Borrowed a bike
off my mate's little brother, an unusual bike.

Looked like any other BMX, but it had "continuous pedal". This means you can't sit with the pedals motionless and hear the whirring sound of the cog as you whizz along. They keep going round and round and force you to pedal.

It is easy to forget this dinky little feature, especially if it is the first time you had been riding one.

I decided to forget about it at the bottom of an infamous hill called "Lighthouse Hill" ( approx 80 degree incline ) after riding flat out down it on way to the beach. With a surfboard under one arm. Stoned.

I never got to the beach. The continuous pedal meant that at the precise moment I decided to have a little rest from pedaling I was catapulted into a brief flight, then my knee was introduced to the bitumin. I'm under the bike with a smashed surfboard with my kneecap visible and blood everywhere.

Thankfully, a car load off much older teenagers glided past and had all had a good laugh at me before continuing on to the beach. I then passed out. Next thing I am awoken by an old alcoholic, complete with beer at 11:00 in the morning, who said helpfully "That will learn you for not wearing a helmet"

Then it was off to the hospital in an ambulance for some good fun injections.

As soon as I was stitched up I limped all the way to my mates house where he and the others were all heartily enjoying my pot before I took it off them. The painkillers wore off at 3:41 am precisely the next morning

I couldn't bend my leg for 3 months while it healed. If I bent it the stitches would have pinged apart.

And they did, when I thought it would be a good idea to play rugby on school camp miles from anywhere 2 months later.

Ended up on a 3 hour arse punching trip in an old van to the nearest civilization for a new stitch up. Then 3 hours back and the beginning of another 3 months healing
( Bling Blong Bling Blong, Sun 6 Feb 2005, 21:23, Reply)