I had my first major bicycle crash today on my way to work....I let my attention slip for a second and went a little too fast around a curve that I've been around a hundred times. My front tire hit some road salt (around here folks salt like crazy if it even sprinkles in February) or some gravel as I tried to recover and down I went at around 15 - 20 MPH. The curve is on a little down grade and I'm usually going close to 30 MPH when I get to the bottom. I've got a sweet set of road rash down my left side and my helmet was cracked completely through in not one but two places, but other than that I'm pretty much ok. I went down on the non drive side and the bike (Trek 4300 with slicks) is absolutely fine as best I can tell. My backpack containing my clothes and laptop was in a milk crate zip tied to my rear rack. The milkcrate got completely ripped off the rack and the backpack came out of the crate, but amazingly, I'm typing this post on the laptop. It booted right up just fine when I got to work. After the crash I remounted and rode the final mile to work and cleaned my wounds, then got a lift to my LBS at lunch to get a new helmet. The commute home was pleasant...nice and slow.

I'm sure I'm going to be sore tomorrow, but if I hadn't been wearing a helmet I would be in the hospital right now. I know I'm preaching to choir here but ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!

P.S. And YES there was a group of people exercising in the field next to the road, so I had an audience. I'm sure they had a good laugh when they realized I wasn't dead.