Opening a parcel containing a new Brooks saddle can be painful - Part 2

Last week I hinted at a Part 2 for all things saddles. Here it is. As I wrote this it brought back more an a few memories! A few years ago, there was a ride called the ‘St Crispin’s Day Ride’ which was great fun. I remember signing up for it the following year but was unable to participate due to a rather dramatic, avoidable, and painful accident involving a new Brooks saddle.

Recently, I bought a new Brooks C17 Carved Cambium saddle (not the black one I mentioned in last week’s blog post) but was banned by Mrs Orange from opening it. This was due to that unfortunate accident all those years ago!

This incident happened a long time ago. The St Crispin’s Day ride was about two weeks away, and I had just returned home from a cycle ride. Still in my cycling gear, I noticed that a package containing my new Brooks saddle had arrived. I attempted to open the packaging but needed a knife for assistance. While trying to open it with the knife, everything slipped, and I ended up stabbing the top part of my thumb, as shown in the photo. Oh dear! Blood was everywhere, and the pain was excruciating. My nephew had to drive me to the hospital.

At the first hospital, when signing in, my cycling gear covered in blood led to the natural assumption that I had suffered some sort of two-wheeled misfortune. Imagine having to explain in a very crowded A&E waiting room that, no, I had actually stabbed myself while opening a parcel that contained a new bike saddle!

The first hospital could do nothing for me apart from bandaging my thumb and sending me to another hospital roughly eight miles away. So, we drove there, and I stood in their A&E explaining the same story until they pressed a button and my unfortunate tale appeared on their screens. At this hospital, I was informed that I needed an operation, which was scheduled for the following Tuesday. They bandaged my hand so that it resembled a lobster claw. Later, when I got home, I had to cut the jacket I was wearing off!

Tuesday arrived, and I had my operation while fully awake, with the surgeon prodding around. A few days later, a custom resin support was made, and for the next few weeks, I attended some physiotherapy sessions. During this time, I could not cycle, of course.

After about a month, I was given the green light to cycle again, and I have not had any issues with this part of my hand or my thumb since. I was fortunate that the knife, which was quite sharp, missed some vital areas, and the operation went very well.

So, you can perhaps understand why Mrs Orange banned me from opening this package and why I was more than happy for this ban to remain in force!

Until next time, stay safe out there people and take care when opening packages!