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@cliveo
I was working until 10 pm but following the football on the internet. Left the office just after 10 pm and was riding home. Got to the junction at the bottom of New North Road where you enter from Pitfield Street. Nothing around apart from a bus 100 yards down the road and so I slipped across accelerating as I did so. I was probably doing 100 rpm + and accelerating on a wide turn. My cleat, which was worn and due to be replaced but it was always a job for the weekend and who wants to ruin new cleats commuting anyway? My left foot came out, my pedals spun on with my right foot in. I struggled to maintain control. I was riding on the tops and so couldn't easily reach the brakes. Luckily I kept my hands on the bars but went down at some speed on my left hand side. Looked up and saw the bus looming; sat up and put my hand into a "stop" gesture. He already had. A couple of peds emerged from nowhere and helped me off the road with my bike. I was well enough to ride home. At the junction between New North Road and Essex Road and woman on a bike saw my gaping elbow , which I couldn't see properly. She persuaded the roadworks man with the stop sign to change it and I was able to dash the last bit home.
I lost quite a bit f tissue which made the stitching awkward. It also emerged that my elbow bone is chipped. The real pain comes form my bruised side but the stitches are now sore. I have elected to work from home today and will stay off the bike for a couple of days and take it easy after that for a little while. I should be OK for the Tour of Ireland in four weeks but not as prepared as I would like to have been.
All in all, I was very lucky.