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Going Solo
Blog Date - 18 May 2015
A filing cabinet that has no space in my new home provides, once disassembled, some boards to lay down over the make shift path to my shed. The boards are only narrow and it proves quite tricky keeping the bike in a straight line when pushing the bike backwards out of the shed. But it proves doable so for a temporary solution it proves a viable option.
The day for the my first totally solo ride has soon came around. Rising early in case I encounter any problems I am greeted by a dry sunny morning. Well that brings a smile to my face at least.
Now usually taking the car I do not have to think too much about what I made need to take to Ren's house for the weekend. I just throw whatever I want and some extra into the car. But only having my panniers on my bike much more thought is required with space so limited. Fortunately this first trip is not too much of a "how to squash so much into so little" task as I am only staying one night this time.
Because I have never done this all before I have no idea how long everything will take hence I am rising with the larks at 7am. My daughter has kindly said she would help me with getting the bike out of the shed but I do not think being awoken at 7.30 am really appeals, seeing her little scrunched up moley face. Fortunately once outside the lovely warm sunshine brings a smile to her face as well and she like me is happy to be awake early on such a beautiful day.
Right now to business lets get this little heavy monster out of his liar and into the sun too. OK at around 117kg the Keeway is a light weight but at around 49kg so am I. So it is all relative and to me my Keeway can prove hard to handle and push around. The boards are laid down on the path. I push the bike back in the shed to just in front of the lip. Now the lip (where the door slides across) is what gives me trouble. So I brace myself pull back hard and prepare myself for a fight. And errr well hmm the bike rolls over the lip at the first attempt no problem at all. Seems I have developed super powers in my sleep then. So far so very good.
The bike slips off the edge of the boards just before the path meets the patio. A slight little hand by my daughter to help pull the bike up onto the patio from the path and dah dah! We have a bike out of the shed and onto to the patio. That went far better than I expected and being able to do it mainly all myself bodes well for the future.
I give the bike a once over, check tyre pressures and lube the chain. The gate being so narrow will mean that any luggage will have to be loaded onto the bike once it is through the back gate. Now if you recall I struggled getting the bike through the gate when I first brought the bike home. However today maybe the sun is shining on me in more than its literal fashion because I get the bike through the gate with minimal fuss.
So the first obstacles I feared may be a trial have all proved far easier than I suspected. I really could not have hoped for a better start to my first nerve inducing first solo ride. I guess technique comes into play too and even after just a couple of goes I am already learning which way the bike needs to tilt etc to get it through the various gates and doors.
I load up the bike and I tentatively climb aboard. I take a big breath, try not to clench my teeth together too hard and we are off. I get to the end of my road. S#!t which way now ... where am I going ... who am I ??? Calm now Sharon ... think think now. I think of the route in my head. It is all beginning to get muddled. So I just think only of the very first part and off we go again. Once on the road I have to admit this is not as horrendous as I thought. I am nervous, no doubt about that especially about my route and getting lost but the actual riding is not too bad. I laugh to myself ... listen to yourself Sharon ... the riding is not too bad ... for heavens sake woman. You have 12,000 miles of bike riding experience and you talk to yourself like you are complete novice. Well in a way I am a novice as in a solo novice but come on girl 12k miles get a grip and loosen your grip on those handlebars.
I am not relaxed but neither I am I terrified. I can even appreciate what a pretty route Ren found for me to travel to and from his house. As each roundabout or junction approaches I remember the correct turns. It helps a lot that I am riding early morning on a Sunday which means there is little traffic around and no tailgater to add any further pressure.
The ride does seems to take a awful long time however. When I finally reach Orrell I heave a big sigh because am only half way still. But I have to admit it is going ok. The other half of the journey goes ok too and to my surprise and Rens I arrive at his house on time for the bike club ride out.
Now shush don't tell anyone because it will ruin his reputation but I think Ren was a little worried about me and is rather happy to see me arrive in one piece and also not have to come lead me home from a far flung county because I got horribly lost.
The return journey back home the next day is not so pleasant. It is very windy and I get blown around a far bit. The route has some narrow and bendy lanes so it is a bit nerve wrecking to get pushed around on these. But despite it not being as pleasant as the journey coming, home is reached safely. The bike is successfully steered through the narrow gate and back into the shed under the careful supervision of my daughter. I do not require her assistance this time at all but it is good to know I have her at hand in case I get into a pickle.
It feels good to have done my first solo there and back. I was not exactly brimming with confidence over it but it has certainly got rid of a great deal of the fear. I would not say I enjoyed it as such but neither did I hate it. I was not about to declare never again that was for sure. I even realise now that I do not have to immediately buy a new shed and widen my gate. It really was not that hard this time around. The path will still have to be paved though because that is still proved to be the trickiest and most difficult part.
But overall I am pleased with my first solo ride. It was ok ... it really was ok.
Still smiling and still standing ... ok sitting ...after my first solo experience.
Reader's Comments
NC750 John. said :-
I think you done good. Nerves and apprehension can ruin a simple ride out, we've all been there at some point or other.
Some people are better at recalling where they have just been, some struggle. I try to remember the journey in bullet points, It doesnt always work but trying to recall landmarks such as pubs, churches, unusual buildings along the route esp on corners you have to turn helps a bit.
Also, get your self an atlas and find the pages of the area you live in. see if you can see the route you have to take when you are aiming to go to making notes of the towns and villages you will pass through on the way. It might not all go to plan, but at least if you see a sign for a town or village you may remember it and then at least you will have an idea where you are on your journey.
Hope it helps a little.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
said :-
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Sharon said :-
Map study on the list :-) thanks John
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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