I was hoping for a good weekend

[Suff]

but in the end it turned out to be not so good trending worse as each day wore on.

Friday was not a good journey up to Sleaford, I arrived cold and tired and frustrated with a bike which needs a bit of TLC I don't have as much time as I need to give it. The traffic was a total pain and the weather was not conducive to good vision on the bike.


Saturday I got up at 07:30 and the dishwasher for my daughter was delivered at 08:00. I started to fit it when I noticed that I could not push it all the way back. Because it totally fills the space with all the insulation. Cursing and Swearing I resolved that problem. Got it fitted by 11am.

One job down. Headed to Lincoln for the bulbs I'd ordered from Euro Car parts. Spent 20 minutes in there with my "click and collect" order waiting for the two sales assistants to make the sales. One was dealing with three Eastern Europeans. The Father, clearly, didn't speak a word of English but knew what he needed. The Son spoke broken English but was clearly useless in either understanding what he was being told by either side and unable to understand what he really needed. Eventually the Father handed over the V5. But then they still had to go through the whole "make", Model, doors etc.

Salesman #2.

Salesman #2 has a good born and bread Lincy, at least my age, was going through the merits of two different brands of disc brakes, the pads and the prices and quality of them.... Finally paying by cash, reluctantly at the price, he took his goods and left. Honestly, listening to the prices, I could have told him he'd get them for less than half the price on ebay. But by this time it was looking like rain and I was grumpy from waiting for my, supposedly, quick collection for so long.

Outside the shop clutching my "6" bulbs for a total of "£8" which I had stood for 20 minutes for, I then phoned my parents to see if I could drop over for a coffee on the way back to #1 daughters. Whereupon my mother says, "Oh good your Father was just about to call you". I replied "which computer is broken this time, with a laugh".

Got to my parents where mum had made me sandwiches and salad. Dad told me about the PC which was so slow it was unusable and so after eating I set to work. 5 hours later (very quick I'd had to do this for #1 daughter two weeks ago and knew what was wrong), I'd finished. Time to go, #1 daughter was making tea then it was BD movies for the evening and a few beers. Dad says "it's a bit wet". I look out the door and think "Yep that's not quite torrential but hey, time to go".

Then I make the next bad decision. I know my jacket is not very waterproof, but I decided not to put my waterproofs on, it's such a pain. It's not far I thought, only 22 miles.. I arrived somewhat soaked. I didn't have my boots with me, my shoes are still wet now and my jacket and gloves were soaking. But at least I was not too cold.

I hadn't done the bike either. Well it would have wound up with me stopping for the rain anyway, so on we go. Movies, beer and bed.

Today I got up after lunch (no interest in getting up earlier) and got on with the bike. To find that the plugs had got lost in translation when moving from normal to iridium and I had the wrong plugs. Oh well. I got the carbs fixed (no backfiring now), Changed the air filter and replaced all the bulbs in the speedo unit.

On the downside I found out the fuel tap was leaking in the off position <rant> what the hell is it with old bikes and fuel taps? Don't they know how to make them any more?</rant> So I was working in an ever widening patch of petrol because I'd filled the bike the day before as I should not have had to remove the tank to do the plugs. But I did have to remove it (and just about the whole front of the bike), to do the bulbs.

Anyway. So bike done I set out to pack and pack the bike. Where I promptly let the keys for the bike and the top box, fall into the top box and slam the lid. Which normally needs the key but, perversely, this time, decided to shut. Fast.

When I realised what I'd done I tired to pick it but no joy. Weighed the cost of a locksmith on Sunday evening with the cost of a new barrel lock, went into the house, brought out the new drill I'd just bought my daughter as I wanted it to fit the dishwasher and promptly trashed the lock mechanism until it capitulated and would let a screwdriver open it.

As you can imaging I was a tad gumpy by this time. Bade my daughter and grandson farewell and got on the way. Bike was better but clearly lacking the benefit of the plugs and also seemed to have some kind of a fuel flow issue.

However, going well.

Until.

The guy in front of me, on the M1, whilst I was looking sideways to check if I could get round him, promptly did an emergency stop. I caught the rapidly approaching car (I was doing 45mph just coming into the 40 restriction from the previous 50 restriction). I had just enough time to hit the brakes and pull the bike to the left (we were in the outside lane).

Needless to say, the front wheel, under my somewhat urgent braking (I have 90kg force in my right hand), broke free from the road. Because the bike was already down on it's left side It went straight down on it's left side, dropped me in the middle lane, we both did a pirouette (me on my side with a rucksack on my back), then the bike came back and tried to hit me. I fended it off and we lay there. In the middle lane of the M1. I looked back over the bike to see 4 lanes of standing traffic and made a small thanks for small mercies.

Then I tried to get up. Forgetting I had a rather large and heavy rucksack on my back. Was concerned for a second because nothing really hurt until my brain started working again. I dropped the pack, pulled the bike round and tried to lift it. No joy. Then the three guys in middle eastern clothing turned up. They'd seen what happened, although I had not hit them and were really concerned. they helped me get the bike up on it's side stand then asked me (after the 30th time of apologising), if I wanted their insurance details. I replied "What for, you have done nothing wrong you just had to avoid the guy in front of you". Who, I had seen, had plenty of space in front of him and was doing 50. He was not paying attention and went mad when he saw the signs and the camera and dropped to 20, forcing the guy in front to brake madly and me onto the road.

