pixc
9th September 2006, 23:38
I noticed a week ago that the tyres on my wee bike weren’t quite right. They seemed to be deteriorating close to the rim but they still had heaps of tread. After talking to someone who had a clue, I decided I should get some new ones. I bought a set in Tauranga and prepaid for the fitting as well. All I had to do was get the bike from Te Puke to Tauranga to get the job done. Only a 25-30 kms. No mean feet you may think. No,not for you experienced lot, however, I’ve only been learning to ride for 6 weeks. I’ve only ridden to work and back. Mostly rural and only briefly through the blip of a town that is Te Puke. The more I thought about it…the more it gave me the shits!
I decided that Thursday was the day. My bf was going to follow me in the van to make sure I was ok. Didn’t make it thursay..and bf went to golf Friday..grrr “Do it Saturday” he says “ there wont be as much traffic” he says. ( I’m a country girl..and I dislike city traffic)
Saturday, today, rolls around…and the weather is crap! I have no choice but to do it today because the car is booked in for a service Monday and I need the bike to get to work.
I start off ok.heading out of town…in the pissing down rain…getting TOTALLY soaked in 2 mins flat. (Draggin Jeans are the only pants I have for riding so far) On the open road I was feeling comfy keeping up with the flow of traffic 100-110 , keeping a good distance from myself and the vehicle in front. All is fine and dandy, then I get to the Mount. There was traffic from here to Africa! It was like peak hour traffic! And in the rain I was cold and wet and WAY outside my comfort zone.
Dropped the bike off to get its new tyres, and the guy says he’s too busy to do it today. I wasn’t happy. It was a huge effort for me to get there. In the end he fitted the tyres for me, which I REALLY appreciated. Before I left for home, the guy warns me about new tyres being smooth and to run them in for 100ks and he tells me my steering needs looking at. It wasn’t really what I wanted to hear. If I thought it was daunting getting there…the trip back home seemed like a whole lot worse. My nerves got to me about then. My wet gloves feel like boxing gloves and my boots felt like clowns shoes. My jeans are soaked and i wonder if this is how babies feel when they have full nappies. I was fudging my gear changes..and was very, very uncomfy. I wanted to click my heels 3 times and be at home. I made my way out of Tauranga, thru the mount and back on to the main road home. I never really noticed before how crap the road is between the Mt and Te Puke before.
I made it home feeling pretty pleased that I managed it all in one piece. Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone outside my comfort zone like that, but I’m actually glad I did. How else am I going to become a competent rider if I don’t.
I decided that Thursday was the day. My bf was going to follow me in the van to make sure I was ok. Didn’t make it thursay..and bf went to golf Friday..grrr “Do it Saturday” he says “ there wont be as much traffic” he says. ( I’m a country girl..and I dislike city traffic)
Saturday, today, rolls around…and the weather is crap! I have no choice but to do it today because the car is booked in for a service Monday and I need the bike to get to work.
I start off ok.heading out of town…in the pissing down rain…getting TOTALLY soaked in 2 mins flat. (Draggin Jeans are the only pants I have for riding so far) On the open road I was feeling comfy keeping up with the flow of traffic 100-110 , keeping a good distance from myself and the vehicle in front. All is fine and dandy, then I get to the Mount. There was traffic from here to Africa! It was like peak hour traffic! And in the rain I was cold and wet and WAY outside my comfort zone.
Dropped the bike off to get its new tyres, and the guy says he’s too busy to do it today. I wasn’t happy. It was a huge effort for me to get there. In the end he fitted the tyres for me, which I REALLY appreciated. Before I left for home, the guy warns me about new tyres being smooth and to run them in for 100ks and he tells me my steering needs looking at. It wasn’t really what I wanted to hear. If I thought it was daunting getting there…the trip back home seemed like a whole lot worse. My nerves got to me about then. My wet gloves feel like boxing gloves and my boots felt like clowns shoes. My jeans are soaked and i wonder if this is how babies feel when they have full nappies. I was fudging my gear changes..and was very, very uncomfy. I wanted to click my heels 3 times and be at home. I made my way out of Tauranga, thru the mount and back on to the main road home. I never really noticed before how crap the road is between the Mt and Te Puke before.
I made it home feeling pretty pleased that I managed it all in one piece. Perhaps I shouldn’t have gone outside my comfort zone like that, but I’m actually glad I did. How else am I going to become a competent rider if I don’t.