sf

blind sided bicyclist

You remember when your mom used to tell you, "Look both ways for cars before crossing the street"? She should have mentioned bicycles as well. As part of my latest health kick (I'm getting too fat) I've been biking more and more. Tonight, Tyson and I decided to go for a bike ride. Around 6:15 I packed up my bike in my trunk and took off for Minneapolis. Ty and I spent some time trying to get my brake pads not to rub on my rims, but to no avail. I counted the extra friction as extra calories burned, and eventually got over my bitterness. We rode around Calhoun twice and then headed to BLB (Bryant Lake Bowl) as per usual for dinner and beer (I had a Coke of course). It was "date night" so the place was more crowded than normal and our food took a very long time to get there. By the time Ty and I finished eating our meals, it was dusk. I've been meaning to get some lights for my bike, but just haven't got around to it.

We decided to bike home on the side streets because we figured there wouldn't be much traffic. All was going fine and well until we came to Nicollet Ave. There were quite a few cars trying to turn left from Nicollet onto 25th. The last car in the line did not have his headlights on so I was concentrating on making sure he was out of the way. I looked both ways and saw no cars in the near distance, so I started to cross the street. Ty who was to my left, however, did not start to cross. I thought this to be odd since he's not afraid of death and always challenges cars and/or SUVs. Suddenly, to my left I see this biker coming full speed right at me. I slam on my brakes and easily stop before he gets to us, but he didn't think I was going to. The man slammed on his brakes but unfortunately for him he happened to be carrying a bag in his right hand and his only free hand to grab the brake lever with was his left hand. **He grabs the left brake and his back tire lifts up off the ground and over the handle bars he goes flying (at least 10 ft.) while rolls of toilet paper go flying out of his bag and land in the street and in the tree. The poor guy is just laying in the street not believing what just happened. I'm worried that a car is going to run over him. I ask him if he's alright repeatedly while apologizing profusely but he just stares at me and doesn't say a word. He picks up 2 rolls of TP from the road and climbs the tree to get the other 2 rolls. He looks at his bike, fusses with the chain a little, and then takes off. Needless to say, I was a little shaken. I think I will stick to the treadmill for a little while until this incident gets lost somewhere between my short-term and long-term memory. And yes, in case you were wondering, I was wearing a helmet. Safety first...that's my motto.

** story slightly embellished to make it at least a little interesting.