Well, where do I start....
I've always wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle when I was younger. I wanted to be Donatello, I even named my first cat after the great Bow Staff'ed warrier cum Pizza Eater, but didnt quite think some 20 years later I would still be replicating my childhood hero.
A hero in a half shell I was not however....
So, the elusive Bognor ride... so near yet so far..
It was cold, but not as cold as we new it. I wrapped up warm, wayyyyyyyy to warm infact. But as it turned out, that padding turned out usefull.. I really was in two minds over this ride. Tied and coldness vs the excitement of a night ride and seeing my cycling chums. So, off I went at about half 10.. ish... I knew with in a few miles I was too hot, but I was convinced it would get colder so I cycled a bit slower and had faith that I would be fine. For note, I was wearing 4 layers on my feet, 3 on my legs, 5 on my body, 2 on my hands, balaclava, buff, hat and helmet cover, I was snug as a bug in a rug... if I wasnt moving... Movment was quite restrictive, so note to myself, winter tights and a differant top/jacket/something.
I arrived in good time to see the fellow travellers and perv over a nice new shiney bike sporting not a spec of dirt, if only Ian was around I thought. And so off we set.
The route itself was coming back to me as not done that run in quite a while and everthing was going smoothly. Until Stu's left hooker, and not the "Lady of the night" variety either... All things have been said here, but I do hope Stu if okay. And so off we set. I was really struggling on the inclines and was getting very very conscious of slowing the proceedings up, of which I am sorry. Am not the greatest hill climber, but I was crap to be frank during the ride. I think back and would conclude a few errors on my behalf. One, was the clothing, this was a major factor, i was just baked to be honest, but too sweaty to take the layers off due to chilling, catch 21 like. Secondly, too many miles this month, been really pushing it and dead legs showed. And thirdly, a hot bath a few hours before hand.. well, thats what am concluding anyhow.
Everyone was riding nicely and great thanks go to the planning and particpants on this ride, thanks!
So, we got to Pease Pottage for food and refreshment and in my case, to cool down. I was drenched through with sweat, great for the waistline I thought. Off we set again a short while later, and in my case and typically, the last off. So, I saw the red lights in the distance and off I went, in a straight line, route 1 like, and then, WHAM, wtf, I was on the floor in pain with out a clue how I had got there. My knee, my back I thought and intially, I couldnt move, balls, to but it nicely. I was on the floor for a small amount of time manually checking myself over and trusting I wasnt broken and fully with it. I find the best policy in these cases is to giggle and relax and not to stress. I was now surrounded by my fellow rider and things were coming back to me. But how the hell did I not see that curb!! As Adam as said, poor lighting, slightly misted glasses that were just de-misting and a school boy error caused this mishap. In checking over the bike, as Timo has said, the front wheel was gone, wonky and bent good and proper with a bent spoke, from the impact I guess. Front tyre was still inflated, good old Durano's there for ya. The handle bars were wonky and twisted and I was convinced the forks where bent. If the wheel was fine, I think I would have carried on, quite glad I didnt though. And so off to the train station I went, very very slowly, embaressingly slowly, but it had to be done. And so, the Journey home was fine, to begin with. Some lads on the train were lashed and still drinking, how tempting it was to buy a beer off them, especially as 'teef had texted saying how close in time he was to beer time, but I resisted. And then, the journey became a nightmare. South West trains engineering works with rail replacement services, great! So with great convincing and help from a member of staff but great disgust from the bus driver, I was on a bus to Richmond station. By now, my knee was giving up on me and so was my bladder and so to top it off, the toilets at Richmond were out of order, flooded, apparently and I had just missed my train, which it seems was not going direct to Whitton, grrrrr I thought, until I saw a closed sign for a cafe saying "closed, shut happen". I giggled and things seemed better until I got to Twickenham and it was raining.. sod the wait, I cycled home, slowly. And so I got home about the same time as the fantastic four got to Bognor. Could have cycle home in that time I thought..
And so, that was that... my target of a 1000 mile month ruined, but I and phone was fine. Body is wrecked and bruised all over and new bike parts needed and fitted yesterday. But great thanks to Adam, Timo, Stu and Martin for the great ride, patience and help, great people to be around, thank you.
