Ah, Flag Day, a time to display our patriotic colors. Everyday should be flag day. Today I spent time riding with another group, dubbed Tri-Mesa. There are a few who are training for Lotoja and it is of interest to me to hang and learn a few things. The ride was a normal Usury Loop and after the climb at Las Sendas, turned and headed home.
At 7 in the morning, the winds come out of the east making the last 4 miles a breeze :). No monitoring speed after 40 miles though, the battery on the Garmin ran out of juice. Anyway, approaching Highland High gives me a boost because it is only a mile home. Nothing unusual, except for that car stopped for a stop sign. No problem, she appeared to look right at me okay to proceed. Um, front wheel is moving. Hey, hey, HEY! Last thought prior to impact, this can't be happening, oh, what is going to hurt worse?
Yes, she pulled out from the stop sign and hit me broadside. My momentum carried me over a portion of her hood, possibly rotating once in the air. The freshly paved road didn't feel any softer than the old paved road, not that I would know. The original landing resembled being in a doggie position, on my knees and toes with the final resting place on my back. My ankle really hurts, where her bumper ran into me.
Is everything attached? Amazingly, there is no swelling in my leg. The lady comes over and asks if I'm alright, my thought, yes, right up to the point you hit me. All I verbalized was, "Didn't you see me?" "No sir I didn't", was the reply. She was on the phone to 911. I scoot myself off to the side of the road and take off my helmet and lay my head on the curb. Several cars stopped and a couple of people were kind enough to assist in getting bike etc off the road. Time to call Kate.
Emergency responders were there in no time, arriving in minutes. They were very courteous and professional. They asked if I needed to be taken to the hospital, I declined. They put on an inflatable splint and sent me on my way. Doc sent me for xrays and did an evaluation. Good news, again miraculously, nothing broken.
It would have been worse had I ran into her. As it was, the front wheel folded and was sheared off the front fork. It cracked one of the front drop outs. One of the carbon cages cracked from the force of the bike being thrown to the ground sideways.
This is another incidence in which the tender mercies of the Lord were extended to me. Why I was preserved is unknown to me. Law of physics; it is easier to divert energy than to stop it. Subconsciously, that may be why I began moving out of the bike lane when I saw that she began rolling forward. I still ride in my black, scuffed Arizona jersey. It serves as a reminder of my obligation to God and country.
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