My Cycling Story.

My parents ensured that each of their children would be able to ride a bike.  In order to do this, they followed these guidelines...

a. Buy a bike that the child likes and will enjoy to ride.
b. Buy and attach stabilisers.
c. Take child to grassy field nearby on a regular basis.

With stabilisers, you don't fall off.  You feel like you've achieved this mighty accomplishment...possibly a feeling greater than whoever invented the wheel or fire felt.

Without stabilisers, you fall off...to begin with.  We were going on a Sunday afternoon stroll, and whilst on 'The Cut' (and old railway line) my stabilisers fell off.  It was on rocky terrain...my wheels didn't stand a chance.  My dad encouraged me to pick my bike up, and that grown ups don't use stabilisers.  We went to a nearby grassy field (see guideline 3), and it had a small grassy mound which we walked up.  I got on my bike, my dad pushed me down, and at the bottom I fell off.  Gutted.  We tried a number of occasions, but after feeling like a failure...I decided I didn't want to ride a bike.  Who needs it anyway.  My dad (taking the second part of the third guideline into account) got us back on the bike, and eventually I started riding a bike for myself.

Who knew it would be the start of such a rollercoaster of a relationship?

When I was around 7/8, I was cycling down my street with my other friends.  I didn't notice that a particularly large stone was sat in the middle of the road (a car would have been ok to drive over it, but my bike...no).  My bike struck the stone, and stopped...as I continued to fly over the handlebars.  I went head first into the concrete followed by the rest of me.  Not exactly sure what happened after that.  I woke up (I assume I got knocked out from my little detour to the tarmac.) to see a paramedic shining a light in my eye and talking about her chicken called Lucky.  Again, I can only remember bits and pieces, but I had a toy dalmatian at the time which I had named Lucky...perhaps this was the reason for her ice breaker.  I woke up again (probably just fell asleep at this point) to a big bearded doctor shining a light in my eyes and asking me how many fingers he was holding up....think I got a couple wrong, but he kept moving his hand...I blame that.  Anyway, I ended up with concussion, a graze on my forehead and had to have my arm in a sling (not sure why now as it wasn't broken or anything).  The docs said had I not been wearing my helmet, my injuries would have been a lot worse.  Since then, I've always worn my helmet.

A couple of years later, quite close to the same place as the previous accident spot, I tried to cycle up onto the lowered part of the curb...however, I was attempting to do it sideways.  Somehow, I ended up on the floor and the ambulance arrived as I may have been knocked out again...I tend to hit my head I figure.  And, this is when I realised my bike and I would never have a good future.  I grew taller and needed a new bike...so said goodbye to my blue BMX and got a brand new red bike - unfortunately, it's not the bike that causes the accidents, it's me...I discovered.

I was up in the Lake District doing some mountain biking with my youth club and after a long cycle up, it was time to come down.  I should have known at this point that pedalling when going down accelerates you at an immense speed.  I should have seen the loose stones on the floor.  I should have seen the sheep poo mixed with some form of fluid on the ground.  I should have seen the people at the bottom.  I had to slow down...I couldn't work out how.  When I tried to brake, the stones were preventing me from slowing down slowly...and as I tried to slow down,  the poo/liquid cocktail splashed up in my face...as I was nearing the crowd of ramblers, I knew I had to stop so prepared myself to jump off and started to tilt...but suddenly, another one of the girls on the trip cycled up behind me (she had the same problem), hit the side of my bike causing my bike to stop somehow (no idea how), but I looked behind me and found her on the floor with her jeans ripped.  Thankfully, that's all that happened - it could have been a lot worse.

Most recently, however, was on my daily cycle ride to work.  My laces got caught in the gear chain, and as my laces were double knotted, the lace did not untie as the chain turned, so my lace was being pulled closer and closer to the chain causing my right foot to become, pretty much, void.  I thought I had to tilt to my free foot on the left side, but by then it was too late...I was able to slow down enough so I would just fall...instead of a moving fall (I know how to prevent injuries now).  My left leg hit the pedal (which left a bruise), and I had slight marks and bruises on my right arm where I fell - thankfully again, I landed on the grassy/rocky side of the path...had it been my left foot, it would have been rocky.  I untied my lace from the chain, and continued on my journey.  When I arrived at work, I was somewhat shaken as it had completely jolted my system.

If you need any last minute advice when preparing for a bike fall...gimme a quick text, and I'll let you know how best to complete it without injury.

US Road Trip

This has been one of my dreams for years...to fly to New York (and spend a week there checking out the sites etc), then hire a car and drive to California.

So are you going to go in a straight line there?

No way.  If this trip happens, I would like to go to visit many places in the south including going down to Miami (right at the bottom of Florida), Georgia (to see the famous lake from Sweet Home Alabama), Nashville (home of country music), Amarillo, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, then spend a few days/week in California doing all the touristy things over there.

Is this actually going to happen?

I've even bought a Michelin map of the US, usually this is a sign of pro-activity for me.  I've checked out car rental companies, and found rentals to be quite good price wise! And the cost of petrol (or gaaaas, over there) is also a lot cheaper than it is in England.

Who are you going with?

At the moment, it's just me.  However, it would be a lot cheaper, more fun, less tiring...if someone came with. My mum wouldn't mind coming, however, as she's married to my dad, it would be wrong to leave without him.  And I *really* don't want to do my dream road trip...with my parents.  Therefore, if anyone would like to re-enact Thelma and Louise with me (without the dramatic ending - I hope to make it back to England afterwards), let me know.

What are the requirements for this trip?

You've got to be fun.  You've got to have a driving licence...I'm not wanting to drive the entire way, therefore sharing the driving would be delightful.  You've got to want to be a tourist some days, and then be ok to see sights quickly (as it is a road trip...destinations in the middle won't have much viewing time), take a smiling picture, then leave...maybe buy an ice cream and souvenirs, or if it's a beach, hang out there.

Anything else?

Have some great driving music.

Final thought?

This is going to be my trip of a lifetime...and if I can save enough, I would love to do this trip either next summer or the following one.  I need this trip to happen soon, otherwise it'll never happen.  It's going to be epic.