Let me set the scene: illness has kept me off the bike properly for over 3 years. I’m now at the stage where I can ride with someone else who knows what to do in case of a problem. My wife (best wife ever) found me someone who can do this for me so I can finally get out again.
A rush to get all of the parts ensues. As the date approaches I realise that all of the disks/adaptors/spacers I thought I had start looking a little thin on the ground. A bigger rush ensues. Many last minute “guaranteed next day delivery” orders and postage costs are incurred. Then I find that my brakes are leaking everywhere. Suddenly the reason that they were so cheap in America dawns. This causes a mad rush into town to get new brakes the day before the ride. The final build is completed with just enough time to get some sleep.
On the day I am psyched and ready to go. Put the bike in the car and head up to the Carron Valley trails. Feeling great. A few minutes from the car park my crank arm comes loose. No problem – a little tightening sorts that out. Start climbing and my laughable fitness makes itself noticeable. No problem – that will come back with time. Get to the first fun bit. Get a little uneasy going over the first rock bit. No problem – confidence will come with time. Ride down the trail and I’m all over the place. No problem – technique will come back with time. Go over the bars at the next obstacle. Ahh. Come down heavy, head first, on the ground. Ahh. I find myself in a place I like to call Concussion Avenue. Ride stops there, with a walk back to the car, glad that I had decided to use flats.
Concussion doesn’t improve over the next few days, seems to get worse actually. Several trips to A&E later, I have a severe head injury, seizures have started again (which re-sets the clock on the “1 year seizure-free” in order to get my driving licence back), and have been told that I am now off bike again for at least a month.
Cheer me up. Show pictures of landscapes, bikes propped up against things, riding, shiny stuff, basically anything bike related.
