I nearly died tonight

[Bluepete]

OK, so maybe a bit OTT, but I'm not a happy bunny.

On duty this evening, on a bike covering the MUFC v MCFC match at Eastlands.

Book on at 1700hrs, out to the bike, usual checks, note the new rear tyre (Phew, thank God it's dry) and off we go.

Bimble into Manchester, check in at the stadium RVP then go and collect the MUFC team coach to escort it to the stadium. By now I've done about 25 miles, so am happy and settled in. On the way into the car-park with the United coach right behind me think to myself;

"Oh, feels like I've got a puncture"

But wobbly, but no real issues, so finish with the coach and ride around the other side of the stadium and park up. Kick both tyres, both seem about right, so I give the rear another tap. This time I notice something that makes by blood run cold.

The rear wheel is loose and wobbling like mad!

Now bear in mind, it's got a single sided swingarm, so the wheel is bolted on like a car wheel. I check the bolts and all five are only finger tight and one is actually falling out!

Just think of the implications of this. Wheel comes off on the motorway into Manchester, death, dismemberment, wailing and gnashing of teeth ensues and I have a bit of a bad day.

I called the mechanic who fitted it and let him know I was a little bit peeved at having a near death experience, then managed to get a mechanic come and tighten the nuts. Obviously, being a mechanic, he took nearly two hours, despite being based only one mile away!

So, now on a roadworthy machine, off I went and zoomed around, generally being glad to be alive.

After the match, manned a road closure with a mate on another bike and was caught in the middle of a baton charge by our lovely horses...

They say bad luck comes in three's. I'm sh1tting bricks waiting for the third bit.

Pray for me!

Pete, trying to sip a beer whilst shaking like a sh1tting dog.

Bugger Pete, thats really serious, that mechanic should be warned officially for that, i hope you pointed out how serious it was

[Bri w]

Quiet night then?

Seriously though, Not funny. Don't know how you managed just a little bit peeved.

Loose nuts = Tight sphincter

Real glad it didn't end in disaster although at least we 'd have known not to make a roadside shrine

[BanannaMan]

Have one of your mates at work lie in wait and do him for speeding on his way home.
Your hands are clean, and his point record won't be.

Revenge, best served cold.

[hindle8907]

that not good !! glad you spotted it mate be fore it anything bad came of it.
the guy should be sacked on the spot, clearly there's a big lack of care and concentration some where.

can you not arrest the mechanic for being a idiot? there must be a law somewhere..

I guess in America it would be attempted murder?

Fingers crossed for you

If a Samurai's sword broke in combat, if he survived, he would return to the sword maker and feed him the pieces of broken sword.

In the modern world I do believe a thump on the noggin with a torque wrench would suffice.

Lucky escape Pete. Do the police not have a 'first works' check the same as the Military?

It is the responsibility of every soldier to ensure their vehicle is fit for the road before using it. Not trying to stipulate it's your fault, but the first works thing has always made me double check my vehicles if it has ever gone to have work done on it which wasn't done by me.

[timwilky]

I once saw a Manchester bike plod taken out by a car he was chasing slamming it into reverse. Junction of Deansgate/Bridge Street if I remember correctly. (Might have been Quay Street). However, the upshot is why worry about your own guy trying to kill you, there are enough scroats on the roads on Manchester trying to do it for real.

However, same rule applies for you guys as the rest of us. Work done by somebody else. Give it a proper check over before riding.