Watch out for slippery drop kerbs

[Plax]

I had 60 miles left to do to meet my 250 a month quota and I was adamant I was going to do it all today. My heart sunk a little when I looked out the window first thing this morning to see a blanket of white. I decided to go for it anyway but on my hybrid bike instead of my Galaxy, certain the main roads would be clear.

The main roads were clear, albeit a little slushy in places first thing. I was going to join the new shared use path that runs along the A499. As I went to cycle onto the path from the main road, bam I hit the deck.

There was no ice about and the path wasn't slippy, but further investigation found that the actual drop kerbstone itself was extremely slippy. My front wheel must have slipped on it on my approach. I suffered a grazed elbow and a grazed knee (well just below the knee so technically the shin I suppose). My Carradice Barley suffered a scuffed side pocket, which I was most upset about as it has damaged a bit of the fabric but not enough to make a hole. My bike suffered a scraped pedal and scraped bar end and I had to straighten the handlebars (yeah for multi tools!). Thankfully no other damage, I fell on the non-mech side and the wheels look ok.

I decided to carry on regardless as I wasn't really in any pain. On the way home though my cleat got stuck in my pedal. I was going to try and get it out and stick it back on my shoe as I was over 20 miles away from home but at this point noticed that the screw had a bit of plate from the bottom of the shoe on it. So rather than coming loose, the screws have actually sheared away from the plate you screw them into. That's cheap Lidl shoes for you. So the last leg wasn't as comfortable as it could have been.

Just to top it off I got hailed & snowed on several times and the last time it hailed, one of them got in my eye and another one hit me just below my eye and really hurt. It's left a little red mark.

I'm now feeling a little battered and sore so I'm going to console myself by making myself a cup of tea and attempting to eat an entire easter egg in one sitting. Tesco have them for a £1 at the moment. Go on, you know you want to get several and eat them all before Easter!

 

[Arch]

Oh ow! Bad luck. Very dedicated of you to go out at all!

If your pannier is scraped, you could always find a nice fabric motif badge to sew over it...

Enjoy the egg! I bet you manage it. My problem would be NOT eating it in one session!

 

[rich p]

When is Easter?

or is it old stock from last year they're still trying to get rid of on the unwary cheapskates bargain hunters?



Good effort though, Plax. I did a slippery 35 today witha few dodgy moments.

 

[snorri]

but further investigation found that the actual drop kerbstone itself was extremely slippy. My front wheel must have slipped on it on my approach.

Sorry to hear about your accident Plax.
Did you notice if the dropped kerb was sufficiently dropped to give a flush surface between path and road? Many dropped kerbs are not properly dropped, leaving a small step which can be dangerous for cyclists crossing at anything other than a right angle. If this was the case where you had your accident then I feel you would be justified in lodging a complaint with the organisation responsible for the road.

 

[Crankarm]

I think you should have thought better of riding today. Having looked out the window you should have slipped back under the duvet and drifted back into a deep warm slumber which is just what I did. That'll teach you for trying to be a hard man .

Only kidding hope the damage and injuries are only superficial and your disappointment is more lost pride than anything.

 

[potsy]

Oh dear sounds like a hell of a trip.
Thanks for the warning re-easter eggs,will have to completely ignore that aisle in Tesco or I'll be eating them by the dozen

 

[TheDoctor]

Ouch!!

I hope the chocolate helps to sort the red mark out. Can't see it happening, myself, but you never know...
You do seem to be trying to destroy bikes at the moment. I'm getting wary of letting you on any of mine again!!!!

 

[TheDoctor]

When is Easter?

In 'Tesco-Time' there are only three seasons, as may be evidenced by the 'Seasonal Goods' aisle.
This contains the following :-

Boxing Day - Good Friday Easter Eggs, Creme Eggs and Chocolate Bunnies
Easter - August bank holiday Barbies, charcoal, sun-loungers and paddling pools
September - Christmas Mince Pies, Christmas Puddings and gigantic tins of Quality Street.

 

[Plax]

If your pannier is scraped, you could always find a nice fabric motif badge to sew over it...

That's an idea, I have a few badges knocking about, might dig one out and give it a go at some point.

When is Easter?

or is it old stock from last year they're still trying to get rid of on the unwary cheapskates bargain hunters?

