For the third time in my life, I got doored on Friday. It’s not something you get used to, and I’m sorry to report it’s still terrifying. I was on the left edge of the bike lane (out of the door zone) southbound on Milwaukee Avenue. A long line of traffic was stopped on Milwaukee for the light at Ashland. The rear passenger door from a car in the line of stopped traffic flew open. Fully closed to fully open occurred in the amount of time it took me to cover the distance from the rear bumper to the rear passenger door, which is to say, it happened pretty fast.
I’m OK, and I rode yesterday, albeit with a new front wheel. Nothing’s broken, but I am sore. I think those three years of circus arts training at the Actor’s Gymnasium finally paid off, but I do wish I had been wearing hockey gloves and elbow pads in addition to my shorts and a t-shirt.
So what’s the point?
As the weather gets nicer, there are more cars, more bikes, more pedestrians, and consequently, more threats. Everyone needs to remain vigilant, even for (and maybe especially for) low probability events. Even when we have the right of way, we are each the last best chance of avoiding an accident.
Be careful.
Tags:
Congratulations for getting a new wheel and riding the very next day. So that we can fully appreciate the value of that circus arts training, what simulated flight pattern did your body take?
• Barrel Roll?
• Wing-over?
• Nose dive?
Kevin,
We are all glad you're ok, but the question I have to ask is: are you gonna start wearing a helmet? You'll still look cool, and it may offer more protection than your shorts and T-shirt.
I got pretty decent air, but under the circumstances, and a lack of familiarity with the landing area, I decided to go with something I could throw in my sleep- kind of a Superman, swan dive with a tuck and roll on impact, all the while screaming like a little girl. I'm afraid my style points might have suffered, but a concerned pedestrian (east german no doubt) confirmed one full inversion.
Clark said:Congratulations for getting a new wheel and riding the very next day. So that we can fully appreciate the value of that circus arts training, what simulated flight pattern did your body take?
• Barrel Roll?
• Wing-over?
• Nose dive?
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