I hit a deer - an antlered buck. Square in the gut. Weirdest thing to ever happen to me on a bike.

Fall, 1990. Riding along the American River Bike path in Sacramento at about a 20 mph clip, a deer came bounding out of the brush at a 90 degree angle. From there, everything went into ultra slo-mo. He hit the pavement and his slick hooves caused him to do one of those "Bambi on ice" leg splatters, where his gut goes to the deck. I, having had only about 1 second to react, hit him square in the gut and proceed to topple over him, all the while praying I don't hit one of his antlers. Sprawling ensues and as I raise my head, I see him bouncing back into the woods. I was actually ok physically - a few scrapes was about all - but the front wheel was destroyed. I ended up walking a bit as cell phones were still attached to cars back then.

55/Rad