Only my second outing on the new bike

Well I eventually managed to get out on the new Carrera Vituoso tonight having only managed 5 miles when I first bought it. A seven day golf holiday in Spain coupled with the crap weather has stopped me till now, and it was quite eventful

Made a route using ridewithgps website of 17.6 miles and set off just after 7 pm as I was waiting for the traffic to subside. I set off through the estate towards wynyard via Thames road within five minutes I'd been spat at by a car full of youths, nice, and a couple of close calls with cars passing too close for comfort. I hit Thames road which is uphill and started to realise how unbike fit I am, puffing and panting I got to the top of the small bank and free wheeled as far as I could to get my breath back. Then up towards wynyard bank, downhill thank god lol, I didn't free wheel down that as I was braking to stay at a frightingly fast 27mph on dodgy roads, on upto Thorpe thewels junction hoping for a clear run through. That wasn't to be, many cars going towards Stockton, I tried to balance and yes the enevitable happened, in slow motion I crashed to the ground unable to unclip in time. A young lady stopped to see if I was ok which was nice, I checked the bike which was ok, checked for blood which was ok and on I went.

Onto a duel carriage way traffic passing me 70-80 mph for the next quite a few miles, I may as well be on the M1, on towards the Sedgefield roundabout and right back towards Billingham, and yes you guessed into a strong headwind, I managed quite well changing gears when needed up the banks and where the wind was strongest, but still with very fast traffic, a couple coming within a foot when they had an empty lane at the side of them, my expletives were lost in the wind I guess lol.

Now the big one the A19 roundabout hoping and praying I get a clear route through, I didn't want to fall off again. As the gods would have it there was nothing in the way and managed the roundabout without incident, onwards to the Hartlepool roundabout where another car full of youths decided to try and distract me by tooting there horn and waving, gesturing to me again expletives lost in the wind, damn this wind ha ha

Nearly home only a couple of miles to go and I start to slow down worrying about the dismount at the end of the ride, onto my road unclipped left, unclipped right now hope the foot don't slip while I try to stop ....... Phewwww stopped and off just as the neighbour comes out, the one who saw me fall on the drive the first ride, and all is done 17.6 miles in 70 minutes that's good going for me.

Things I've learnt

Plan a quieter route, the traffic was way too fast
Try to ignore the numptys as they can't here my swearing so I'm just expending energy
Remember to zip up my under saddle bag at the beginning of the ride not the end, luckily everything was still there
Must must must learn to unclip or else go back to straps and cages

Hope you've enjoyed my escapade tonight

Phil