Pinch Flat

Today I took Mrs Basil for a bike ride. Just 30km, but as with most rides here, plenty of ups and downs due to zig-zagging the valley sides.

I planned the route before we set off and it was difficult, trying to find a loop that stayed within a certain distance, only had so many tough inclines, and didn’t hit any intimidating roads.

No car? Fuck you

Frankly, it was impossible, and I found myself getting more and more angry at the state of the infrastructure available to casual cyclists. For the most part it doesn’t affect me, I can get up any hill around here, I’ll command a busy road if I have to, but Mrs Basil is nowhere near that point, nor should she have to be.

In the end we had to break the law several times and ride along pavements. A few times she had to just brave it and a few times we had to carry the bikes up steps and over footbridges (the other options at this particular point were a 2km diversion up a thunderbastard of a hill or a 3km ride up a terrifying road).

Constantly feels as if every planning agency every has the same policy: “Oh, so you don’t want to drive a car, well then fuck you”.

This rant could spiral out for thousands of words, so, moving on.

3 rides old

On our final descent down a gravel path that was mercifully close to home I hit a huge pothole, just about kept hold of my bars but kissed my week old inner tube goodbye. Remembering the 30 minute hassle that was getting the tyre on in the first place, I decided to just walk home. As maddening as that was, with the sound and power of the impact I was honestly glad that I stayed on the bike and that, on inspection, my wheel was still intact.

On the bright side

The football results could barely have been better today from a Leeds perspective, so that was marvellous. Cardiff tomorrow.