No idea, I think it's early this year. April rings a bell. Even if it's old stock it won't last long enough to expire! Says Jul 2010 on the box if you're interested .

Sorry to hear about your accident Plax.
Did you notice if the dropped kerb was sufficiently dropped to give a flush surface between path and road? Many dropped kerbs are not properly dropped, leaving a small step which can be dangerous for cyclists crossing at anything other than a right angle. If this was the case where you had your accident then I feel you would be justified in lodging a complaint with the organisation responsible for the road.

It wasn't flush that I can recall, all the drop kerbs along the path were slightly raised. I've never had a problem before and put it down to the fact these were newish kerbstones, all the older ones look rougher, these were smooth. I'll put it down to experience and will be much more careful around similar looking drop kerbs in the wet.

I think you should have thought better of riding today. Having looked out the window you should have slipped back under the duvet and drifted back into a deep warm slumber which is just what I did. That'll teach you for trying to be a hard woman .

You know, I was very tempted. I did actually get up later than I was planning if that's any better

Oh dear sounds like a hell of a trip.
Thanks for the warning re-easter eggs,will have to completely ignore that aisle in Tesco or I'll be eating them by the dozen

You'll have to be careful then - the Tesco here actually had a load strategically placed in various unsuspecting parts of the store, as well as right by the entrance.

 

[Plax]

Ouch!!

I hope the chocolate helps to sort the red mark out. Can't see it happening, myself, but you never know...
You do seem to be trying to destroy bikes at the moment. I'm getting wary of letting you on any of mine again!!!!

The chocolate has certainly helped. Yes, my poor little bikes! Glad I left the Galaxy at home, as the way I fell on the hybrid I'd have smashed the shifters up again rather than just scuffed a bar end!

 

[Arch]

In 'Tesco-Time' there are only three seasons, as may be evidenced by the 'Seasonal Goods' aisle.
This contains the following :-

Boxing Day - Good Friday Easter Eggs, Creme Eggs and Chocolate Bunnies
Easter - August bank holiday Barbies, charcoal, sun-loungers and paddling pools
September - Christmas Mince Pies, Christmas Puddings and gigantic tins of Quality Street.

Not to forget the sub season "Back to School", which starts about two days after the schools break up for summer..

 

[Arch]

Oh and "Plax is a girl!??!"

 

[snakehips]

In 'Tesco-Time' there are only three seasons, as may be evidenced by the 'Seasonal Goods' aisle.
This contains the following :-

Boxing Day - Good Friday Easter Eggs, Creme Eggs and Chocolate Bunnies
Easter - August bank holiday Barbies, charcoal, sun-loungers and paddling pools
September - Christmas Mince Pies, Christmas Puddings and gigantic tins of Quality Street.

Don't forget the current sub-season , Valentines month !

But back to cycling. 250 a month is quite a target in Winter. My target for January was 62.18 miles (in one go) which I managed with a few days left.
Do you have the same target every month or does it increase in the Summer months.

Snake

My Library

 

[Plax]

Don't forget the current sub-season , Valentines month !

But back to cycling. 250 a month is quite a target in Winter. My target for January was 62.18 miles (in one go) which I managed with a few days left.
Do you have the same target every month or does it increase in the Summer months.

Snake

My Library

I've set a yearly target of 3,000 miles so have broken it down into 250 miles per month.
Last year I didn't make it due to only doing 50 miles in Jan (fell off after slipping on ice, damaging bike and hurting my leg), and Feb I only did 112 due to the weather and recovery. Didn't make my quota in April either. I tried to make up the defecit by doing extra in the summer months but only managed just over 2750 miles in 2009. So I'm hell bent on meeting the 3,000 this year!

 

[potsy]

I've set a yearly target of 3,000 miles so have broken it down into 250 miles per month.
Last year I didn't make it due to only doing 50 miles in Jan (fell off after slipping on ice, damaging bike and hurting my leg), and Feb I only did 112 due to the weather and recovery. Didn't make my quota in April either. I tried to make up the defecit by doing extra in the summer months but only managed just over 2750 miles in 2009. So I'm hell bent on meeting the 3,000 this year!

I've got a similar target Plax,3600 or 300 per month.I know I'll be a bit down in the winter months but will hopefully make up for it if we get a bit of good weather this summer,so not too worried by only doing <200 in Jan.