So it is the morning after the night before. All I can say
is OUCH. The pain was bad enough yesterday but today it hurts more. I can
safely say I will not be out on the bike today.
So, let me begin……
When I started the day yesterday I didn’t have any desire to
break any records or achieve something major, which is strange for me. I wanted
a new route and to clock up some miles. Simple.
Once I had all my togs on I headed towards Bedmond in search
of roads unknown. Not much to note for the first 10 miles other than two speed
cameras. The first one I passed at 22mph and then on seeing a second one 200
yards ahead I wondered if I could set it off if I went over 30mph. I achieved 34mph
but no flash. After the sparse self-entertainment I passed the Warner Bros
studios in Leavesden where they filmed the Harry Potter series (currently doing
tours if of interest to anyone).
After circumnavigating Watford I took the A41 all the way to
Tring. Having started my ride late today, time and daylight was not on my side
as it would get dark at 4.30-ish and I didn’t have lights or reflective gear on
so I needed to be home before dark. So at 3pm and about 30 miles in I knew it
was a race against daylight to get home.
After Passing Tring I headed on to the beautiful picturesque
Ivinghoe. On climbing the gradually hill you get to see an incredible panoramic
of countryside that makes you appreciate life. What made things more enjoyable
was that the Sun had finally broken through for the day and casted lovely
shadows and brought out different colours over the landscape. With the wind at
my back I sped down towards Dunstable leaving Invinghoe in the distance. Now
this was the only dilemma of the day……straight on towards Dunstable and make
this a huge ride and run the risk of cycling in the dark without the appropriate
gear or take a right towards Dagnall and take it easy for more exercise
tomorrow. VERY unlike me I decided to take a right and glide home gently well
in time of the ever looming dark.
On turning right there are a series of roundabouts at quite
a crucial linking junction. Lucky there was no traffic so I was able to get a
good run at the approaching hill by going round the roundabout at 20mph, OR SO
I THOUGHT. Cue first serious bike accident. On turning right and leaning in the
bike suddenly just came away from me. At the time I didn’t really realise what
was going on. The road was wet and I am not even sure if there was some ice but
all I knew was that I was on the floor sliding across a busy junction at an alarming
pace. I used hands, arms and legs to try and stop the sliding and scrambled to
the side of the road as quickly as possible in order not to be hit by anything
larger than me. After getting to the side of the road and overcoming the initial
shock I was very disorientated and very shook up. A lot of motorists stopped
for me and asked how I was and checked on me which was nice but I did not feel
good at all. The first thing that I felt was my hands as it had ripped some
skin off when I was trying to claw myself to a stop and these were throbbing. I
then looked down and to see then chain had come off completely. I didn’t really
feel like riding home after this as I was in some pain. However, I regroup dragged
the bike in a layby and tried to fix the chain. As I started fixing it I realised
that I was actually leaking a lot more blood from other areas of my body (I
normally donate blood every Christmas but not in this fashion). I needed to get
home so I had to fix the chain and this led to an awful visual mix of Black oil
and Red blood dripping on to the road. After putting the chain on with my carved
up hands I tried to mount back up but something else was clearly wrong. My hip,
knee and elbow had clearly taken a heavy hit as all 3 were not functioning
properly. I thought about calling someone to come and help and pick me up or
even walking home but I struggled on and limped back to Hollyhock Close.
After washing out all the blood and oil at home and uncomfortably
coming to rest last night the shock stayed with me for some time and incident
left me feeling docile, tired and very low. This has really smashed my confidence
and enthusiasm.
Ironically I broke my record for my fasted 40k on this ride.
I think I have learnt a huge lesson about the control of a road
bike and what should and shouldn’t be challenged but more importantly what can
happen in terms of injury. I don’t think I was reckless at all with the how the
accident happened but this highlights even more that you should not be reckless
as far greater things could happen……..and I thought before I started road riding
that cycling was dull….it has been pretty adventurous so far……
A couple of pics of the aftermath:-
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