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The Cycling Chronicles III

Thursday, 30 April 2009

As a bike rider, I've been privy to the angry vents of other bike riders swiped at by cars, clipped, yelled at and generally mistreated by cars on the road... I've noticed that in everyone of these stories the rider is furious with the driver of the car and all stories end with either expletives or some form of threatened physical abuse towards the driver.

I think today confirmed that I am not an angry person by nature. I was riding along my merry way, passing a side street from which a car was waiting to turn into the main road I was on. I was sure that the driver and I made eye contact. I clearly had right of way... but somehow the driver missed me, or blanked out and drove straight into me as I was riding past. For the first split second I was extremely worried as the car didn't seem to stop even after the initial impact... but as I fell off the bike and onto the bitumen the car stopped and the moment passed. I didn't get up instantly... I was quite shocked to be honest! And grateful that I wasn't particularly injured (apart from my foot)... As I collected myself the window rolled down... "Are you ok?" asked the driver blankly? She was an odd looking woman... She seemed not quite there... And her son? next to her had the same slow, vacant way about him. "Umm... yes I think so" I said. She nodded and off they drove.

It wasn't until I picked myself up, and took a look at my bike that I realised my foot was very sore and bleeding, that I was shaking slightly... and that the front wheel of the bike had completely buckled and was essentially a write-off. I waited for the wave of anger to come... but it never arrived. Despite the fact I am now bikeless... and have a very sore foot... I can't help but feel sorry for the haunted looking pair who left me on the street.

Labels: bike, cycling chronicles

posted by genloz at 10:40 PM