Category – Solo accident
Location – Madison, Wisconsin
Bike - Takara, racing

One day I was out exploring, hunched over on my racing style handlebars, pedaling in a ‘need for speed’ fashion, when the road changed. The asphalt was interrupted by a 30 foot stretch of egg-sized rocks before continuing on its merry way. I had little warning of my impending doom. In any case, I had conquered obstacles before and in my, at the time, youthful exuberance expected to surmount this one as well. No way . . . The bike stopped; I didn’t. It was one of those times when life seemed to slow down. I vividly remember flying through the air, as if I was on my hands and knees. Strange sensation . . The bike was unharmed, (thank goodness); I wasn’t. The skinned hands took a couple weeks to heel, my pants never did. If the bicycle manufacturers ever make a self-healing rock jumper, I’ll be first in line to buy one.