About 2 years ago, 8 PM, thinking "last ten minutes of the ride, sprint a little..." Next, I hear voices, "drunk driver," "we've got her," "try to put the shoulder back in." WTF? Then a voice seems to address me saying my name. "I am officer Russ, you've been in an accident..." Really? I feel so very fine. What are you talking about? Yes sir... Ah... Sister Morphine...

On that warm June Saturday a woman went out with a friend and drank a bottle of wine, before driving home. She got confused and entered a bike trail only for pedestrians and bicycles. She drove about five miles at speed. Folks out for a stroll had to dive into poison ivy bushes to get out of her way, a few had a close call. Then, there I was hyperventilating in the middle of a sprint. She hit me from behind at 40 mph, and fled. No memory of me flying through the air. Inventory: broken arm, dislocated shoulder, multiple bruises and cuts, 30 stitches to the scalp right below the helmet, 40 stitches on side of the face, life-threatening leg blood clot from ankle to groin = 18 months on blood thinners. The summer I became ambidextrous... I know what you mean about life with one arm only...

Police were waiting for her at the road junction, alerted by the pedestrians.

My Pina looked like she'd spent a night with Jack The Ripper.

My Giro helmet cracked almost in half. Brain intact, or so they say... So in all those funky helmet threads we have here, I am like a demon of vengeance to anyone even hinting that helmets are not necessary, statistics, blah, blah, blah.