Biking Can Be Dangerous

Here is the best picture I could take of the big bruise on my leg. Saturday I got out my road bike, polished it up, cleaned and greased up the chains and was all ready to ride, when I remembered I needed to pump up the tires. Much to my dismay the back tire was flat, and not patchable. I removed it from the bike and fixed it up with my last tube. I decided to try something new and rode from my house down to the Cedar River Trail. Today, however, was an entirely different story, with some good parts and some bad. To start, as you'll recall I used my last tube on Saturday, so riding with a prayer in my heart and great faith that there was no way I could blow two tires in less than a week, I set off towards the Cedar River Trail once again. Two miles into it my back tire was already on it's way to being flat. I stopped and took it off, and in the process a fellow (and much more experienced might I add) rider saw me in my moment of despair, offered me one of his tubes if I needed it, and began to help me fix my tire. It ended up being a faulty valve, so I took him up on his offer for the tube and let him replace the tube and pump my tire (I think it made him feel fatherly). I set off on my way again, on a ride as smooth as butter. Thoroughly enjoying myself by this time, and passing mile 5 of the ride, I came to an intersection. I mistook where the trail went off the curb and slammed on my brakes, forgetting in the meantime to also unclip my foot from the pedal, I fell. In less thana second the entire left side of my body smacked against the cement still connected to my bike. I guess I'm pretty lucky that all I have are bruises because going the speed I was I probably could have broken something as well (The prayer in my heart WAS good for something!). The moral of this story is always find ways to help others in need because you never know when you might need the help in return AND pray before you ride!