Originally Posted by Rowan

This, this and this.

Machka and I very, very rarely ride with other people. If we are on the tandem, we keep well clear -- the unpredictability of some riders makes it far too risky because the big bike and its captain need time to manoeuvre.

We rode a rail-trail last weekend. We seem to vow and declare not to ride these things, and we will again. Way too many people not keeping an eye on what they are doing, let alone others on the trail.

Axiom, you are darned lucky with your shoulder if you didn't dislocate it or worse. The one serious injury I have had from cycling was a dislocated shoulder from falling directly on it. The circumstances were nowhere similar to yours, but it sure hurt for a long time afterwards. Didn't stop me from fronting up for a 300km randonnee about 10 days later...