So I had my first crash yesterday, which I knew was coming, but it was definitely pride hurt as much as my body. OK, so it’s a pretty funny story.

Coming back from football (with very cold hands) I was using a bus lane and paying a little too much attention to the bus following me closely. So I got my head down and pumped in a few turns in a high gear, then looked up to find the bus lane ends for a fairly narrow bridge, but is also blocked off by a barrier which lifts when the bus pulls up. You can see where I’m going with this…

So from a decent distance I look up to see the barrier, move my hands to the brakes and can’t get them to squeeze the levers at all, really. By now I’m channeled in to the lane with nowhere to go, and had enough time to brace before clattering through the barrier and down on to the road. The most damage was done to the barrier and my ego, in all honesty, and left the following bus driver looking very confused. I fixed the barrier for him, don’t worry.

Moral of the story? Don’t ride with numb hands that can’t operate the brakes!