Well, we had a great Christmas day, ate all the food and did all the
visiting and present giving and family stuff . Then we were supposed to get
kids and my bro together to go out riding, motor and bicycles .. but as
these things happen nothing went smoothly.
Trailer got a puncture, no worries, spare wheel.
After 15 minutes one motorbike puncture in front tyre, no worries, spray of
Tyre Weld and that's sorted for the day.
Other motorbike also got a puncture within five minutes, again no worries,
Tyre Weld and we're away again. Had about an hours fun, playing on some
sections we made up, with the kids mostly 'tricking' on the BMX and mountain
bikes, then we all got onto the bicycles for a 12 mile loop off-road ride we
often go on.
Within about ten minutes Son 1's BMX bike lost a pedal .. dunno how, found
it again and replaced using adjustable spanner and all OK.
Minute after re-starting, Brothers Mountain bike broke three spokes in front
wheel, small drop-off at an angle, landed badly. No worries, runs a little
buckled but fine after a couple of tweaks with the spoke key.
Five minutes later, Nephews mountain bike snapped front derailleur gear
cable .. no worries, chain onto middle ring and, adjusted so derailleur
centred with tie wrap to hold flapping cable out of way for attention later.
Same bike then gets a puncture less than five minutes later in rear tyre.
hmm, tyre weld running low.
Another couple of minutes and Other nephews BMX gets a puncture in the rear,
took three patches to seal properly.
My mountain bike suddenly won't brake .. Vee-brake pads missing from front
... er .. flummoxed, though it's OK on the rear, just not as good braking
without the front.
Had a good ride for about twenty minutes, but somehow knew it wouldn't last
....
Son 2 falls off big stylee, long (for here) 300m downhill with a small
drop-off then a sharp turn at the bottom, he doesn't appear to brake and
doesn't make the turn. Trees are solid. Cut lips, tooth through top one,
looks like broken nose, possible cheek as well. Ten minutes later he's
cleaned up, [1] sitting up and saying all is fine, with a face the size of a
small thing that's suddenly got larger ... but doesn't feel like cycling
much more.
Smallest child (11) says he's cold now and wants to go home anyway .. 😉
I think we did about five miles total. All the problems were minor and only
mildly irritating in a boring sort of way, but when it's as cold as it was,
with the wind blowing, it's amazing how a five minute fix turns into a
thirty or forty minute fix, and when there's a few of them within minutes of
fixing one another happens, how quickly the day goes. With a possible injury
too we had to call it a day. Fun for a while but ...
Son into Casualty at DRI to check over and he's fine, just bruised and cut a
little, though no treatment as we'd already done it 'in the field'.
Alls well anyway, and sons face is back to usual size this morning, in fact
you could barely tell he'd had a face-plant into a tree. Small cut on top
lip is all that shows, but inside his mouth is a bit more messy. I'm sure
it'll hurt him a little when it starts to heal properly.
Hope everyone had a good time, and best wishes to all for the New Year .. 😉
[1] I used to think carrying a basic first aid kit was inviting trouble, but
this is the first time in about ten years I've really needed it, just some
plasters, cleaning swabs, two wide bandages, a triangular bandage, cotton
buds, clean cloth in a plastic zip-tie bag and safety pins, but it really
made a difference. I'll never be without one whilst off-road, and would urge
others to consider it too.
--
Paul ...
http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php
(8(!) Homer Rules ... 😉
"A [censored] is a [censored], no matter what mode of transport they're using."