15 May 2013

Who will make the first last mistake.

Well, as you all probably know, yesterday I came off the bike. Again. Happily, I'm mainly fine. Lots of witnesses to say the other guy was in the wrong - he was doing something on his phone, glanced around and pull out of a side turning, right into my path. I'm pretty lucky, a few seconds longer and he'd have gone into the side of me, not the other way around, and I'd've been lucky to get away with a broken leg.

As it was, I saw, half-swerved, hit him and my bike went right while I went up and over the windscreen/roof. So most damage to me was the sudden deceleration of my legs clipping the car, and the further deceleration of the rest of me hitting the road once I'd gone over the car.

Most of the damage to the bike was hitting his car, then glancing off to be hit by a 4x4 coming the other way. It ended up wedged under the front of that one. Fuel tank was gone, entire front end...I've seen enough bike crashes in my time to think that's a write-off. Just glad I'd parted company with it before it ended up like that. Helmet's all scraped and the visor's messed up, hanging off. Jacket survived with only some more scrapes and scuffs, so I'll sort it out.

Sherlock's fascinated by my bruises, so he's fairly happy, and was very gentle when he clambered onto the bed this morning (over John, not over me!) Although he does wish there was something more interesting wrong with me (some would argue there is...)

And...Mycroft will be sitting his first exam in about an hour and a half. Feels very grown up.

...and I didn't hit post when I wrote this, so now he'll be halfway through his exam...

35 comments:

KHolly said...

As others have already said, better the bike than you.

Are motorcycle helmets single use the way bicycle helmets are? So that if you actually use it in a crash the process of it absorbing the impact changes the internal structure of it. It's hard to convince people of that because the helmet doesn't look any different, but it's really no longer useful.

Good luck with your recovery. Have patience with yourself.

Greg Lestrade said...

KHolly - if you've got any sense you'd never use a helmet after having a smash in it. John and Ioth got new ones after the last spill, too. But yeah, they're expensive, so people do keep using them. Small price to pay to avoid brain damage or worse though, in my view. You're already vulnerable, as a biker, may as well have everything you can on your side.

John H. D. Watson said...

If the bike's done for, are you going to get another one?

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, although maybe a different model.

Can't be seen on the back of a BMW for the rest of my days - I've got some self respect! ;)

Anyway, need two bikes to get the four of us around.

John H. D. Watson said...

So mean to my lovely bike.

Two bikes and two sidecars and a trailer and...

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm glad you love you your bike.

John H. D. Watson said...

I really do. Thank you. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, hope it makes it easier to understand, too, wanting to get back on when you fall off. I imagine you'd be exactly the same.

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah, but I don't need to understand really - I know you love it, that's enough.

Greg Lestrade said...

I don't think you at all appreciate just how amazing and special you are.

I am unbelievably lucky to have found you.

John H. D. Watson said...

I feel just as lucky to have found you, so we're even.

Mycroft said...

Thank you for the good wishes in John's post, everyone. This exam is over with, and I think I did reasonably well.

pandabob said...

I'm glad you feel it went well Mycroft that's always a good sign :-)

John, Greg, I hope you've enjoyed your day as much as you could with all the aches and pains :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Brilliant, glad to hear that Mycroft.

John H. D. Watson said...

Mycroft - I'm glad it went well, not that I had any doubt. :)

Small Hobbit said...

Glad to hear that your exam went well Mycroft.

KHolly, it's the same with riding helmets/hats for horses (ie when riding a horse, not for the horse to wear). Last time my daughter came off she had to buy another hat, this time she seems to have hit her side, but I forgot to enquire about her head.

Greg Lestrade said...

For those of you wondering - I did vaguely suggest suit shopping. John gave me a look that reminded me I'm an idiot and we didn't go. Quite rightly, as I currently need his help to dress and undress. And he's the only person I trust to touch me right now.

I did get to see the chicks again though. And did some armchair bike shopping, as well as confirm my statement to the officers dealing with yesterday.

pandabob said...

you and John in a changing room, you puffing and panting in pain while he tries to get you in and out of a suit. I Can't for the life of me think why that wouldn't be a good idea ;-)

I hope you found some lovely bikes to look at :-)

Sherlock said...

Why didn't you buy a bike? You should have bought one already.

Greg Lestrade said...

It takes a while to get everything worked out, and the insurance company needs to decide if it's going to pay out. Not like I could ride on very comfortably right now anyway!

Sherlock said...

But you need a new bike now!

Greg Lestrade said...

Come over here, for a cuddle and a chat. We'll look at bikes.

Greg Lestrade said...

...and I am completely shattered, despite having done nothing today. Night all.


Oh, Mum gave a sort of backhanded compliment today. Called me an idiot for riding a bike...and said "You should take more care, now John and his boys rely on you".... almost sounds like she's admitted they're here to stay :) (that's the way I'm choosing to look at it, anyway.)

rsf said...

Oh, they're definitely here to stay!

I'm beginning to think that if nothing happens to John, everything happens to you. Which doesn't mean I want anything to happen to John! But I hope your bruises ease up soon.

Can you actually decide on a bike just from seeing it online, btw? I can't even buy food that way very happily. I want to know how it smells!

pandabob said...

That was a lovely thing for your mum to say Greg :-)

I hope you're less bruised and uncomfortable today and that whether you're at work or not today the day treats you well :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm at home - but some work is coming to me, courtesy of Sal. I wouldn't be much use to anyone, though, if I went in. Still moving...cautiously.

RSF - no, you need to ride a bike before buying it. But it's nice to look at the different models so you know what you want to test-ride. There are always lots of reviews and things, and you can look at the specs.

pandabob said...

That's nice of Sally ;-)

hopefully another day of sort of resting will have you fixed up :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

It's actually surprisingly nice not to be allowed to do anything. I've played my guitars, had a gentle walk to school and back and there's a cake in the oven... Sal hasn't shown up yet.

pandabob said...

I'm sorry you had to get injured in order to get the chance but I'm glad you're enjoying a relaxed day :-)

Kestrel337 said...

I'm glad you are taking a day to be cared for. I know that's been a hard thing in the past.

Did you see any bikes that you particularly like the look/sound of? Did Sherlock?

Greg Lestrade said...

I think it's just being forced not to do anything. There's always the temptation to just fill days off doing things because you feel like you have to make the most of them.

Sherlock saw many, many bikes he liked the looks of!

REReader said...

Oh, Mum gave a sort of backhanded compliment today. Called me an idiot for riding a bike...and said "You should take more care, now John and his boys rely on you".... almost sounds like she's admitted they're here to stay :)

To me it looks like her not only recognizing that they are a major part of your life but that you are just as important to them--I'd say that that's both a compliment and an acceptance. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

It would have been more successful if she hadnt insisted on calling them 'his' boys, or sort of implied that we're in some sort of stereotypical heterosexual roles in our relationship. Or called me an idiot. But still, step in the right direction.

Anonymous said...

It's funny, I'd noticed the 'his boys', but wasn't sure whether I was being overly sensitive. But that said it's still an improvement!

Lancs. Anon

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, it is. And maybe I'm being overly sensitive, too. But along with everything else - and it being implied I was in the wrong in the crash - it just grated.

Still, she admits they exist, now!

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