So, with the help of the guys I picked up my stuff and wheeled the bike across to the side of the road. Interestingly this had happened right next to a services entrance. The first two lanes had started moving again (hard shoulder was in use) and a big thanks to the two trucks which stopped to let me past because the cars certainly weren't going to.

By the time I'd walked that far I realised I'd hurt my leg. I kind of knew because the blow was pretty hard when I went down but my bike trousers have thick Kevlar pads right there for exactly that reason. I got the bike into the parking went to the shop and bought some gaffer tape and taped up the mainly shattered fairing until it kind of resembled a bunch of parts moving in unison. Went round for fuel as I knew I was close to reserve with all the fuel I'd lost when the tank was off.

When I got out from the fuel I realised that with the pack on I couldn't get my leg over the bike. In the end I stood on the footpeg and forced my right leg over.

I decided to just ride right back as I reckoned that if I stopped for coffee and "restorative", I would probably be too stiff to move. I was right.

I'm back now. Not a word to Mrs S or #1 daughter, they would really panic. I have a bruise on my left thigh, at the top near the hip, about the size of my fist and the whole hip joint is very unhappy with me and becoming more unhappy as each hour goes by. My mobile was in my left trouser pocket and the impact cracked the screen (facing my leg), under the tempered glass protector I have on it. Well I reckoned it was made out of spun sugar anyway you could breath on that and it would break.

I'm now off to Asda (by bus...), to get some ibuprofen and voltarol as I predict that tomorrow morning I will have trouble getting out of bed. My left little finger is not happy with me either but it's had worse so I just tell it to shut up and get on with it.

So, sorry for such a long diatribe. Not such a good weekend. I have a decision to make now. I never really trusted the bike and now I'm trusting it even less. I have two larger bikes which have never really let me down, are easier to ride, more comfortable to ride and give me better rear view. My trust issues are bigger but it is a very good bike for commuting. I'll never trust it on a long ride again though.

[JoM]

Oh goodness Suff! So so SO glad that the accident wasn't any worse.
Be kind to yourself and if you feel that the injuries aren't getting any better then get yourself checked out. Hope you can find somewhere that's open for something that'll help.

Please tell us that you've got some time off over Christmas to just kick back and take it easy?

[Suff]

Hi Jo,

Well it wasn't a picnic anyway. Thank god we were in a 50 going to 40 and I was not really pushing, just filtering gently. I do recall thinking "this might hurt" as I was spinning in the middle of the middle lane. fortunately no-one was going so fast they could not avoid me.

I've given my phone a break too. The tempered glass protector was shattered too. I've just fitted the spare I bought.

I'd forgotten that Asda in England is "24 hour lite". I've been so used to Scotland and 24x7. I've some Ibuprofen and taken some. Other aches are coming to the fore. Right arm and shoulder, left shoulder, back. However the left leg wins. I seem to have really strained the inside of my left thigh muscle.

Over Christmas I was intending to have 5 days with my parents then spend the rest of the time getting the bigger jobs done that I can't do over a weekend. I'll have to think of something suitable to tell Mrs S. I can't bring the bike back now she'll panic. But I'm injured anyway, I couldn't ride that far.

The Ibuprofen are kicking in now and things are a little easier. But then they were getting worse so it's a tie I think. Two tablets and a glass of water by the bed in case I can't get up.

Sadly I have an important meeting tomorrow which I had to shift from last week and must be done this week before people start to vanish. So I'll have to make it anyway, whether I feel like it or not. In the end it's mostly muscular bruising and strains. Nothing is broken, I have a perfect recollection of what that feels like. I didn't even bang my helmet, not a mark. The bike has sliders (which worked) and smaller panniers it slid on.

Anyway there is a hospital right at the top of the street over from where I work. Right at Euston Square station. If I need to I'll grab a bus and go up there. Although busses are almost more painful than walking, the way they drive them and the need to get off quickly.

Many years ago I went through a roof backwards from 3M and was carted off to hospital and unable to get out of bed much for a week. This is nothing like that.

[Kaz]

Goodness me Suff! Do try to get some 'down' time some time soon. Nobody could or should keep up the pace you seem to go at, without something having to give

[tonicha]

Berlimey Suff

You take it easy, or as easy as you can.

[molly]

My goodness Suff. You were so lucky!!!
A visit to the hospital is probably a very good idea, just to make sure you really are ok.

[jenniren]

Gosh Suff, please take it ease. Molly's right a trip to the hospital is a good idea x

[Diflower]

Blimey Suff, you take care xx

[Suff]

Thanks all.

I woke up with clear improvement. The lump on my thigh has responded to the ibuprofen and is down almost completely with a slight bruise in the middle (I don't bruise a lot). The main problem is the inner muscles on my thigh. Which are a tad tender.

Sadly I can't just go and have a hot bath as there is no bath here. I'm going to get some Voltarol from Asda this morning on my way to work and I'll see if I can get a heat pad you stick in the microwave later today.

Without the protective gear I would have been in quite a sorry state even with such a minor crash as this one. I guess a lot of bikers would have slammed into the back of the car. That would have really hurt.

I'm off to work shortly. Have a good day.

[Osc]

Suff, that is bad enough but could have been so much worse Please look after yourself, none of us is invincible.