my stupid bike

This evening I was planning on writing a couple of posts to update you on my busy last week and weekend.  But, my stupid bike got in the way.

At the end of my work day I printed off the training schedule the British Heart Foundation sent a couple of weeks ago, and was scared when I looked at it!  The ten week schedule has me cycling five times a week, with a ride on Sunday that's three to four hours long!  It's only four weeks until the cycle ride and I've been cycling for one hour a couple of times a week.  This Saturday was an exception, I was on my bike for two hours, a first.  So this evening after pilates I decided to go for an hour long ride to Rottingdean and back.

I was looking good in my lycra, flying past other cyclists along the seafront.  I was feeling good and having fun.  Then it happened.  MY BIKE DIED!  As I went up a hill I shifted and all the sudden that was it, the peddles wouldn't go around.  Uh, oh I thought. Great my chain's come off.  Luckily somehow I managed to not fall!!  That's good for me, really good.  And, I unclipped with my right foot too, I've Never gotten off my bike with my right foot first.  Don't know how I managed this.

I set my bike down in the grass and started to put the chain back on, only it wouldn't go on!  It was stuck!  Kinked up inside the sprokets not want to budge a millimeter.  Tom was still at football, so what was I to do?  Off came my shoes because they are horrible to walk in with their toe clips, and in my stocking feet pushing my bike I started back towards home.

I was far from home.  I made it to the Marina before this disaster occured, which is far on the opposite side of where I live, at least an hour and a half walk.  But what was I to do?

Luckily I did get a hold of Tom, and after about 45 min of walking he saved me by picking me up and taking me safely home.  He continued to be a bit of a hero by taking the sprokets apart and miraculously managing to get that nasty ol chain out.  My bike now works again.  Thank God for boys!  They are necessary every now and then.  I though about taking a picture of Tom being a hero and saving my bike, but I don't think he was really in the mood to have his picture taken.  Not with slime and grit all over his hands.

So I shall ride another day.  And my debute in the London 2 Brighton will go ahead as planned.  But tonight, I am NOT very happy with my stupid bike.

Love