I ride a really nice, but old mountain bike from Trek (VRX 400, for your gear heads) almost every other day.  It is one of the ways that I can keep fit and have an intelligent conversation with a business friend who also rides.

On Saturday I decided that a fast descent down one of the local hills was a good idea.  This involved some road, track and off-road riding, nothing that I had not done before.

Unfortunately it was my day to crash.  I glanced off a wall at 31 mph and hit a tree stump.  This stopped the bike and I bailed out…  I am okay but the bike needed a new wheel.  At least that is what I thought initially..

I shelled out £85 for the new wheel, but when fitting it realised that the disc brake caliper mounts has cracked.  I decided to put the bike in for an inspection and service with my local shop Saddle Safari who have looked after me well over the years.

The trouble with an old bike is that the components that you had fitted are no longer made and the new components do not all fit.  So I had to shell out for new brakes, £150. New forks as the brakes don’t fit the old forks, £250 and a new headset £50.

What makes me laugh is that I got the bike from a friend for £600 a few years ago and have now spent about £1500 in new components!

Next time I crash I will be looking for a new bike, it will be cheaper!