The trouble with bike helmets.....

.....is that if you land face first they don't help.

Doesn't look that bad now, if only BigFootCookie had taken a picture of my "red scarf" it might have warranted a submission to BikeMagic.

The scenario: The first rainy day for weeks, a thunderstorm at that and heavy rain to boot, adding up to a slick slippery surface on the corner of Lionel & Newhall. I'm riding along at a fair pace (never got to find out but I'm sure it was going to be a record time), approaching the final corner before I get to work. The lights turn to red, but hey I'm on my bike and it's an easy left turn, so I make sure all is clear and go for the turn.
The accident: I feel the bike slide from under me, my SPD pedals somehow detach, and I go face first into the tarmac, breaking part of my fall with my left arm, breaking the rest with my chin.
The damage: Me - 2 holes in my chin, one mended with stitches the other mended with glue. (see above). A sprained wrist/arm that feels more broken to me. Several minor cuts and bruises. My Bike - No major damage, just a cool battle scar on the rear quick release. My clothes - completely undamaged, even the blood has washed out!
Big Thanks to: The couple of samaritans who picked me up from the middle of the road and made sure I was OK. BigFootCookie and TheStang for patching me up and putting me in the correct recovery position. RedGypsy for calling the paramedics - my first ride in an ambulance, woohoo. And MrMaloney, waiting for hours in the hospital supplying me with tea and coffee and giving me a lift home. Oh, and Gayle, thanks for the Chocolate Hobnob Biscuit Bar :)

still Hot

"Yikes - it's hot outside, everyone is sweaty, and your legs are stuck to the seat of the car. What do you do? Swim, of course! Race your friends or show off your underwater skill by doing a handstand. But don't forget the safety rules. Make sure there's an adult around to watch you and no dunking!

On land, you can have a water balloon toss with friends. Catch that balloon, or you'll get soaked!

When you're exercising in the heat, it is very important to remember to drink lots of water, even if you don't feel thirsty. Hot temperatures make you sweat more when you're exercising, so you must replace the water you lose to prevent heat exhaustion.

More things to do when it's hot:

* Take a nature walk on a shady trail.
* Wash your dog outside.
* Wash your parents' or neighbors' car.
* Turn on the sprinkler and cool off!"

excerpt from The Internet

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!

shoulders back, chest out.

Saturday - Couldn't wait to give my new bike it's first proper test run, after figuring out the SPD pedals (not half as scary as I'd imagined, clipping out before bailing is pretty easy). It being my first ride I was pushing it (and consequentially me) to the limit. What can I say, "wow" would be a good start. "Bloody hell it's fast" would be more descriptive. Took it along a mixture of road and off-road, keeping up with traffic along some stretches! But, after about 5 miles, I realised it was far too hot to be cycling, and I subsequently collapsed on a grass verge. (thankfully recovery was swift as I had my new Camelback).
So, what to do but get out my camera and take some "glamour" shots.

strange...but I can't wait to commute to work on Monday morning!!!

Tie me down sport

As my ride to work is only a little over 4 miles, I've been taking a completely different route home so as to get a proper work-out. With the intention of avoiding as many roads as possible I've been heading out on the Worcester & Birmingham canal. I then exit at, and make my way through, the University of Birmingham campus. From here it's past the kangaroos and on to Cannon Hill Park where it's time for some proper mountain biking along a great (but short) trail through the forest. Then it's on to Highbury Park, which I have yet to explore properly but I'm sure I've seen a trail here too, then a couple of quiet roads before I get home.

...yes, I did say past the kangaroos! It's amazing how much more you see when you get out of your car and on your bike. These 'roos in particular live at Birmingham Nature Centre.

Hmmm, now that I think about it, aren't kangaroos much bigger than this? Maybe these are special dwarf kangaroos, bred so that they can't leap over the fences? Or are they Wallabies?

I've had my fill of petrol fumes

Thought I'd treat my bike to one last adventure before it becomes my spare bike, only to be used in emergencies. I've been plotting a ride to Stourport via the Midlands' fine network of canals, to pre-empt this I decided to explore the canals on route to Dudley, they be quite complex in this area (as canals go). It looked like rain but I didn't take my jacket because I haven't got one yet, luckily the heavens never opened.

10 minutes ride along the Birmingham Canal Main Line out from Gas Street Basin, I spotted two old people with a camera, I wondered why they were taking a picture of a wall until I'd rode past them and this big bird thing flew off.

I didn't quite make it as far as Dudley (although when I got home and had a look at the map I was only a couple of miles short). I managed to get as far as Tipton, a rather dodgy stretch of canal that passes underneath the M5, delicious chemical scents wafting from the nearby factories.

There was no point in continuing any further as the batteries in my camera ran out, (as I was trying to take a picture of some rather aggressive Canadian Geese) if you can't take a picture there's no proof that you were there!!

A rather pleasant 20 mile trip, however a bit more training will be required before I tackle the 30 miles to Stourport.

Suit you Sur?

Thanks to bigfootcookie for converting my faith from petrol to pedal power. Having ridden to work for the last 3 weeks, I can safely say I've got the bug. So much so that I'm splashing out on a "proper" bike, a Gary Fisher Big Sur.

Hmm, How does Gary Fisher come up with his bike names anyway? Ahh, Most of them come from places Gary has ridden around the world. Others are from Native American culture.

Sooo, Big Sur relates to the former, it's a particularly pleasant place to ride in California, as blogged about here.

Coldplay - X &Y

Bland, slightly depressing awfulness, each track merging with the next.

Jose Mourinho to star in Big Brother

Well, OK, not quite but he will be picking the winner of a new reality TV show called 'Football Icon'

The winner gets a professional contract with Chelsea and joins their academy.