2010-03-08 - Rider Down, Brixton Road/Vassall Road SW9

Hi

On Monday 8th March at about 6.25 am I was turning right from Vassal Road into Brixton Road SW9 when I hit a patch of ice and the back wheel slipped and I went down. The ice was a result of a leaking water main on the pavement of Brixton Road, which had been leaking into the roadway for some time. I ended up with loads of scrapes, new handle bars, damaged clothing etc, etc. The leak was finally fixed earlier this month.

Has anybody had a similar experience here? Does anybody know how long the leak was going on for, I'm pretty sure it started before Xmas 2009? I'm going through a solicitor so any help would be gratefully received.

I suspect the relevant point is not so much when the leak started but more so when were they (Thames Water?) first aware of the leak. Has your solicitor persued this question?

Being devils advocate for a moment, if you had been aware of the leak for some months, and were riding when there was a frost did you not think that their may be ice?

....did you not think...?

This is Lfgss, where thinking is frowned upon. Come here for the punnery, but leave the thinking behind.

did you lean?

I suspect the relevant point is not so much when the leak started but more so when were they (Thames Water?) first aware of the leak. Has your solicitor persued this question?

Yes he is. He asking for their logs.

Being devils advocate for a moment, if you had been aware of the leak for some months, and were riding when there was a frost did you not think that their may be ice?

Fair point. If I was to slow down for every leak and wet patch I would double my commuting time. I had come through here nearly every day for months, I was earlier than usual, the road was clear and I wasn't caught at the lights. Days like this are far and few between and I was just enjoying the ride, until I went down that is!

did you lean?

Yes to my right. Had I got caught at the lights which is what normally happened I would not off been leaning! On that point I read somewhere that Fixers don't have this problem, ie rear wheel spin / slip. Is this right?