Northeast - Took a spill - Sippin to the rescue! (in CT) ..and Big Bill, too

I took a downhill corner too fast this morning and wiped out, south of RTE 110 in Shelton, CT. While I checking myself and my bike over, several cars and SUVs passed me by.

Mike, a driver for the Sippin fuel oil company of Monroe, stopped to make sure I wasn't hurt. I had some road rash, which I was cleaning with water and getting ready to bandage, so I must have looked pretty bad. Blood on white cargo shorts....yuck! At least I had on a red shirt. (If life were Star Trek, I'd be dead.)

Mike confirmed what I feared, that the rigid front fork on my hybrid was bent. He told me he's a downhill racer, but only rides off-road. Since he drives for a living, I don't doubt that he doesn't need to see any more traffic in his time off. Anyway, not only did Mike make sure I wasn't out of commision, he helped me bend the fork back into a semi-usable condition, so I could roll it home. (OK, I gave minimal help to him.) We chatted about the merits of local LBSs for repair purposes. Mike even offered to drop me back at my house. I turned him down, as I was in walking distance, and I didn't want him to get behind schedule on my account.

What a great guy! I emailed his company, praising him.

After Mike was on his way, a fellow in a huge, black SUV showed up. Seems he was driving one of the vehicles that hadn't stopped before, but he didn't want to block traffic on that narrow stretch of road. He asked me if I was alright, and I recounted how Mike had helped me out. My bike and I were offered a ride back to my house. The guy had on a Harley shirt, so I figured "two wheels good" and accepted. This was Bill, or "Big Bil" as his vanity plates spelled it. I introduced myself, and as we chatted I learned he runs a plumbing and heating business under that name. He was running around trying to drum up some business, which is scarce in that trade nowadays.

I just want to throw a big "thank you" out to these two knights of the road. And hey, if you are in or near Fairfield County and your pipes leak or you need fuel oil, keep them in mind!

Kevin

P.S. Yes, I was wearing my helmet, Mom!

Excellent to hear that there are some good samaritans still. I crashed in the middle of a busy intersection once and while lying in blood, cars just went around me, honking their horns, drivers swearing at me, all while I was trying in vain to get up. Finally, someone stopped, blocking traffic and helped me up. I was really grateful. Injuries were not serious, but I was pretty well shaken up. I lived nearby and was able to get home and cleaned up. Bike not seriously damaged. I was raised to help people who need help. There are others out there like me, but there are also others out there who were not raised that way.

Yeah, Prof, I was thoroughly prepared to limp back home and tend my wounds. What is always in the back of my mind if and when I get hurt, falling off a bike or otherwise, is the nagging notion that I may have taken a shot to the noggin, or be in shock, and might not be thinking straight. Just someone interacting with you, who could possibly notice that you've been cuncussed or worse is a great favor.

Later yesterday I was making a much less challenging descent, though one with more traffic, when I saw a car in my mirror. I squeezed as far right as practical, figuring that he might want to pass, but for some reason he hung back. When we got on the flat and the road widened, I saw why I had received unusual courtesy. The trailing car had a mountain bike hung on a trunk-mounted rack.

Three times that day people we might brush off as cagers turned out to be riders, doing me a good turn.

Kevin

Coming down Long Hill Ave too fast?

Coming down Long Hill Ave too fast?

My wreck was on Birdseye Road. I would have run off the road to kill my speed, but the farmer who owns the land on the roadside has an old stone wall that might have done for me. The road with the polite fellow rider was Rte 111 in Monroe.

Kevin

I also had a fun one a couple of weeks ago. An 18-wheeler squeezed me up against the curb as I was doing about 20mph. I ended up bunny-hopping the curb to avoid mayhem. It shot my heart rate up, but was otherwise unscathed.

Oh Birdseye....I know that road too....narrow, all those roads are twisty and blind corners.

Oh Birdseye....I know that road too....narrow, all those roads are twisty and blind corners.

Yeah, they are fun if you do it right, but make a mistake and "Oh! Brother!"

Kevin