I try not to take pleasure from other the misfortune of others, but I almost couldn't help myself earlier this week.

Riding on campus the other morning, I heard a freaky rattling sound coming over my left shoulder. Looking back, I saw another cyclist, u-lock bouncing on his handlbars, right on my wheel, pedaling like crazy!

Now, it's still winter up here on the Canadian prairies, and that particular morning there was fresh snow on top of the icy pavement, so I wasn't too happy to have someine riding six inches behind me.

At this point the path forked in two for twenty feet or so before reconnecting. My shadow broke off, trying to beat me by taking the long way. I let him get ahead of me, and when he got back on the main path, he hit a patch of hidden ice and went down HARD!

Normally, if I see a cyclist fall, I stop and make sure the rider and bike are okay, but this time, it was all I could do not to laugh (I didn't, well, not out loud).

Classic! Obviously, I'm sure you would have stopped if you suspected a serious injury (say, if he hit a tree or something).
He probably needed the solitude to ponder the wisdom (or stupidity) of trying to get ahead on an icy morning.

Under the circumstances, I thought it would be less harmful to his pride it I just rode on by.

I bet he wished he had thrown the money for studded tires.