Feeling really really guilty now!

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

+1 .. being able to tell the story to their friends will be the best thing ever. Sounds horrific but I'm glad they're OK. They're obviously made of tough stuff: send that story into the next "kids today just sit around watching telly debate" on Have Your Say.

Sometimes you just have to learn lessons the hard way .. I kept on at Little-LC not to overuse her front brake, but she'd discovered she liked doing little stoppies so daddy's words were ignored. Until the day she locked the front up on a slippy downhill bit and slid off.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

11 year olds.... don't count it !

<snip>. Big falls, stitches, broken bones... NOTHING stops them bouncing back for more. I occasionally get that "look" from my mum as though to say - "now you what it feels like"

Seriously though, glad the little cubes (and their bikes) are OK.

Darn right .. reminds me of the time some of our neighbours went out for a pootle round: there was approx 4 adults and a whole bunch of kids, ranging from 5yo up to 13 or so.

Our neighbour's son (11yo) had got a computer for his bike and was trying to set a new best maximum speed down a long straight hill. He did it: it was registering 27.8mph* when he hit a huge pothill and flipped the thing over, breaking his wrist and collar bone. They then had a mile walk to the nearest road so they could get a car to him to get him to A&E.

He enjoyed playing the hero at school after that.

* might be a calibration error involved there, but what the heck: it's a good story and who's going to steal his thunder?

 

[Cubist]

Darn right .. reminds me of the time some of our neighbours went out for a pootle round: there was approx 4 adults and a whole bunch of kids, ranging from 5yo up to 13 or so.

Our neighbour's son (11yo) had got a computer for his bike and was trying to set a new best maximum speed down a long straight hill. He did it: it was registering 27.8mph* when he hit a huge pothill and flipped the thing over, breaking his wrist and collar bone. They then had a mile walk to the nearest road so they could get a car to him to get him to A&E.

He enjoyed playing the hero at school after that.

* might be a calibration error involved there, but what the heck: it's a good story and who's going to steal his thunder?

Don't be too dismissive of the calibration error. I have clocked Cubette at just over 31mph on the A 629 dropping down from Buckstones towards Scammonden, (there kid, I told you the ride up was worth it)and Cubester at a similar speed on the Rochdale Road from Triangle into Sowerby Bridge. I may add that on both occasions I was behind them on my own bike, shouting instructions in case of a tankslapper............ whilst quietly soiling myself......

Cubester's at school today, planning a presentation on cycle safety for Friday family assembly. Cubette is currently lounging in my recliner, ordering toast and generally milking it!

 

[Cubist]

Just been practising a moment or two of pedantry and realised I meant the A640 not the A629....

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

It was the speed to 1 decimal place that I was thinking of. But it makes for a better story: 27.8 mph just sounds better than "more thany 27".

 

[Cubist]

It was the speed to 1 decimal place that I was thinking of. But it makes for a better story: 27.8 mph just sounds better than "more thany 27".

I'm sure those nice people who make the £6 computers at Wilkinsons realise how many threads we would generate if we weren't absolutely convinced our readouts were accurate to the nth degree!

We used to have a competition during night time mealbreaks (in the good old days) where we would clock each other along the main corridor on any wheeled transport we could find in the lost property store. (proper bikes were barred)The record stood at a kids trike at 6.3 mph clocked on the lazer gun for quite a while, narrowly beating the Bob the Builder ride on Dumper until one guy decided to beat that with a measured 13.2 mph on a microscooter. We spent a few frantic minutes trying to cover up the hole in the stoothing wall with crime prevention posters before deciding to come clean and beg forgiveness.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I'm sure those nice people who make the £6 computers at Wilkinsons realise how many threads we would generate if we weren't absolutely convinced our readouts were accurate to the nth degree!

Oh yeah, I'm quite happy to record my distance in miles to 2dp on Cyclogs, and have an average quoted to 2dp as well. I'm sure it must be wrong, though: my average is so low.

We used to have a competition during night time mealbreaks (in the good old days) where we would clock each other along the main corridor on any wheeled transport we could find in the lost property store. (proper bikes were barred)The record stood at a kids trike at 6.3 mph clocked on the lazer gun for quite a while, narrowly beating the Bob the Builder ride on Dumper until one guy decided to beat that with a measured 13.2 mph on a microscooter. We spent a few frantic minutes trying to cover up the hole in the stoothing wall with crime prevention posters before deciding to come clean and beg forgiveness.

