So, on Wednesday evening after work I was riding along going to the gym at the Pleasance, when a van driver pulled out and hit me side on. I was going about 20mph and I’m not sure how fast the van was going but I got knocked flying. Relatively unscathed I got up and calmed down the driver (young woman, totally freaking out). Her windows were ’steamed up’ and she couldn’t see! I had lights on front and back, although the weather probably contributed to the crash (the heaviest rain in ages). The back of my helmet was staved in a bit which was a bit sobering as well!
Anyway there was a witness who came driving along and saw me lying in the middle of the road, which is good for the bike insurance claim apparently. The bike shop says its a write off, the frame and forks are twisted, both wheels are pringled and pretty much everything else on it is destroyed. Its going to be around £600+ for an equivalent bike, and then helmet and expenses on top of that. Plus my wrist hurts a fair bit I struggle to do press ups on it, so going to get it checked out. But I am really annoyed at losing that bike, I had done about 1500 miles on it and loved it lots 
May your soul rest in peace, you got me around Edinburgh faster than most cars and you were awesome to ride.
Bumped into Ols the other night and he told me about your crash - glad to hear you’re OK.
You sure you got those dates right - you only had it 3 months?
Let’s all pour some liqour out for Sandy’s bike, RIP homey.
Comment by James Turnbull — November 18, 2006 @ 11:18 am