Safety first

The bike works (touch wood) - so now it's time to go and ride it to places.

I have to say I was a little nervous when first setting off into traffic on a bike again. I rarely rode on anything other than country lanes, and relatively quiet towns were about as hectic as I encountered back in the day.

Since then I have had a motor bike and several cars - so am aware that there are very real dangers out there for the uninitiated.

I figure that staying safe on a bike is a similar principle whether you are powered by an engine, or your legs. In my opinion, the best thing you can do is be aware - anticipate problems and ride with confidence. Owning your own piece of road, while being mindful that some other road users are insanely impatient, and choosing a window to let them by - that is also safe for you - is sometimes just a case of holding your nerve, but figuring out your escape route is not always a bad plan!

It has truly amazed me how few people are wearing bike helmets while riding round the city streets.

In order that I was suitably petrified before I went back out onto the roads, I went and frayed my nerves by typing 'cycle crash' into Youtube - this was silly, but I just could not resist.

One of the first videos I watched was a really nasty one (link here - but be advised, there is blood and it's not nice viewing). As the rider in the video hit the tarmac, I got a full sensory flash back - I could smell the unmistakable smell of tarmac at close proximity - and feel the heat of fresh skin sliding across it - and just how hard a road surface is when you fall onto it. Moments later I was compelled to head once more to the cycle shop to invest in a decent helmet and a pair of gloves, just in case gravity decides to give me a quick reminder of who is the boss.

I had borrowed an old brain bucket that my dad had lying around when first retrieving the bike from its slumber, but immediately found that it was past its best. The straps did not stay done up, and it was not the best fit to start with - and would be akin to the usefulness of a chocolate fire guard in any unfortunate circumstance. So a new bonce protector is a must for me. My skid lid of choice is a Bell XLV - so far it has been great - light with enough ventilation that even in my un-bike-fit state I have not yet boiled over.