Hey all!
Firstly to Gavin, of course its annoying to have this injury that stops
me from doing everything I want, but I think the distinction is between
being laughed at cos they think you're an idiot and don't understand
why you'd even consider riding a uni, and laughed at because it was
genuinely funny.
I wasn't wearing any safety gear, I was being cocky, I was going far
too fast, and I ended up on my face. I ended up totally unharmed. This
is funny for several reasons, mosty its ironic, and amazing that all I
suffered were cuts and bruises. I don't mind unicyclists laughing at me
for being stupid, other people who don't understand would annoy me
tho.
However, your concern is touching and I'd like to reassure you that not
only did I learn a valuable lesson, I will also (hopefully) be able to
avoid a similar incident in the future. You live & learn :p.
To the others who want to know ALL the gory details:
The course is a circle around a roundabout outside the theatre, and I
fluffed the mount, so I was starting at the back, going considerably
slower than the 20's (cos thats what the schlumpf does until its up to
speed). The first half is downhill so I picked up speed rapidy, and by
1/4 of the way round I began to pass other riders. I was past the
majority by about the 2/3rd mark, where the course starts to curve
uphill again. I was about equal with Roger when we came round past a
tent and there was a young boy stood in the road. Roger swerved to
avoid (on a 20"😉, and I (travelling at around 18mph) swerved to keep a
decent distance between us. I didn't have to move, he had plenty of
room, but I was going considerably faster than him so I chose to play
it safe (:p). At this point I think my schlumpf slowed due to the
uphill and the corrective wiggle, and I didn't, and I overtook it. I
flew for about 10-15ft before hitting the floor, so far in fact that my
schlumpf never caught me up before coming to rest and in the video
never enters the frame, despite me being in the air as I enter shot. My
right knee hit the floor first, followed by both arms and my left
shoulder. I remember conciously trying to keep my head off the floor
(at the expense of my other limbs) cos if I blacked out I wouldn't be
able to get my expensive unicycle off the track and out of everyones
way. This worked for the most part, except I bounced after the initial
impact and the rebound forced my head onto the tarmac. Dazed and
confused I managed to get to my feet, hobbled to my uni and pulled it
off the course, then sat down on the grass about 3ft away (where most
of the rest of the video takes place). After that it was just the usual
random first aidy stuff, someone got some ice and water, I had a drink,
Roger, Tony Melton, Jeff, Amanda, everyone came over to see how many
bones I'd broken, and laughed at how fortunate I was... Then a few
minutes later I sat in a comfy chair and watched the rest of the games
😉.
Loose.
--
Loosemoose
Vice President - Southampton University Circus Society
"Come on you target for far away laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine..." - Pink
Floyd
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