Crashed and burned, learned a valuable lesson.

[esoteric]

Been riding my bike to work for 4 weeks, this is after about 25 years being off a bike so it's been pretty tough especially on my quads. I had the last two weeks off the bike due to the rear axle failing because of dead bearings, then it turned out the rear rim was stuffed so needed a new rim. Both items out of stock which is why it took two weeks.

Yesterday I was back on the bike and after having two weeks recovery I was having some powerful rides and my quads are feeling great. Riding home tonight the traffic lights were in my favour so on this down hill road I was able to go flat out and was doing about 35mph to 40mph. Realizing I was going to fast to travel the roundabout safely I hit the brakes locking up my wheels and I couldn't turn enough and hit the curb and when I stopped rolling I was about 15ft away from my bike. Luckily I flew over the pavement and landed on the very tall uncut grass on the other side which cushioned my somersaults and I wear a packed backpack too which helped. What's great is a car stopped to check on me and the driver was a first aider and another car stopped to check also.

I have no major injuries, I have a graze on wrist and my right side torso is a teeny bit sore. The new back wheel though which cost me £50 2 days ago.. buckled

 

[esoteric]

Bloody cyclists

I'm not a cyclist I'm a commuter

I don't really get it. When was the burning part?

When he got home and threw his bike on a bonfire shouting "I'm never riding again".

Probably.

I'm definitely riding again, I don't want to pay these petrol prices. While I was off the bike £30 got me 8 days of driving

Maybe there's a couple of flat spots on his tyres now.

Tyres are fine just the back rim is buckled. I lifted the front so that rim is okay.

 

[esoteric]

I fell off again.

Last Sunday I put my SPD pedals on and tried my cleats for the first time at the local green and only fell off twice. After that ride I forgot to check my cleats and do them up nice and tight being happy with the position they are in. Yesterday I went out for my first proper road ride in my cleats and felt something was wrong, when I got home and checked I noticed the cleats were twisted and the scews were coming undone. Today I reset the cleats and screwed them nice and tight and went back to the park to retest them and good thing I did before I went out on the road because now I twist out to unclip instead of in. Happy with the results I decided to head home so I went out the opposite end of the green which is a very steep but a few metres climb which I had to get off the saddle to climb and even then I was nervous near the top with the gear I was in. The next issue is the next hill straight after that climb which has steps either side of a grass patch, I was going to turn around then noticed if I climb on the grass I can get to the top and join onto the top step so off I went and in a suitable gear this time. I got 80% of the way up and lost traction on the back wheel and wheel span and the chain slipped and I can fall left on the concrete or right onto the grass, destiny chose the path. I landed on my wrist which now hurts a lot, somehow during the fall I unclipped so I also rolled once and the best bit was a car had just pulled up so there was someone to witness my fall, or so I thought. As I lay there sensing my body for damage and hearing the chugging of the car engine I was expected to hear a "Are you okay?" but there was nothing, I lay there for maybe 20 seconds before I feel okay to get up, I look at the car to see a women looking down at her lap. I don't know if she somehow missed my fall or just ignored me. I walked for minute then got back on the saddle and rode home to do the all important post it on the internet.

 

[esoteric]

@illuz Never! never surrender!

@Sinbad2000 I want to say training wheels wouldn't have helped the situation but those are some chunky bois