This is my first post here :eek:, read on if you want. I think just need to put things into words... 😠
So today I skipped work. Yes I know I should not have, but I have a decent amount of time off and I was not up to getting up early this morning. I ended up taking care of things around the house, and around 16:00 I decided to go out for a 20-mile ride around Long Island NY. If any of you are from here, let’s just say it’s not the most bike friendly place, but I manage between the bad driving (hey I know, I drive with them all the time) and pot holes the size of my bike.
Anyway, a mile and half from home, some young kids merge onto my road from a side street on BMXes, and with out looking decide to cut diagonally across the road. Of course I was there going at about 17+ mph. As I realized what was happening, I tried some evasive maneuvers. Unfortunately as my brain was trying to find a way out, I was unable to yell out something, so he kids bike gets tangled up in mine, and we both go down. I don’t know if this is the second fortunate fall I’ve had, or just the semester of Judo I once took in college, but I did not do a huge amount of damage to my self. The kid had a bruised arm, but seemed to be ok. I was unable to ride back home, as the rear wheel was way out of true, and at that point, I was close enough, that I got a ride back.
I got a nice case of road rash on my upper left back/shoulder and my left hip, which is also swollen. I am icing the hip as I write this.. I dropped the bike off at my shop, to have it looked over and tuned back up. But, I am mostly upset at the fact that I am going to miss some riding as the bike is fixed. Go figure.
Anyway I don’t know what my point is, but sometimes I start thinking, that I wish this island were more bike friendly, between roads, cars, and other obstacles. I guess I should try and be more active with making this place better for us cyclist, but with two jobs, and the little riding time I have, how to fit that in? 😕