It was inevitable. I never really think about it, unless someone brings it up. I pride myself on my ability to think up and analyze almost every possible situation. This one was fate. That exact moment when you realise you’re fucked.
I started off pretty stoked and ready for a 40km skate. About five minutes into the skate. I could tell the legs were in need of a long warm-up. Did the first stretch working technique and stretching out the lower back. About 8km into the skate I got passed by a road bike.
I stayed close. Not wanting to spock him. The overpass was coming up and I wanted to to nail him on the down side. Run the Gauntlet right to the Gorge Inlet. He had a hundred yards on me after he sprinted up the overpass.
I just gav’er on the downside. Got real low, through the hand behind the back. Then I laid down a stride and pace that would put me in the lead. I had him in three blocks. I had zero interest in drafting him. I was thinking of my motto, “Taking the Lead is Heaven, Holding it is Hell, Welcome to HELL!”
Humble pie as I passed him in the intersection with cars stopped. I was cranking it and loving every minute of it. I was pushing right from the hips through to the toe. Landing the double push clean and solid. He was not going to catch me. He didn’t. I got to the Gorge Inlet tressle and turned around for the return trip. Got the thumbs up as he flew by seconds later.
Filled the water bottle and got back to it. Stretched the lower back and legs and settled into a good pace. Hit the overpass again. Love it on the return. Got a 75-80 degree corner at the bottom. From the top I can check to see if the trail is clear.
Once it is I fly down. Dropping my ass to my ankles and leaning like hell as I round that corner so tight I swear she was a virgin.
Came out of my tuck and laided into my stride like I have so many time before. Powered through the next up-grade. I could see traffic pattern was in my favor for a straight through run.
Down low we went and through the arms into it. I do better than 40 km on that down grade. With the right traffic pattern I just give a show and blow through that interestion at Mach one.
I love it. Friggin flying down the trail. Coming up on the interestion so I check my six. Make sure no cars are coming in the right turn lane. There’s a car coming up from behind as he closes the gap I make eye contact with him and get the go ahead.
Crossed the turning lane and hit the Island medium at full speed. We were air born (just). Hit the road and gav’er. I can see I cyclist coming. Somethings wrong. Cars stopped at the light.
I’m west bond in the right lane. The cyclist is east bond and corners in close to the cars on my right. I bank right and for some fucked up reason he banks left.
I was trapped. Leaning toward the stopped cars at 40km as this cyclist doing 25 km or better. Turns right into me. Is all I remember is getting my hands out in front of me. I don’t want to think about the end result of no hands up.
I wasn’t out but I was fuck-up. Trying to get up but everyone was keeping me down. I remember one guy looking right at me. Saying stay still the ambulance is coming. I have zero idea what the fucks going on. I have no idea where I am. Next my neck is getting braced and I’m on a gurney.
The Paramedical kept asking me questions. Whats her partners name, what fruit does he like (which she had told me) These I could remember. The date, what I was doing and where I lived were very foggy. I struggled to get it together. Keep asking about pain, pressing my body. My jaw was sore. The fog started to lift on route to the hospital.
Questions, lots of questions. I struggled to find the answers. As the fog lifted I started to remember. He has in the wrong lane, I knew that. The neck brace was hurting my chin. I was strrapped in and it was driving me crazy.
At the hospital the fog lifted completly. I started flexing and moving parts as I took stock of my situation. Everything was working, zero sharp pain. Dull throb in the jaw. Laid there forever. I just wanted to get up and get out of there before I caught something.
Cops came, she was pretty hot. Lots of questions. One statement, “from the condition you’re in, you must have been going at a good clip”. Now that was an understatement.
Gave my statement, which by then was clear in my head.
I inquired about the cyclist’s condition. Sore right shoulder other wise fine. Lots of waiting on the hard board and in the neck brace. Couple female paramedic students stopped by to see if they could ask some question. They were hot, and they press and pushed various part of my body. I really liked that. Had a little chat and then they left.
Doctor finally came. Brace off, board gone. Need a couple stitches in the chin. We were good to go. Now they all new for sure I was crazy. As I strapped on the skates (a little banged up) and the rest of my gear and skated home.
Came to the intersection of my collision. Saw my blood in the crosswalk. That’s kind of surreal. Had a great skate home. Lots of abrasions, scraps and bruises. We can still skate though, so alls well at the end of the day. This is the reason I stay strong!
