A Lucky Escape.
neonwarhead
Posts: 96
As I've mentioned on a few other threads, my new Planet-X is the absolute dog's wottsits; fast comfy, great steering etc etc. As I remarked to the mate I went riding with yesterday, the cupboard of excuses is now empty, any performance shortfall is only down to the human element.
It was decent of me I thought to not only pass on this nugget of wisdom, but to provide a memorable illustration of the truth of it. This was achieved by comprehensively overcooking a sharper-than-I-expected downhill left hander, losing the rear wheel and highsideing in apparently impressive fashion some 20 yards ahead of him.
Whilst it is tempting to seek mitigation in the 17% gradient, wet road surface, or dusting of gravel washed onto the road by a recent heavy shower, the fundamental cause was plainly hareing off down an unknown bit of road in a fashion that an American flying instructor I knew many years ago would have described as "All dick-and-balls and no forehead".
A lucky escape? Well the damage, in descending order of importance;
Bike: rear wheel slightly out of true, light scraping to right hand shifter and bar end, saddle and rear mech, but the frame untouched; result!
Brand new (like first ride) Assos shorts; one 3-4mm hole on the thigh; absolutely gutted. My first pair of decent shorts and for the preceding 3 1/4hrs they were fantastic. Anyone know how to patch lycra? On the plus side they're still wearable, unlike...
Campagnolo jersey; proper trashed, big holes on the back. It was however getting a little on the baggy side, so best viewed as a retail opportunity!
Giro Ionos; did its job - I didn't feel the impact on my head but there are plenty of witness marks on the outside to show that there was one! Crash replacement program and 100% helmet wearing in the future here I come.
Me; sprung (but not dislocated or broken) clavicle at the AC joint. Can't be too bad as I rode the 5 miles back home after the crash once we'd replaced the rear tube! In a sling and a bit stiff,but could have been worse... Also a big bruise on my right hip and some assorted road rash especially on the right elbow. I'm really quite pleased that there was nothing either coming up the hill towards us or following close behind.
In summary then, the bike still rocks, and overall it was a really great ride yesterday, but after my first proper road bike "off" in 8 years of riding, I might just back it off a bit when the road gets damp in the future! I'm also not sure wether the 2 stone I've lost this year was an entirely good idea - a few more pies over the back wheel and it might not have slid out!
Apologies for the long post, a little time in the confessional is good for the soul!
It was decent of me I thought to not only pass on this nugget of wisdom, but to provide a memorable illustration of the truth of it. This was achieved by comprehensively overcooking a sharper-than-I-expected downhill left hander, losing the rear wheel and highsideing in apparently impressive fashion some 20 yards ahead of him.
Whilst it is tempting to seek mitigation in the 17% gradient, wet road surface, or dusting of gravel washed onto the road by a recent heavy shower, the fundamental cause was plainly hareing off down an unknown bit of road in a fashion that an American flying instructor I knew many years ago would have described as "All dick-and-balls and no forehead".
A lucky escape? Well the damage, in descending order of importance;
Bike: rear wheel slightly out of true, light scraping to right hand shifter and bar end, saddle and rear mech, but the frame untouched; result!
Brand new (like first ride) Assos shorts; one 3-4mm hole on the thigh; absolutely gutted. My first pair of decent shorts and for the preceding 3 1/4hrs they were fantastic. Anyone know how to patch lycra? On the plus side they're still wearable, unlike...
Campagnolo jersey; proper trashed, big holes on the back. It was however getting a little on the baggy side, so best viewed as a retail opportunity!
Giro Ionos; did its job - I didn't feel the impact on my head but there are plenty of witness marks on the outside to show that there was one! Crash replacement program and 100% helmet wearing in the future here I come.
Me; sprung (but not dislocated or broken) clavicle at the AC joint. Can't be too bad as I rode the 5 miles back home after the crash once we'd replaced the rear tube! In a sling and a bit stiff,but could have been worse... Also a big bruise on my right hip and some assorted road rash especially on the right elbow. I'm really quite pleased that there was nothing either coming up the hill towards us or following close behind.
In summary then, the bike still rocks, and overall it was a really great ride yesterday, but after my first proper road bike "off" in 8 years of riding, I might just back it off a bit when the road gets damp in the future! I'm also not sure wether the 2 stone I've lost this year was an entirely good idea - a few more pies over the back wheel and it might not have slid out!
Apologies for the long post, a little time in the confessional is good for the soul!
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Comments
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Sorry to hear about your misfortune.
If you send the shorts back to Assos they may be able to repair them.Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos0 -
"All dick- and- balls and no forehead" really thanks for that, i love a new phrase and thats a cracker!0
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Needle and thread mate and patch them up.
Watch the shoulder - may take a while to heal.0 -
im sure assos have a repair service-check their website'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
