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!
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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)

[identity profile] valkyrie17.livejournal.com 2013-04-06 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Haven't been online for a few days. Sorry you were in an accident, but glad the damage was minimal to both you and your iPad.

I never bike without a helmet...even at the measly speeds I go. A friend's husband was in a lowspeed accident without one years ago, and he is basically a vegetable.

[identity profile] enchanted-jae.livejournal.com 2013-04-07 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
D:

Goodness, what a mishap! I'm sorry to hear you were hurt, but it's good to know both your cranium and your iPad were protected.

[identity profile] nenne.livejournal.com 2013-04-10 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
Feel better soon. I'm very happy to hear that your helmet did its job. I have bought one too now. My very first.

[identity profile] queerbychoice.livejournal.com 2013-04-15 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
I can't figure out how I completely missed reading about your bike accident until now. Yikes! With all you've said about past bike accidents and near misses, it's a wonder you have the courage to keep riding a bike at all. (Me, I never even properly learned how. In elementary school I became convinced that all bicycles were plotting to kill me, and I've refused to go near them ever since.) Anyway, I hope you recover quickly!

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