After filling up with petrol, we headed off for the first green lane. We must have ridden about 400m on the lane, when Alun stopped. As I came to a stop next to him, he pointed and explained about the rubble ahead….it most probably had been filled in by the farmer (we think). I spotted large stones, corners of concrete slabbing and bricks broken in half etc etc.
Having never ridden on this type of terrain before, I was nervous, but opted to ride that section rather than get off and push Tank across the 100m of rubble. I watched Alun do the section and tried to remember what he had told me…to keep up my momentum, ‘loosey goosey with the handle bars etc.
I managed the section very well (‘perfect’ in Alun’s words!), keeping in second gear and steady on the throttle. I thought I was looking ahead….but if I had been, I would have seen the bend immediately after the rubble section, and come off the throttle. Instead, I grabbed my front brake and….well…I came off at speed.
Now I don’t remember grabbing my front brake (it was only when Alun showed me the tracks in the dirt that it was obvious I had grabbed!), I don’t remember Alun signalling for me to slow down, I don’t remember Alun moving away (I was heading straight for him!!)….I just remember thinking I’m not going to make that bend!
The fall resulted in my hurting the following:
* right ankle and heel (major swelling tonight!)
* right knee (lots of bruising)
* left hand knuckles (only became apparent after the initial shock had worn off!)
* right elbow (again, only became apparent after the initial shock had worn off!)
The fall also resulted in me giving away my bike to Alun….’you can have the bloody thing!’, I said, as I sat in the heat feeling miserable and sorry for myself! (There was not a mark on Tank!!)
Why can’t I stop grabbing at the front brake, why can’t I look ahead, why don’t I have the confidence in my (Alun’s!!) bike?....that’s when I thought ‘F**k it…I give up’.
But that was then….now I’m thinking…F**k it…try again!!!
