Spoilt day.

[bigjim]

That road that I am on in the picture, stretched uphill for mile after mile. I must have been riding it for at least a good hour. In that time, I think I was passed by one guy in an old pickup truck and our support van. Plus, look at that lovely smooth tarmac. I need to get back.

 

[cyberknight]

I had a pants day Monday , took the day off as it was my birthday and its mrs cks yesterday so we booked a table at dinner time for a meal without the kids , as we sat down the school phoned up as mini ck was ill .
to top it all off not one of my family phoned/txt to say happy birthday .
Smashed my face and cut my upper lip at work the next day too .

 

[fossyant]

I've given up commuting for good. Nearly being paralysed changes your view. I'll only be riding roads at weekend, but will probably stay off road until I'm feeling strong enough to survive a crash.

 

[User16625]

Bretherton is a regular run of ours. To that cafe that doubles as a curio shop. We also try the narrow lanes that are getting busier. I've maybe been spoilt by ten days in Portugal last month.

I can't see it getting better in the UK as our population increases but the number of roads don't. I'm concerned that road cycling days are becoming numbered in this once lovely country.

Know the feeling. Lost interest in motorcycle touring completely. Speed cameras, congestion, road works and rip off charges. I was irate on a motorcycle, probably even worse in a car, no wonder everyone is going bonkers.
On the other hand I had one of the best rides ever on my road bicycle earlier this week. Im lucky enough to live near some fairly quiet roads. How long they will stay quiet though

 

[Velominati]

I've given up commuting for good. Nearly being paralysed changes your view. I'll only be riding roads at weekend, but will probably stay off road until I'm feeling strong enough to survive a crash.

I'm so sorry to hear that you were injured, I can totally understand your thoughts about waiting to feel strong enough, please don't think that I'm being harsh but the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to get back out there. I had a pretty bad accident back in September, broken leg, shattered collar bone, busted hand and a head injury, it took me a while to become physically strong but the biggest challenge was the psychological damage it caused me, it took a lot of self confidence and will power to get back on my bike, I could find a thousand reasons not to ride and very few to ride, I ride both motorcycles and bicycles. For the first few weeks I struggled every time a car even came close to me but with lots of encouragement from my friends I got back out there and pushed through the fear. I'm hoping that you get back to good health and eventually feel strong enough to do the things you enjoy.

 

[fossyant]

I'm so sorry to hear that you were injured, I can totally understand your thoughts about waiting to feel strong enough, please don't think that I'm being harsh but the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to get back out there. I had a pretty bad accident back in September, broken leg, shattered collar bone, busted hand and a head injury, it took me a while to become physically strong but the biggest challenge was the psychological damage it caused me, it took a lot of self confidence and will power to get back on my bike, I could find a thousand reasons not to ride and very few to ride, I ride both motorcycles and bicycles. For the first few weeks I struggled every time a car even came close to me but with lots of encouragement from my friends I got back out there and pushed through the fear. I'm hoping that you get back to good health and eventually feel strong enough to do the things you enjoy.

I'm back, but on the MTB. Can just about ride. Two fractured vertebrae, 1 straight through, 4 fractured ribs, and 6 and a half weeks flat on my back in hospital. No chance am I going through this again. I can just about walk, can't stand for very long, cant sit for long, and still off work after 4 months. The pain is incredible.

I won't be commuting with the ruddy idiots in cars again. I'll ride when its quiet. Being on the brink of having to wear a nappy for the rest of my life isn't funny. I was lucky. I'm still incredibly weak. The family heartbreak this has caused isn't worth it. No kid wants to see their dad on oxygen as his lungs are so badly bruised he can't breath properly.

 

[Velominati]

I'm back, but on the MTB. Can just about ride. Two fractured vertebrae, 1 straight through, 4 fractured ribs, and 6 and a half weeks flat on my back in hospital. No chance am I going through this again. I can just about walk, can't stand for very long, cant sit for long, and still off work after 4 months. The pain is incredible.

I won't be commuting with the ruddy idiots in cars again. I'll ride when its quiet. Being on the brink of having to wear a nappy for the rest of my life isn't funny. I was lucky. I'm still incredibly weak. The family heartbreak this has caused isn't worth it. No kid wants to see their dad on oxygen as his lungs are so badly bruised he can't breath properly.

I have to admire your courage and I know exactly what you mean about the heartbreak for the family, when I had my accident the Police informed my better half that I had been in a serious accident, by all accounts she collapsed to her knees and my children were extremely upset. I feel very selfish for putting her through a lot of anxiety every time I sling my leg over my bike but my feeling is that I just can't give up doing the things that I love, if I did stop cycling and riding my motorcycle then I wouldn't feel complete. Perhaps your idea of riding off road makes more sense, it probably prevents your family from suffering all the angst every time you go out. To be honest, I hadn't given much thought about how it must impact on those that care about me.

 

[fossyant]

I'm a die hard road cyclist, been cycling at club level for 30 years (since 16). It's the commuting that's the most dangerous. Never had any issues out of commute times, but in the last year, had 3 hits, the last has been bad. I've not been enjoying the commuting, drivers are just idiots and impatient. That and the fact the cops couldn't be ar$ed to do anything with the driver. Saw an article in the paper today that said convictions had fallen massively, over 1500 less traffic officers, and that it wasn't due to better driving. Just not enough police. You can get away with anything in a car.

 

[Velominati]

I'm a die hard road cyclist, been cycling at club level for 30 years (since 16). It's the commuting that's the most dangerous. Never had any issues out of commute times, but in the last year, had 3 hits, the last has been bad. I've not been enjoying the commuting, drivers are just idiots and impatient. That and the fact the cops couldn't be ar$ed to do anything with the driver. Saw an article in the paper today that said convictions had fallen massively, over 1500 less traffic officers, and that it wasn't due to better driving. Just not enough police. You can get away with anything in a car.

It must have been one hell of a prang that you had, you probably benefited from the fact that you had a high level of fitness.
I have this theory that cars have become far to comfortable which in turn has made car drivers lose touch with reality, if you think about it, car drivers have ABS, Heated seats, SatNavs, DVD players, loud music, mobile phones, power steering etc., far to many distractions and all the time they have to contend with passengers talking at them. The cyclist or motorcyclist can hear everything, they feel every bump in the road and they are at the mercy of the elements, they have very high situational awareness, something which is totally lacking in modern cars.

 

[fossyant]

Modern cars are lovely to drive, but you are so far removed from the environment. Mine was, I'll go for the gap, but unfortunately, I was in it. The excuse... SMIDSY. If I could have got up I would have smashed the driver in the face. I said, what dressed like this and with those lights....

Heat seeking mini missiles next. Must be a few of those lurking somewhere !!

 

[Velominati]

Modern cars are lovely to drive, but you are so far removed from the environment. Mine was, I'll go for the gap, but unfortunately, I was in it. The excuse... SMIDSY. If I could have got up I would have smashed the driver in the face. I said, what dressed like this and with those lights....

Heat seeking mini missiles next. Must be a few of those lurking somewhere !!

Aaaaah SMIDSY, that old chestnut, its funny how the driver of the car that almost killed me said exactly the same thing, I'm of the opinion that the next car driver that cuts me up or knocks me off better pray that I can't get up because if I can we will both be going to hospital.