Riding home I had to cross some railroad tracks. My front wheel got wedged between two wooden beams and I went over my handlebars. I would guess I was going about 6-8mph. I am fine but my wheel came out of true. I buggered around with my breaks and now the pads aren't rubbing. I had my Krypto NYC chain slung around my neck and shoulder and I was surprised that the chain didn't hurt me or get in the way at all. Of course, come summertime I won't have all the padding between the chain and my body. I guess it's time to learn how to true a wheel now...

Incidentally, I also almost hit a mid-sized pick-up truck the other day. The guy was towards the left of the lane at a light with no signal on. As the light turned green I was coming from behind on his right and had to slam on the brakes and skid to avoid hitting him. I never realized what a dangerous rider I am.

But now you know and that will make you a better, safer rider. I am glad you can come away with a sense of humor about your mishap. I am also happy you are okay.

It's strange, sometime you hit (or are hit) by something major and walk away, sometimes you hit something lightly and you are broken or your bike is.

Congrats on walking (or riding away from this one)

The League of American Bicyclists has effective cycling classes. I really recommend them. I have been hit by a stopped vehicle that turned unexpectedly. Now at intersections I normally stop behind the first vehicle and make eye contact with the second vehicle (if any). Then follow the first one thru the intersection. So many traffic situations are covered by a few simple rules. If no classes in your area get one or two of the books about safe riding.

If the rim is bent (pretty likely) then just truing it by tightening spokes will put a hell of a lot of uneven tension in the wheel, and you'll likely start breaking spokes at some point. This may happen that much on the front wheel.

I bent my rear rim a couple of years ago and tried to just retrue it, and I didn't stop breaking spokes until I took the wheel apart, pulled the rim back straight, and rebuilt the wheel. Even then I still kept breaking spokes because I'd badly stressed a lot of them. It didn't stop until I finally just replaced all the spokes.