Decided to cycle to Padstow (From Truro) this week.
My wife and father in law wanted to do the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow and as he is 82 and not very fit, I knew it would be a slow ride. So I came up with the idea of cycling to Padstow instead and meeting them there. The first ten miles was fine, quite hilly with leaf covered, muddy, excrement covered lanes but it went OK. The bit between St Newlyn East and St Columb Major (everywhere in Cornwall is named after Saints) was never ending hills. Up, down, up, down. Roads cleaner though and I could push on a bit. The last section descending from the spine of hills that bisects Cornwall from east to west and down to Ruthernbridge, I took too fast. Going around a bend I met two SUVs that occupied the entire width of the road.
Panic brake! Forgot I was using clipless pedals. Back wheel locked up, went one way and then the other. I scraped down the side of the first SUV between the hedge and the shiny metal sides, just glimpsing their horrified faces as I went past (I guess my expression was the same) and then slid past the second vehicle as my locked up back wheel overtook the front. The bike stopped. I fell off. Damn those clipless pedals. Luckily there was no more traffic. The SUVs didn't stop. Dust myself down, seem Ok. Nothing broken. Thats the tenth time I have fallen off my bike with clipless pedals but the first time for a month.
Two hundred yards later I got a puncture - so I stopped to mend it in a farm gateway. This isn't going well. I had been enjoying it, nice views, sunshine. The wheel is covered in cow dung. My new cycling top is now covered in oil and dung, possibly some mud too.
The phone rang 'Where are you? We are waiting for you...you said you would be here before us." Back on the bike, full speed ahead but something is wrong. The hydraulic brake on the back is dragging. I have a squeak and a hiss and it feels like I am going uphill on the flat. No time to fix it, I am late. On, on, down through the lanes and onto the Camel Trail near Bodmin. Head down, think of it as a spin session. I now have a Strava PB and I am in the top 20% for the first time in my life for the Camel Trail section to Wadebridge - with a dragging brake too. Arrive in Padstow, dirty, dishevelled, tired, in trouble and with a broken bike and accept lift home.
The next day the LBS confirms I bent the mech hanger when I fell off, that put the brake disc slightly out.
My wife has told me to take those "silly pedals" off. I have decided to buy winter tyres instead.
