I didn't really need to check the Bureau of Meteorology Melbourne radar this morning - it was raining and it didn't look like clearing.
What the hell? It's only water!
The clouds were not going to roll by in twenty minutes and there was no point in waiting until the sun came out.
But that didn't stop me stalling...
Odd
January is always a quiet month for commuters and rain makes the arterioles quieter still. But isn't it odd that bad things only seem to happen when it's raining?
Cranky
For instance, I met another rider this morning whose whole crank arm had fallen orf. She'd put it back on and was trying to tighten the nut with her fingers, so I loaned her a spanner (which only helped marginally). I presume she limped on to her nearest bike shop for help.
Pretzel
A bit further on I met a bloke carrying a very impressive looking mountain bike sort of thingy. It turns out he'd wiped out on the first ramp past Burnley Harbour and smacked into the railing. He was OK but he'll be buying a new front wheel today by the look of the pretzel he'd made of his current one. He was just past Church St., so it looks like he still had a fair way to go. Fortunately his machine didn't look too heavy.
Number 3?
After all this I wondered if I'd do something stupid and become wet day victim number 3, but the rest of the ride was pretty quiet. Although I did get a smile out of the motorist who drove past with a completely flat rear tyre. Obviously she didn't realise (or didn't care) what that rumbling, thumping noise was because she didn't look like stopping any time soon...