7 months, 12 days, one jump start and 3 bump starts later

Short version - I've ridden my bike.

Long version follows (this is mainly for me as a record to cut and
paste elsewhere)

Yesterday I decided it was about time to get over the nagging fear
that as soon as I reached a tricky junction on an odd camber I'd drop
the bike (I have form in this area) and end up doing more damage to
the leg - which still has a huge hole in the middle of the bone.

A couple of months back I'd done the 'getting it off the side stand
and upright' test but knew my leg wasn't strong enough. Also the poor
thing had been sat there since it arrived back from Germany on the
recovery truck.

I didn't put it on charge - mainly I think as an excuse as to why I
couldn't just jump on and give it a go. So, a bright day yesterday,
the charger went on. All the rest of the day I was slightly off kilter
wondering how it was going to go. Coming to it today the light still
hadn't gone green. I could have wimped out at that point. I felt
slightly sick, very uncertain and not convinced it was a good idea.

TBC suggested leaving it until tomorrow, I wanted him to be there (not
that he's any good at the soothing stuff I wanted - very much a 'just
get on with it' attitude which is exactly what I needed and why we're
such a good fit) and so I started to get ready while he got the jump
leads.

I don't know how much thought people give to getting their kit on,
it's certainly something that I don't usually consider but today every
action seemed magnified. As I put my contact lenses in I realised this
was only the second time I'd worn them since I broke my leg. I had to
fetch a stool to get my leather trousers down from the shelf above the
coat rack in the hall. Getting my right boot on took a fair bit of
effort, my ankle and foot are still slightly swollen and will probably
always be like that according to the physio. Putting my jacket on
soemthing clicked, it just felt right. I was ready.

So the bike was duly jump started. A quick check of indicators, a lube
of the chain, it was time. I started to turn it around but the
nervousness was back. Would I drop it before I'd even got on the
thing? TBC rolled it up onto the road and I very gently put my leg
over, touching the tip of my right toe down but taking no weight on
it. As I settled, adjusted the mirrors and looked down I realised the
counter was on zero.

Pulling off and heading to the 90 degree left at the end of the close
was smooth. The first thing I was going to do was head to put air in
the tyres. Getting to the turn to the main road I realised I strongly
didn't want to turn right, leaving my bad leg nearer to damage should
I slip on cold flat tyres. Fair enough, a left turn and down to the
roundabout.

There was a huge slick of diesel up to the line, so I was being very
gentle pulling out and promptly stalled it. ****. I knew there was
little chance of the battery having enough charge to catch the engine
after the measly 1 kilometre I'd travelled but I gave it a go anyway.
No. As I started to roll it to the side a cyclist stopped 'can I
help?' 'Bump start please.' He pushed, I dropped the clutch, it fired
and off I went.

Opening it up felt glorious. I'd forgotten to put my buff on, my neck
was cold, my visor was open, my eyes were drying out and I could feel
the grin starting. A quick lap around town and none of my traffic
sense has gone (I suppose driving kept that up) and all my 'He's going
to pull across without indicating' instincts are still spot on.

Right, time to get air. I pulled up to the petrol station and found I
felt slightly shaky. Time to nail that demon as well. On opening the
tank I was slightly surprised to find it full - Doh, of course I'd
just filled it before I broke the leg.

Then, of course, the fucker wouldn't start, despite all my 'oh come on
don't do this' pleading. The second bump start followed. Pulled across
to the air line intending to keep it running, got distracted by a car
reversing without looking and as I pulled forward again stalled it. By
this point I was torn between being irritated at my ham fistedness and
grinning at the sheer absurdity. Grinning won.

Tyres bumped up, third and final bump start and I decided that rather
than the long ride to charge the battery I'd been planning I'd just
head for home and bung it back on the optimate - the risks of stalling
where there was no one around for bump starting decided me.

So, I'm back, after a grand total of 10 miles. And incredibly happy.
Next time will be longer and better. Things I need to sort out on that
run - on one occasion I didn't cancel a turn signal. My gear changes
were nowhere near as smooth as they were, I need to take my time. I
need to sort out the main beam - it works on the pass switch (to just
flick it on and off) but not on the main switch. And that's about it.

Now let's see how easy it is to get my boots off.

 

Why didn't you snip that? Are you some kind of ****?



--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Honda Transalp XL600V
Yamaha R1
Range Rover Vogue

 

Yay! Aint been on mine this year so far, weathers been horrible & I was
poorly.

Great to get back on after a lay off, so 6 months must be even better



--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Honda Transalp XL600V
Yamaha R1
Range Rover Vogue

 

Well done you, now just keep at it and it'll soon seem like second
nature again.

 

Top show old bean - are you up for another crack at Slovenia in June?

Steve

 

You do realise you've got a foot pump in the garage, don't you? That yellow
Halfords thing?

Harwich ferry, Tuesday night. YKYWT

 

Lady Nina wrote:

<Snip tale of getting back on horse>

Well done.

Did you have a bump on the head as well?

 

Depending on work load, yes! Boss has already been warned ("Is that
the one with snow?" "No, this is the one I haven't been to yet") that
I'll be unavailable unless it's really urgent.

 

I couldn't find it. Because it is under the table in the living room.
Oops. Mechanised is easier anyway.

I have to admit to a slight hankering but I've got visits on Wednesday
and Thursday that I can't rearrange.

 

This is new, improved, being more careful me. <cough>

 

Congrats

It's a great feeling isn't it?

I went out last Sunday for the first time in nearly 2 weeks, cos of this
blasted weather and though I don't have any of the post accident nerves
that you had (good on you for overcoming them) I also noticed that my
riding had gone to cack;
Gear changes... not smooth
Timing of gear changes... best not go there as I nearly sent myself into
the tank with one particularly badly timed example!
Lines... all over the place, though to be fair there were quite a few pot-
holes to avoid along with gravel and mud on the roads to be aware of.

 

Yeah !

If it's any consolation I went for a short bimble yesterday and was
accidentally flicking the high beam on all over the place, forgetting to
cancel the indicators everywhere and wobbling like a weebly wobbly. Made
it home without breaking any bones so I'd count that as a success ;-)

snip

Trickiest part I had was fitting into my jacket, middle aged spread,
who'd have guessed it.

 

Wahey! Good on yer!

You may find lace-ups easier, with a wonky ankle/foot.

 

That sounds like fun...

 

Yay. Well done.

 

Well done! Now just make sure you don't pull the leg off instead of the
boot OK?

 

/makes thumbs up sign with both hands

 

took a blunt brush and painted...

Get used to it.

My doc said they would be able to think about sorting out the wrecked
ligaments when the hole in my femur filled in.

That was 9 years ago.

I am slightly concerned what they'll do when the arthritis in the knee gets
that bad I need an artificial knee put in, as there's no bone to drill a
mounting hole into.

Good-o! Sort a new battery out (otherwise it'll always be nagging at the back
of your mind) and then go out for a nice long gentle blast.

 

Believe it when I see it

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Lady Nina

Good.