I had my first proper cycling fall last night and and it bloody hurt.

I had been to the health consulation in Birchwood and was trying to get to the train station for the 9.24pm service to Liverpool, with eight minutes to go.

I was lost on the pathways behind the police station, going fast, when I came to an unlit section where I could just make out I was close to the edge.

I slowed down quite a bit and thought 'phew', then the next thing my body was thrown forward.

It felt like the bike had hit a small wall.

It was even strangely pleasurable to be in the air for a moment, but not as I went up and over the bike, hitting hit the frame with my thigh and knee.

Then I landed and skidded, mainly on my left elbow and forearm.

I lay there stunned for moment, partly in disbelief, partly relieved nothing seemed broken, and partly in fear of the waves of pain building up.

The bike was lying with it's front and rear lights still flashing like a preying mantis that had folded up on itself.

I got up, then lay down again in pain. I could see I was just by an entrance to Birchwood High.

The path had suddenly changed into steps and that had caught me and the bike out.

I don't know who maintains this path but it's bloody dangerous.

After a minute I gingerly picked 'Betsy' up, but she didn't seem to be too badly damaged.

The front mudguard was twisted and was touching the tyre, and the bell had been damaged, probably by me flying into it, but that seemed to be it.

A scary moment followed as I started wheeling it away.

Two scallies walking towards me - it was dark, I was alone, and they could easily have robbed me of the bike.

But I went past and slowly pedalled a long route to the station.

After a few minutes I was okay and was already calling people to brag about my injuries and hopefully get sympathy.

It wasn't a bad crash, but as my first it was pretty shocking at the time.

I could even cycle in this morning, though with difficulty - my knee was too painful to put much pressure on it.

I've been showing off my wounds as well - though strangely, no-one has yet taken up my offer of seeing the bruised upper thigh...