The hill was not brutal or challenging. My legs were still reasonably fresh because I hadn’t been out long this morning, in fact I was starting to fire alright up this hill. I had cruised into Geelong, trying to keep the heart-rate in the seventies, figuring I’d take a longer ride in the beautiful weather. Roger was heading to Uni, so the plan was to hook up with him, and then cruise along somewhere else.
The hill flattened out, and I started to recover. Focus on breathing. Look around to survey area. Check upcoming traffic lights. In an instant, a flash of a small red door. A confused grunt. And sky.
I shook my head, trying to ascertain my location. Hard road. Bike on top of me. Middle of busy street… My mind is racing “Gotta stand up, Gotta keep riding. Its what the pros do…” Okay, stand up, at least let the person know she hit me.
I still could get my orientation, things were a little confusing. Two small ladies were standing pretty close to me at this stage, asking if I was alright. I took my glasses off and smiled. “Yes, I’m okay.” More chat to see if I was okay.
I remember trying to feel what was wrong. I could stand up, that’s good. Legs hurt. A small bit of blood. I’m mentally checking everything, while these ladies are talking away to see how I am. Maybe I could have been a little more courteous, but I did just have an MX-5 door swing open on my leg.
“It was just a moment in time. You rode past at the exact time I opened the door…” An excuse if I ever heard one… I agreed, only to save her the trauma, but on a narrow, busy street like this there is no other place for me to ride… I guess it was just a moment in time…
“Where are you going?” She asked. I told her about the trip to my brothers, and by this stage I was rather eager to get on with the riding. Looking back, maybe I should have taken her up on the doctors visit, or a coffee, or something – but at that time my mind was all about getting to Roger’s so I could ride with him.
“Oh my, your shaking.” She said while writing her mobile number into my phone – which I had taken with me that day – “Of course I am,” I smiled “I just had a car door open on me.” I rode off, clipping in and down the street, round the corner and away from the scene of the accident. My leg sore, but I’m still able to ride…
I managed to get back home without any problems. Iced and a small rest was all it really needed. I went out for a ride the following Tuesday, and everything was good until I got home. I think over-exerting it too early made the ligaments a bit tender, so I’ll stay off the bike till Monday, and see how it feels then. But I’m walking okay, and lately haven’t cringed when I knelt on the ground.
Just so you know, the delay for this update was because I was waiting for a huge bruise to surface. One a tiny one came up, and half of it is indistinguishable because of the bike-shorts tan line that is starting to appear after winter.
I could be forgiven for thinking that I should deserve at least a bruise, but I got to say, I like the fact I can get creamed on my bike and get up and ride again. I like that much better than war wounds. And after a few days being sore, I was back on my bike again. It was great…