I have used that technique before with success, but...

Last Summer I was riding Tigger alone down an empty B road near Rutland Water. Came to a halt by a badly overgrown verge. Now, I 've ridden bikes for 43 years and Rule 17 is: you never put your foot down into the unknown, such as thick grass verges.

There was no verge, just ditch. The bike past through 140 degrees and buried its handlebar into the ditch wall. We both laid there, almost upside down. After I extricated myself (isn't it strange that the first thing you do is to check no-one saw you?) I then wished someone had seen me. The bike was completely stuck, I had no base for my feet and nothing to get hold of.

It was 30 minutes before someone came along of a suitable size and we did, with great groans get Tigger back on the road. With on broken indicator (£30).

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