Almost taking a walk on a nice Sunday...

[Mikkel]

So it was sunday... I had to spend some time at uni writing a legal paper and I hadn't had anything to eat but a muslibar due to having hangovers.

Needless to say my mood could have been better - eventhough the weather was lovely.

Around 3pm I thought fuck it - I gotta go out and do something constructive. So I got on the bike and started cruising out towards Halswell.

The weather was all good - if a bit windy. I kept at nice and calm pace out to Tai Tapu along the Old Tai Tapu Road. Got onto the main road to Akaroa and was just relaxing, cruising along focusing on SMOOTH. Had thought I'd take the turn off up over Gebbie's but couldn't be bothered indicating so I kept going straight.

I came out to Little River and took the right onto Kinloch Road up Okuti Valley. Nice and windy road, focus still on smooth and relaxed, up to the top, saw the gravel and thought "time to turn it around". Then going down hill through the twisties at very legal speeds feeling in good harmony with the bike.

When I got to the bottom of the hills and was riding through the shade of some trees I felt a jolt in the bike and heard what almost sounded like a ricochet of a tyre. I slowed right down and was very wary of changes in the feel and handling of the bike. Nothing... Pulled over in Little River and checked my front wheel. Again nothing...

Got back on the road, headed over Gebbie's, through Lyttleton, up Evan's pass and went home along Summit road. A very very enjoyable trip! I'm thinking "Zen Motorcycling" here...

Now, I took the bike in for service, new tyres, etc. today. The guy at the workshop showed me a big ass nail embedded in the left hand side of my rear tyre, almost at a tangent to the curve of the tyre. (I'll try and post a photo of it later - but can't get photos out of my cell here at uni.)
Damn I had been close to walking from Kinloch Road! At least the thing had snapped off - and I had even managed to grind it down quite a bit as well

Turned out my brake pads and front wheel bearing were shot as well... Getting a new chain and sprockets as well. Think it'll be a bit expensive - but am looking forward to getting it back and see what difference it'll make!

[jrandom]

You're a lucky bugger!

Was the tyre repairable/ignorable, or did you end up having to replace it?

[007XX]

Dang!!! What Jrandom said...

Good thing it didn't cause a bad spill or anything.

[Mikkel]

You're a lucky bugger!

Was the tyre repairable/ignorable, or did you end up having to replace it?

Ah, they were due for changing already... So in that regard it didn't matter too much.

It was just a close call on the day is all.

[Mikkel]

Well, here's the picture as promised.

[hXc]

Now, I took the bike in for service, new tyres, etc. today. The guy at the workshop showed me a big ass nail embedded in the left hand side of my rear tyre, almost at a tangent to the curve of the tyre.

Direction isn't your strength is it?

[kneescraper]

Well we cant say you dont get the bike over on some pretty good angles.

Very lucky that the tyre didnt give way while riding....

[Mikkel]

Direction isn't your strength is it?

Ehrm, yes that is correct... It's to the left if you're looking at the bike from the front... (weak I know!)

Luckily I wasn't leaning over far going through a narrow corner when I hit that nail... Just gave a jolt and then made a loud noise.