Taking a Tumble on the Regular Commute

[Rab C Nesbitt]

Just a cautionary note to all you regular busy-traffic commuters out there – it’s not another moan about pot-holes, this is to highlight their evil cousin . . . the 4 inch deep tramline !

When I’m on my usual commute and on the busy main roads, I’m normally in “Robocop” mode, watching everything that’s going on and fully alert.
However, about a mile from my work, I turn off on to a quieter road leading to some industrial estates and a dead end, so there’s very little traffic on it.
I must have gone in to Mary Poppins mode , possibly looking around me and thinking what a fine morning it was and how good it was to be alive, when suddenly my front wheel went in to this narrow elongated trench (like the old tram lines) - the predicted result ensued and the bike and I parted company.

Luckily this all happened on a quiet road. I got a grazed elbow and knee out of the deal but probably my pride was more hurt than anything.
As I say, this mercifully happened on a quiet stretch but if you folks out there see these tramlines on a busy stretch, watch what you’re doing.

Also quite happy that this happened on my trusty old tourer for two reasons.
Firstly, I’ve had the bike for a good while and I know it inside out so it was quite simply my fault for not paying attention to the road
And secondly, I’m awaiting delivery of a Trek Valencia (with the Bionx motor) and had this happened with the new bike, a small voice would have been saying “ . . ah well this wouldn’t have happened if you’d stayed with your trusty old tourer”

Anyhoo . . really looking forward to getting on it and laughing in the face of headwinds & hills although the re-appearance of snow up here (Glasgow) just makes your heart sink when you look out in the morning before going to work

 

[RoadieRoger]

Rail Lines

Commiserations on the weather up there Rab , luckily there aren`t many lines on the roads here in S.Wales .The only time I cross any is near the Ford Plant at Bridgend on my Scooter , I make sure I approach them as near as at 90 degrees as possible . In 1962 I was riding my Ariel Arrow Motorcycle going into the Foundry at the Dowlais Works at Merthyr Tydfil and crossing some lines very carefully in the wet ,when the next minute I was lying between the sleepers on the track with my Motorcycle next to me .About 100 yards away was the Works Steam Shunting Engine bearing down on me .Did I move and apart from my pride , the screen on my machine nicked my nose .I was lucky !

 

[Rab C Nesbitt]

The only time I cross any is near the Ford Plant at Bridgend on my Scooter , I make sure I approach them as near as at 90 degrees as possible .

Hi Roger
Thanks for the commiserations - and you're right in what you say about the 90 degree approach . . . even if we were rubbish at geometry in school, we learn very quickly about good & bad angles !!

It's that sinking feeling you get when you realise you are running parrallel with them . .