The "off learning curve" has officially begun...

Yes I may have had a bit of a slide on Tuesday

Story goes like this:

Had arranged to meet up with Melody and head over to Squires seeing as I'm over in that direction temporarily. Was on the bike 5 minutes when I went into the beginnings of an S bend a wee bit too hot (about 30mph lol) and hadn't noticed the unsuspecting gravel lying over the left hand side of the road at the entrance to a drive. I swerve a little to avoid it but little too late, through the gravel, up the grass verge and back into the road...with the bike on its side

THe S bend was fortunately on a slight incline which helped to slow the bike down, it stopped and I carried on sliding a little bit. I then got up and ran straight over to the bike and killed the engine before picking it back up immediately. Bike was still in gear so I couldn't wheel it out of the way, by this time the adrenaline (i.e. super spur of the moment strength) was fading. A woman in a 4x4 had stopped and checked I was ok, I'd waved her on and then the next car stopped and a chap jumped out and wheeled it to the side for me while I picked up the bits of rev counter that were strewn across my side of the road. By this time Mel, who was in front, had realised I was no longer behind and came back.

I was a bit shaky and a few tears were shed in shock but I was more upset about being so stupid and breaking my little bike! Amazingly the only thing to have been smashed was the rev counter, the dial and casing was snapped off and the rest of the clock was hanging off a bit but other than that and a few scuffs the bike was fine! I started him up and Mel asked whether I wanted to head back home or carry on to Squires. I am truly grateful to her for giving me the option an not panicking as I do believe if I hadn't have got straight back on to the bike and carried on as normal I wouldn't have got back on for a while What's that saying, if you fall off the horse you've got to get straight back on the bloody thing

So I did and we had a lovely time at Squires (my first visit).

Got back to where I was staying in one piece, tied a plastic bag over the destroyed rev counter and job's a good 'un

What have I learnt from this? Gravel makes a truly HORRID sound when you're sliding tyres across it!!!

Thankyou so much for keeping your cool Melody, what an absolute star you are

Since I knackered the rev counter I've done about 100 miles on him and I'm actually quite happy without it, I'm tuning in to the engine sounds a lot better and my gear changes are improving shedloads. I might just leave it hanging off, hey I am Miss Yorkie_Chris after all, appearances mean nothing haha

Other than that little scrape and the odd stupid drop things seem to be going ok for me and Jose, we have done something shy of 500 miles together since I got him less than a month ago, maybe more. I've had a great variety of roads to play on and am still loving every minute. I'm just so thankful this little off hasn't dented my confidence, I think the fact I need the transport and freedom so much meant I had no choice but to get back on.

Anywho, just thought I'd share!

[the_lone_wolf]

Nothing like the sound of bike meeting road...

I should know, done it a few times now...

Time to ask Sid Squid for some advice...

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

Time to ask Sid Squid for some advice...

Think he may just tell me what I already know, don't get too confident and go faster than capable of controlling! Oh and avoid gravel lol

Well done for getting straight back on MYC! I bet it shook you up a bit and if you are anything like me, I bet you were really annoyed at yourself!

Hope you weren't too sore next day?

good for you for getting straight back on and yes gravel is a bit of a bugger , im sure its caught every one out at some point

As long as you're in tact, just learn from it, keep riding and keep smiling

You will have to try a lot harder than that if you want your bike to look as good as Chris's!!!

Well done for getting back on and improving you bikes appearance.

Glad both ok.

glad your okay myc and good to know your up and running so soon on him. which brings me to a little observation, why are girls bikes referred to as ''him'' and boys bikes reffered to as ''her''?
my wife calls mine ''bottomless blooming pit''.

Thanks for the replies everyone

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

Hope you weren't too sore next day?

I was very sore in the evening, bruised my hip and thumb so have had to take it easy the last couple of days. Bruise just been coming through and I must say I'm very disappointed! For the amount of pain its given me it's a pitiful array of colours and size!

Originally Posted by Gene genie

glad your okay myc and good to know your up and running so soon on him. which brings me to a little observation, why are girls bikes referred to as ''him'' and boys bikes reffered to as ''her''?
my wife calls mine ''bottomless blooming pit''.

No idea. I don't really call it by its name either, although I admit I do talk to it a bit, say hello in the morning and such hahaha

[gruntygiggles]

Haha, I actually say good morning and goodnight to BB (babyblade).

Maria.....well blo0dy done for getting back on and carrying on as you're absolutely right in the saying about horses....I should know...I've been falling off them and jumping back on all my life. Don't know if I'll be as brave as you when it's my turn to go sliding down the road though......RESPECT! BaP had a very similar off on our ride on Thursday and he did the same thing...straight back on and carried on enjoying himself.

Glad the bike is ok, but MUCH more glad that you are ok and I totally get your frustration with the bruise.....I am exactly the same!