Two weeks ago, after nearly twenty years and approximately 30,000 over-the-road miles, I had a moderately serious crash on my bicycle.
I fell to the pavement at between 15-20 mph, and ended up with a variety of scrapes and bruises and even a few gash-closing stitches. It could have been much worse, had I not been wearing a helmet and/or had there been vehicle traffic near me.
Last week, although I wanted to get right back on my bike, I had to stay off while I recuperated from my injuries. I spent some of that down time thinking about all of the ways I might have avoided the crash.
After a few days, I started to wonder just a little bit too much about it would feel the next time I went cycling.
This week, I got back on my bike, On the first ride, never did I grip the handlebars more firmly, or pay more attention to my surroundings, for such a long period of time on a ride. It got better the next time out, and the next time, but it's going to be a while before I'm back to being totally relaxed in the saddle.
Twenty years of confident bike-handling, and now all of this caution. It's true what they say -- once you fall off a horse, the best thing to do is get right back on it -- if you can.
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