Hi All

Long time lurker on here - but thought it was time to post my adventures.

Having recently injured my knee playing sport and running - I finally made the leap into cycling.

With the help of a well timed payrise at work, I was able to buy my bike in late August and started training with the initial aim of the 100k Amy's Ride (but would have been happy with the 65).

I started off slow, with 35km trips been the longest - but slowly my distances, cadence, speed and endurance starting increasing - all with the help of advice here on the forum (and others), help from fellow cyclists, the inaugural Muddies ride - and tracking everyone on Strava for route ideas, and improving my times.

I really starting loving cycling to the point I was even riding to work, and unfortunately this is where I came unstuck two weeks ago. On my ride home from work on the Southern Expressway track - I looped up past Noarlunga and was returning to Sheidow Park, heading on the downhill before O'Sullivans Beach Road. I was enjoying the freedom and was not even pedalling as I was saving my legs for the Brodie Road climb, when the thought crossed my mind I was doing a safe speed if I had to overtake a cyclist ahead, but if there were pedestrians ahead, I would have little room, so I sat up, applied some brake, but in doing so, drifted onto some dirt, and before I knew it, I was on my back and the bike was bouncing over me.

End result amongst lots of minor injuries - two broken bones in my hand - so had to have surgery last week to insert pins, screws etc.  Still not sure of what damage the bike has taken, a quick look suggests just scratches, but will get Noel from the bike station check it out.

So - I missed my first proper organised ride - but to some amusement today, found out I won one of the lucky prize draws from Amy's Ride :-)

Also - I have Velosure insurance, so looks like they will be looking after my out of pocket medical expenses and any significant damage to the bike once I pay there excess - so good news there.

So lessons learnt - a little more caution on the bike on downhills - but can't wait to get out there again - just need to find a trainer now to keep my legs spinning.