.the fall

I’m making a horrible habit of falling off bikes.

Just this morning I had a chain snap as I pulled away from some lights. Nothing I could do but go straight over the top of the handlebars with the bike following after me as I hit the deck. I came to a halt in the middle of the bus lane, and, after doing a mental check to make sure everything was in working order, sat up to examine the bike.

It hadn’t survived so well. Apart from the chain there was a broken spoke in the front wheel and my cycle computer has gone to silicon heaven.

However what struck me about the whole event was this. The fall must have looked dramatic as I arced through the air closely followed by a bright red bicycle. At the time there were 5 or 6 pedestrians on the pavement to my left, and a queue of traffic to my right having just started off from the same lights.

And no-one, not a single person, even stopped to ask if I was alright, let alone offered to help me up. Only once I was upright once more and scrutinising the bike on the pavement did a kind soul enquire as to my welfare.

I’m just glad I wasn’t hurt and having to rely on anyone else. Is this the world we now live in?

.anth