Two unrelated injuries in a row have hit me hard. There were a couple days when I couldn't ride at all. Now I'm "back in the saddle" but only for short and essential trips. (Bike is usually my sole transportation.)

Well, now I can barely do 8 mph and any bursts of speed are out of the question. When I first got hurt, I asked myself, "Can I still ride VC?" After a failed experiment with sidewalk cycling, I decided I had to either master slow motion VC, or else hang up my helmet until I recover completely.

Actually, this has worked out pretty good. I made a few changes in my riding strategy, but not many. For example, I sure don't try to beat any lights now. Also, today there was a delivery truck parked in the NOL, and I stopped and waited for a gap in traffic before I passed it in the inner lane. (Ordinarily I would have sped up and negotiated and merged my way into the inner lane.) I have also noticed that the slower speeds allow me to stay to the right longer when there's an obstruction ahead in WOLs and bike lanes, so I actually don't "hold up" cagers any more than I ever did--that is, very little.

I guess my point is that VC techniques can work for slow riders as well as fast and fit riders. A few minor modifications seem to be all that is required so far. However, I have not yet ridden on any higher speed (over 35 mph) roads, so I don't yet know how well slow-mo VC will work there.

Although it's been no fun being injured, I was very relieved to discover for myself that I can ride slowly and still use the public streets. I'm 51 years old, and I have a feeling that I will be very old and very slow long before the bike lane utopia many of you dream of is ever implemented. It's good to know that I'll still be riding with the cars when I'm "of an age."