Ah, nights .. back in the days when I was a mainframe computer operator, we used to play cricket around the tape decks.

 

[Cubist]

Back in the saddle!

It seems a long time since I posted the tale of the two little Cubes and their accident. We have had a funny few weeks, which started with an infection in Cubette's wound as soon as the stitches were taken out. She's had a course of antibiotics and it's looking better now, but will leave quite a scar. Cubester has been riding his birthday bike and doesn't seem to have been put off by the bump, but Cubette has been far more wary.

Santa brought her a new Merida (Sub 60 2008 model, absolute bargain!) and when I looked in my stocking I found a rather nice Cube Ltd. Needless to say I was dragged out for a ride on Christmas morning, and we all found some really nice bridleways and tracks to play out on. Cubette was very, very wary on the road, so much so that I was beginning to realise her confidence had taken a huge knock. I was however surprised to see her enjoying the rough tracks and especially a bit of moorland singletrack.

We all went again this morning, but this time returned to their favourite ride, Derwent Reservoir. It was bloody freezing, but there were only a few small patches of obvious ice to work round. Nevertheless, Cubette was overly cautious, and had to be coaxed into letting the bike freewheel in places. We let Cubester go at his own pace, and didn't see much of him from mile seven onwards. I had to be very patient and supportive, and it certainly paid off. By the end of the ride she had regained most of her former confidence and the last half a mile or so was a straight race for the finish line and a cup of hot chocolate. Very much relieved, and still a proud Dad!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Well I this a huge amount of kudos is due to you all. To you for not being overly protective of your children and the the Cube's for facing their fears. Congratulations to all of you. You guys get a massive thumbs up from me

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Well I this a huge amount of kudos is due to you all. To you for not being overly protective of your children and the the Cube's for facing their fears. Congratulations to all of you. You guys get a massive thumbs up from me

Me too.

 

[Radius]

Who won the race at the end?

Sounds like you've been fantastic

 

[Cubist]

Who won the race at the end?

I did.... One day they'll be faster than me, and I don't suppose that day is far off, so I'm making the most of it!

Thanks everybody for all your flattering comments. I am determined they grow up strong and confident, but more importantly with positive passtimes and a sense of self worth. So far I can only be proud of how they have turned out.

 

[wafflycat]

I did.... One day they'll be faster than me, and I don't suppose that day is far off, so I'm making the most of it!

Thanks everybody for all your flattering comments. I am determined they grow up strong and confident, but more importantly with positive passtimes and a sense of self worth. So far I can only be proud of how they have turned out.

They are likely too. I found with WCMnr, that allowing him to develop the sense to cycle on road he quickly developed far, far more 'roadsense' than his peers, he also became far more self-confident and able to look after himself, yet still have an understanding of the vulnerbility of others. Cycling tends to do that.

 

[Wigsie]

Ha ha, Sorry to laugh Cubist it sounds like you have had an adventurous few weeks, but you reminded me of the first day out with my son (8) on his shiny new carrera birthday bike we went for a ride and along the promenade I tried to teach him to do rear wheel skids he came flying towards me he hit the front brake instead of the back.... i think maybe the brakes were a little harsh for a kids bike, but he flew over the handle bars and some how managed to do a Van Damme style splits in the air to miss hitting the handle bars and landed on his feet.. the bike got some scratches a broken reflector and he thought it was amazing! no dent in confidence and wanted to try it again.

I did try to convince him it was not a joke and he was lucky (childhood memories of over the handlebars or catching my goolies on the gear lever on my chopper) but he carried on quite recklessly untill he crashed trying to 'hop' up a curb, the back tyre slipped and he flipped again this type he grazed his leg the helmet hit the deck a bit hard and he had a small stone under the skin on the palm of his hand! needless to say the ride home was a little slower and i think he has learned his lesson.

I tried my best to remember what it was like when i was 8 and how i didnt listen to my old man but you still feel a tad guilty (skids were my idea), its my belief as a parent of 2 (soon to be 3) boys that if you restrict them and stop them having these crashes then they will grow to respect the roads and potential danger less than if they learn by getting a few bumps and scrapes (although the stitches and infection sounds nasty, i was gutted when my scar from a dirt bike crash when I was 10 started to fade!)

 

[Iainj837]

Glad to hear they are ok,
Not getting on the hemet band wagon but I had an accident a while ago and the helmet saved me from a head injury, I always wear my helmet without fail