It won't be the last time I expect but.....

[ProudSalopian]

by enjoying my new found enthusiasm for two wheeling, I've gradually become more confident on the road and as natural consequence - quicker. A p*e along one of our local sustrans routes didn't put me off commuting but it should have made more more careful along that particular glass-strewn stretch.
The next shard of glass I picked up took it's time to work through but eventually resulted in a very rapid deflation. That combined with a uneven join between two sections of tarmac and I made solid contact on my left side with the black stuff at a speed I wouldn't have got near to a few months ago. Nobody behind me luckilly and the lorry coming the other way actually stopped and asked if I was OK. 10/10 for Morrisons' delivery wagons. Of couse I was........that is until the adrenalin wore off once I had pushed home for the remaining half mile of the commute.
I could go on to ask about who should be responsible for the upkeep of the various designated routes but in all honesty, my big problem was getting back in the saddle.....
No shortage of options, two other bikes were available for immediate use, but the weather worsened and it was all too easy to resort to a cup of tea and slice of cake.
I've just done the right thing and got back out again (albeit 2 days later)so I'm happy now.
Anybody else suffered from an unexpected attack of doubts?

 

[rh100]

Good on you for getting back on, I have to admit I'm worried about when I get my first off - I'm heavy so will land hard I expect

As for doubts, just about every day. The other day was the first time I rode right through Solihull across those islands at rush hour, without pushing the bike around or using the bike lane/slip road on the other side - bricking it all the way and wondered what the hell I was doing - I suppose full confidence takes a while to get.

 

[snorri]

I could go on to ask about who should be responsible for the upkeep of the various designated routes

You say the incident occurred on a Sustrans route, but it can get quite complicated. Some cycle routes are maintained by the local authority whilst others are owned by Sustrans and maintained by Sustrans volunteers. It would be worth finding out who is responsible for maintenance of the path on which you crashed and reporting the incident in the hope that repairs could be put in hand in order to save someone else from injury.

PS Off road cycle routes are not designed for high speed cycling, if you want to go faster than ??mph, then you should be cycling on the road.

 

[ProudSalopian]

Snorri - The sustrans section is where I picked up the glass, shortly afterwards I was on the road and picking up speed and then some road rash! The sustrans section in places has branches brushing both shoulders - it's certainly not made for speed as you correctly point out and I take that very steady!