Close shave - Joe Duffy's to the rescue
So, on the way into work this morning, refreshed and alert after a good swim at the gym...waiting to move off at the lights at the N2 southbound / M50 Junction and somehow the artic to my left slowly moves out and catches my mirror / handguard.
In painfully slow motion the truck edges forward pulling the bike over onto my buckling left leg which is trying to hold up the GSA against the weight of an advancing artic. The mirror is twisting, the switch assembly rotating, and within nano seconds (which feels like hours) the screen is now caught and flexing...
Brain is now computing liklely forward path of bike which will be leftwards and downwards, further under truck and in all likihood pinning me under a toppled bike. Core temperature (mine) has now accelerated upwards towards critical as brain also tries estimating a personal and mechanical damage report. My back is stressing badly, and just to overload my personal P75 chip, I start to think of how much my already sensitive back will be put out, and how this my affect my marathon training.
Not feeling too chipper at this point.
Then....somehow....he's gone, me and the bike are upright, the mirror is horizontal, there is clutch fluid filling the hand guard and i'm in the middle of the road with traffic moving all around me.
Phew.
Now if you are going to indulge in this sort of chicanery it is best to do it 100 metres away from a BMW dealer. So hazards on, push bike around roundabout and roll up a bit red faced and shaky at the door of Joe Duffy's. Within 30 minuntes I have calmed down, been given a cup of tea by Paul, Steve has fixed the bike without even a cent being charged and I am back on my way to work. Result.
Yes, the truck caught me, but yes I should have left a bigger margin for his error. As Kyle in South Park says....I learned something to day.
And as for Joe Duffy's what can I say....outstanding service. Thanks indeed fellas.
A post script to this is that while waiting for my bike to have its clutch fluid transfusion I was talking to a chap who has a set of Hepcko and Becker panniers and fittings for sale to fit a GS. Dont know how much but I have his number if interested.
