists. The driver did at least stop and ask if we were OK, but was pretty hostile (I guess a mixture of shock and guilt may account for that though).
A few cups of tea later the Mrs is all bandaged up and the bike is running OK again (my first wheel truing), but we're both definitely feeling a bit shaken up
Good news is she's been a real trooper and has resolved to get right back on the bike asap. We're going into town tomorrow to pick up a new helmet and saddle (I have a feeling she won't get on with the men's racy style one I've subbed on for now). Hopefully we'll get out and do the ride another weekend soon.
We had a nice little 20 mile ride planned for the afternoon down to a National Trust park for a cuppa before heading back home, and set off with the bikes all nice and shiny and clean. Literally a hundred metres down the road we encountered a people carrier coming up a narrow, steep downhill corner. I was on my old 1950s roadster which doesn't have the best cornering (my knees hit the handlesbars if I turn them too far!), and only just made it through the gap between the car and the hedge. A few seconds on I looked back to see how my wife was getting on, thinking she'd probably made it past safely by now, only to see her flying sideways over her bike onto the road.
Fortunately she came off past the car rather than in front of it, otherwise things could have been really nasty. As it was she rolled over the bike once and then slid some distance, so she's still pretty banged up - some impressive road rash on one arm, badly skinned knuckles, a nasty raw patch on one shoulder that's pretty deep, and a whacking great crack through her helmet (no helmet debates please, I'm just glad she was wearing one!). The bike lost its saddle (the seat detatched itself from the rails), and the rear wheel was buckled plus the usual marks and scratches, which was also a bit upsetting for her after we'd spent the morning together getting it running nicely again - though I guess by that stage she was pretty much in shock anyway.
The accident was no-one's fault in particular, the road is just intrinsically a little dangerous. I guess all of us should have been going slower, but then no-one pootles around the lanes at the <20mph speeds they probably should, including cyclists. The driver did at least stop and ask if we were OK, but was pretty hostile (I guess a mixture of shock and guilt may account for that though).
A few cups of tea later the Mrs is all bandaged up and the bike is running OK again (my first wheel truing), but we're both definitely feeling a bit shaken up
Good news is she's been a real trooper and has resolved to get right back on the bike asap. We're going into town tomorrow to pick up a new helmet and saddle (I have a feeling she won't get on with the men's racy style one I've subbed on for now). Hopefully we'll get out and do the ride another weekend soon.
to you both
I know it's not big or clever but I can't help it.
