Cycled down to the LBS today, and got a rack and some bar
ends. The bar ends made a huge difference, even in the short
8 mile ride home. I like them lots.
I cycled from the LBS in Tongwynlais, up to the Lidl in
Caerphilly, which is pretty much a 3 mile climb with no
respite. Not only did I make it, which would have been
unthinkable even a month ago, but I did so without stopping.
It's getting easier each time I go out.
Bought a set of Lidl's 6 quid panniers. They seem fine to
me, although I think I'll get some kind of clip to attach
them more firmly to the rack than the straps it came with
can manage.
On the negative side, I also came the closest to death I've
been since I fractured my skull aged 5. I was approaching a
junction, a road joining the road I was on. I saw a car
approaching the junction early, and stared at it, making
sure it was coming to a halt, which it did as I approached.
I continued along the centre of the lane, passing in front
of the car, and from the corner of my eye I saw the car
start back in motion, accelerating at me, followed by a
squeal of brakes and the car coming to a halt about 18
inches away from my back wheel.
I continued on, part shaken and part annoyed. The car pulled
up to the side of me, window down, she says "Are you OK?
Sorry, I didn't see you." I had to laugh, actually, as I
thought 'SMIDSY'. I can only assume that as she was slowing
down to the junction, she was looking behind me, then
started off without looking directly ahead.
--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ "Just as I
expected, the shopkeeper appeared"