RichardB
Slightly retro
- Location
- West Wales
I literally cannot remember when I last fell off a bike, but it must be decades. Until this morning.
I was riding home at 6.30 am, temperature -4C, roads largely dry, slight tail wind, dawn just breaking. About half way home I misjudged a couple of ruts and ended up skating across a frozen puddle, but I managed to keep it together and vertical. "Aha", I said to myself. "Let this be a warning. There is a steep hill about a mile from home which has water running in sheets across it even in dry weather. I will need to take extra care there". Now the road in question is closed to cars for some repair work, but I had been assured by the guys working there that I would always be able to get through on a bike - it's a 4-mile detour if I can't use this section. When I got there, the concrete blocks had been moved aside and a site lorry was reversing down the hill v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Normally, the road is deserted as they don't start until 8 am. I kept my distance and was descending at about 2 mph on the back brake. My attention was on the lorry, and it was too late when I looked down and saw that I was crossing the sheet of water - which of course was solid ice. Down I went.
It was so slippery that I couldn't even stand up, so I had to crab across the road to a dry bit and drag the bike behind me before I could do so. I was expecting laughter and score cards for artistic merit from the workmen, but they were very concerned and helpful. No harm to me, no damage to the bike, and a lesson learned.
Ironically, the work they are doing is to improve the drainage, so that water doesn't run all over the road.
I was riding home at 6.30 am, temperature -4C, roads largely dry, slight tail wind, dawn just breaking. About half way home I misjudged a couple of ruts and ended up skating across a frozen puddle, but I managed to keep it together and vertical. "Aha", I said to myself. "Let this be a warning. There is a steep hill about a mile from home which has water running in sheets across it even in dry weather. I will need to take extra care there". Now the road in question is closed to cars for some repair work, but I had been assured by the guys working there that I would always be able to get through on a bike - it's a 4-mile detour if I can't use this section. When I got there, the concrete blocks had been moved aside and a site lorry was reversing down the hill v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Normally, the road is deserted as they don't start until 8 am. I kept my distance and was descending at about 2 mph on the back brake. My attention was on the lorry, and it was too late when I looked down and saw that I was crossing the sheet of water - which of course was solid ice. Down I went.
It was so slippery that I couldn't even stand up, so I had to crab across the road to a dry bit and drag the bike behind me before I could do so. I was expecting laughter and score cards for artistic merit from the workmen, but they were very concerned and helpful. No harm to me, no damage to the bike, and a lesson learned.
Ironically, the work they are doing is to improve the drainage, so that water doesn't run all over the road.
