Category: Car/bike collision
Location: Auburn Al, 1980
Bike: Mercian King of Mercia framed tourer

I was six months out of the service and had just started school. It was a typical fall Friday afternoon and my last class of the day was done. I was carrying 21 hours and school didn't come easily for me....but class was out and it was time to go for a ride!

I left my tiny apartment and went north on Gay St and then turned east on Thach which is a small down hill. I made it maybe 100 yards when a car turned left in front of me and then....stopped in the middle of my lane.

I ** almost ** made it by her on the right by her front bumper grabbed the rear triangle of the bike and ripped the bike out from under me. When I hit, I did a nice tuck and roll and wasn't hurt.

The police came, she gave me her insurance agency who could believe I had a $1,000 wrapped up in a bike. I collected enough to purchase another Mercian frame and have the LBS move the components over but I sure do miss that black-framed Mercian. It was simply beautiful.