Getting ditched

I had a slight ditching incident on my ride this morning, in that I ended up in a bit of a ditch.

The ride had been going quite nicely. The roads were a bit wet due to rain over night, but I wasn't getting rained on myself. The temperature was reasonable and the winds were light. All up quite decent. I had just reached the half way point of my ride and was heading home, everything going to plan. I had just came around a slight corner on Perth's southern cycleway when my back wheel hit the slick central white line. I very rapidly lost traction and for the briefest instant was sure I was heading for the ground. I managed to hold the bike upright, but not under control and without enough room to find control. Out of room I didn't really have any choice but to head off road. Unfortunately off road was down a slight incline into the aforementioned ditch. Luckily the combination of soft ground and frantic braking bought me to a stop before gravity got me too much.

It was one of those near misses where part of me wished I had had an audience to be able to prove that I survived. But then, given that I ended up in a ditch, another very big part of me is glad that I didn't, although as my wife just pointed out I have just posted it on the Internet. Nobody reads this thing right?

Other than my bit of off road exploration, the ride went well. I wasn't able to take the P5 out unfortunately, but the session went fine on the roady. I had planned to do the session on the TT bike, but when I was setting it up last night I found that my bottom bracket was almost seized solid. Well perhaps not quite solid, but it was like spinning it through treacle. All I can think is that some water got into the bottom bracket last Saturday when I had another wettish ride and started the bearings on a road to corrosion. I took it down to Churchill Cycles this afternoon and their diagnosis was similar, although I will know for sure later in the week. I try to be fairly diligent in my bike cleaning, and last weekend was no different, I guess this is just one of those times when it wasn't quite enough.

As well as the ride, I had a swim down at the Saturday afternoon Swim Smooth session. The ride had been a pretty tough one, so it was one of those sessions where I really had to drag myself down there. At this point I usually say that once I was down there it was all good, but to be honest I was on the tired side. I got through the session fine and it was constructive training, I just wasn't at my sharpest that's all. Money in the bank as they say.

Back on the bike in the morning for a brick session. Very similar to the session I had last Sunday, the difference being that this time the weather should let me get out on the road, unlike last weekend, where I was on the trainer. Slightly more running in this brick too. No off roading though.