Decided to take the new Landescape out for its first proper run yesterday.Of course after a few days of reasonable weather it decided to p*** it down.
Undaunted we set off for Driffield with the intention of tandeming from Driffield to Hornsea via Skipsea and back via Brandesburton.The Atera Bike Lift did its job marvellously although I never feel entirely relaxed with a bike on the roof.I am listening out for every little creak and groan and expect to see it flying off down the motorway never to be seen again.
Anyway minutes after pedalling off the heavens opened and it was on with the waterproofs.All went well,well apart from setting off with the *parking* brake on and thinking this tandeming lark is hard work,until the dreaded cycle path on the outskirts of Hornsea.
Traffic was thundering by as it does and there was a brand new laid cycle path to our left.I am not usually one for cycle paths but this looked inviting and Liz The Stoker suggested we might use it.OK I thought,why not.A dropped kerb approached,I headed for it,at the last second I realised it wasn’t flat to the road but it was too late.The bike wouldn’t ride over the slightly raised kerb at such an acute angle in the wet,slid down the side and dumped us on the footpath.Liz The Stokers head hit the path with a resounding crack ( luckily she was helmeted ),and there we laid,with traffic whizzing by,no one even blinked an eyelid.
Why on earth local authorities can’t put a dropped kerb flat to the road is a mystery.It was obviously there to give access to the cycle path.
After picking ourselves up we surveyed the damage.One torn Altura Night Vision Jacket,the shiny new Shimano 105 shifter road rashed and last but not least one sore stoker who had taken the brunt of the fall.I could see it coming,she couldn’t.
At this point I went into *mulling it over mode* ( Liz the Stoker calls it sulking but it’s not ).She gamely climbed back on the bike and we set off again for Hornsea and had an enormous plate of fish,chips and mushy peas to ease the pain while the rain continued to hammer down outside.
The ride back was uneventful but extremely wet,pot holed and puddly.I must give credit to Liz The Stoker who remained cheerful throughout when she had good grounds for never wanting to see a tandem again and I couldn’t have blamed her really.
She is really sore today,neck,shoulders,knee,elbows.I told her not to go to work but off she went,probably with a bit of concussion.How you deliver babies with concussion I don’t know.
A new helmet is called for I think.
Well I suppose all new tandemists fall at some stage,I hope that is ours over and done with.
The last little joy was getting out of Driffield.
What a place.
No road signs to speak of,round and round for half an hour.Even the GPS was lost.We passed the car park three times. Roads that have cars parked on both sides so they are only one lane and drivers who insist that that lane is theirs.
Eventually the GPS had an electronic fit and pointed us in the right direction.
Hi Bosun, wow that was some initiation into tandem riding.
Luckily for me and stokes, I think I’m right in saying,
we haven’t had the miss fortune of a bad fall like yours.
Then again Stokes is always aware, (after our first S bend)of whats coming up.
Stokes won’t let me! Forget!!
Hi Ian, you have a gem of a stoker. Just as I have.
Stokes came out with a remark that stopped me dead,.
Whilst riding through country lanes and just starting up a long drag
from behind me came in a very posh voice
” You have just ridden through something” (pause)"and its stuck to my leg"
Well I just cracked up laughing,what else could I do, couldn’t even push the pedals around.
I had to stop,
Thats why I love riding with Stokes!
You don’t know whats coming next!!!
Your post is amazing. From long time I search for this information. But I didn’t get right thing. Thanks to you I got stuff which I am looking for. I would like to read more from you.
P90x Workout schedule P90X workout
Forget!!
Hi Ian, you have a gem of a stoker. Just as I have.
