First Blood to Matt

I've just realised that if I had wanted to raise some serious cash for charity I should have started a book on who (if anyone) was going to have the first accident on this trip. I just know where the money would have gone. Well you're all wrong, so pay up .... ahh ok, I didn't start a book. Doh!!

Anyway, since Matt has failed to blog about his first bike trip on his shiny new bike, then I guess that task falls (no pun intended) to me. It wasn't a serious accident, but it was embarrassing, so I feel that it's my duty to share it with the world, or at least both people who are reading this blog.

Firstly, a little bit of cycling background. Anyone who wants to call themselves a cyclist (and even us two) have got to use clipless pedals. If you've not come across them before they work a little like ski bindings. If you don't know how ski bindings work then they are quite similar to clipless pedals. Basically they are designed to stop your foot from coming loose when you pull your it up, but release when you twist your heal. Rule 1 about getting a new bike with new clipless pedals is to make sure they are loose enough so that they do disengage when you want them to. If you don't, then the first time you go out for a ride and come to a stop you suddenly realise that you and the bike are as one and cannot be separated. This is then quickly followed by the moment when you realise that you're locked in and have seconds (which in true cartoon form can seem a lot longer) to decide which side you want to fall onto, either into the road (not good) or if you're lucky a really soft verge on the left (that never happens).

Anyway, now for Matt's first ride. It went something like this: Shiny bike, hmmmm shiny, ride, ride, ride, ride, stop, realisation, wobble, wobble, fall, blood, more blood, not so shiny bike.

Matt - do you want to add anything :-)