blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2013-04-04 06:34 pm

So …

I succumbed two weeks ago and bought an iPad, immediately after succumbing to the lure of a full-time job on a mag that puts out an iPad edition.

Despite it being a luxury, I have been able to justify it as it will pay for itself in New Yorkers alone with the year and I have been getting a lot of writing done on it thanks to the little Logitech keyboard cover I also bought. I was in two minds about buying it a travelling case, as they were yet another expense, but I rationalised it with the thought that since I ride everywhere, I would rather be safe than sorry.

Good call, as things turned out.

It was raining this morning and I hit an oily patch of wet road while turning a corner on my newish town tyres (wide-ish, but slick) and my bike slid out beneath me. It was very dramatic sounding, but that was mostly my helmet cracking, which is what helmets are meant to do. Worth every penny spent on it and it will now join the sainted row of Helmets That Gave Their Lives So I Might Live. (Anyone who tells you that helmets aren't brilliant is talking shit or only ever rides under 10kph.)

A young couple came running up to help, as did Suzanne, the lovely woman whose house I stacked outside. I tried to brush it all off as a commuting incident. They were charming and delightful and pointed out that it might be a better idea to pause a moment until the adrenalin stopped flowing, rather than jog my bike up to the nearby shop for a new helmet before proceeding onto work, as was my initial plan.

Wise advice. As I went to peel my gloves off, it became apparent I had broken a thumb. The left one, and up the top, so minimally awful as these things go, but that meant a day spent having X-rays rather than signing contracts at work. Aside from that, a few grazes and bruises, bike was carefully protected by my body and is fine.

However, having walked my bike back home after thanking my genuinely fabulous rescuers, I decided it was time to face the music. I opened up my pannier and pulled out the travelling case. The iPad is FINE! If you are considering an STM case or a MET bicycle helmet, I strongly recommend both!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
It's one of those helmets that looks as though you need a degree in aeronautics to know which way to put it on. But so strong and light and ventilated!

Opening up laptop now to see if anyone is around for chat ;-)

And I did like what I read very much with a few small things spotted, so will anxiously await more. Had forgotten just how good the art is! New bits superb and affecting!

[identity profile] twotopcats.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Gosh! :O Thank god it was only your thumb that broke. Very lucky.

So nice to hear people came out to make sure you were okay. You'd be surprised at how many people don't stop and help others when they appear in distress/or could be hurt.

I have to admit I did laugh when I read your post simply because you have an accident and had to ensure your beloved Ipad was okay. Hurray it is. :)

[identity profile] winnett.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no!!! I'm sorry to hear it, but glad you're mostly okay. The thumb makes me flinch. I hope it heals fast.

[identity profile] emmacmf.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Blimey, glad you're ok! I don't wear a helmet, but my bike is built like a tank, and I only cycle on bike paths at about 6 miles per hour. If I was nipping along on the road, then I'd be wearing one!

Hope your thumb soon feels much better!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I think that there are styles of cycling that lend themselves to helmet-free, but get so sick of wankers telling me they make no difference in a real-world accident. I had one crash without a helmet; still don't remember 1994 ...

if we had cycle paths, i could ride my lady bike to work!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
It should. Thank you!

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I did check myself and my bike first ;-)

People have always been kind to me when I have had accidents. I don't understand how anyone could do otherwise with anyone in need, it's human!

[identity profile] turnonmyheels.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so glad you are okay! Your experience is one of the reasons I get scared to death riding my bike

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
just listen to that sensible little voice that says 'given the roads are crap, slow down!'

[identity profile] turnonmyheels.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
the sensible voice in my head says, 'humans are meant to walk on their legs not ride on wheels!'

;-)

[identity profile] ecosopher.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
immediately after succumbing to the lure of a full-time job on a mag

Ha, I see you, slipping that in amongst the bike accident and the iPad and the broken thumb! Yay, new job! (Also yay, helmet and intact head and iPad). Hope you heal quickly.

[identity profile] ashindk.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Ouch! That sounds painful. I'm glad to hear that you wear a helmet when you bike. I wouldn't bike anywhere outside Denmark without one. And even here I wear one, when I use my citybike. But on the cargobike that I use when I commute with my youngest, I don't bother. Maybe I should. I always put a helmet on the kid, after all.

An iPad is the such a lovely little gadget. I love mine, and use it for everything. Reading, writing, emails, calendar, notetaking, everything. And It's more solid than it looks. Mine has been dropped several times and has survived. I'm glad that yours did too.
lokifan: black Converse against a black background (Default)

[personal profile] lokifan 2013-04-04 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay for unbroken ipad and protective helmet! Thumbs mend themselves, unlike brains and electronics, so this sounds like a win, on balance. Get well soon!!!

[identity profile] chamekke.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Yikes! I'm sorry to hear about your accident, and your broken thumb, but relieved to hear that it wasn't any worse. And that your iPad survived! Sounds like your helment AND the case did their jobs beautifully. (And how lovely that you were looked after by that friendly young couple :-)

[identity profile] zeitgeistic.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so glad you are okay after the bike accident. Also, iPad is fine, yay! :)

[identity profile] alex-s9.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank fate you're OK.

[identity profile] winstonmom.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I am glad your Ipad and noggin came out alright. Regarding your thumb, count your blessings. Last February I was using the mandolin thingy for slicing onions in my kitchen when I saw something flying off. I cut a chunk of my right index finger off, I bled like a stuck pig from 7pm till midnight. I never realized how much I used said finger until then. I am alright now since the human body is wonderful and I grew my finger back :)

[identity profile] auntpurl.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my goodness! That is awful. I'm so sorry! Falling off a bike is a terrifying thing; I'm very glad there were people around to help you and tell you to take a moment and take stock!

I'm very glad you're otherwise all right. Thank goodness for providence, good bike helmets, and nice people! Much prefer you alive and well!

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/ 2013-04-04 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
OH!

I was reading in reverse, as you do on LJ. Fucking hell, another accident, glad it went okay and only the finger but not the ipod broke ;P
Also congrats on a full time job, I seem to have missed that.


(I'd like to see a video of you on bikes; I know that ppl in OZ have 30x more accidents than here, if not more, because the "live" more, but still).

[identity profile] shocolate.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Good thing you're not a blackberry based lifeform - they use both thumbs!

[identity profile] sinden.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Always good to have a bright side! Don't need an excuse to get it, now you have a reason.

Also, grats on the new job.

[identity profile] quatrefoil.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmmm. The problem is that when you're hit by cars when on a bicycle there's not much between you and the road.

So far I am not seeing much to sway me from my position that cycling is for bike paths only.

Hope the thumb heals soon, and I hope you manage to stay safe for a while.

[identity profile] nevernot-broken.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
time to start a scarf in chunky or something! second sock syndrome imposed from outside forces... can't be good...

[identity profile] mrsquizzical.livejournal.com 2013-04-04 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
yikes! glad that the rest of you, and your devices, were ok!
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[identity profile] 17catherines.livejournal.com 2013-04-05 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Scary! I'm so glad you are OK.

(and the iPad too, of course)

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