Tuesday, April 21, 2009

OUCH!!!

As a lot of you know, the HACC Hammerfest lunch time ride gets fast...and fast equals dangerous. However, speed is not what caused me to crash today...it was a little girl about 9 years old.

It went down like this...we were headed out on our usual Tuesday lunch time ride. As we were rounding the turn before the beach, I saw a little girl on her bike followed by a lady pulling a kid trailer behind her bike. I saw the little girl stand up and peddle hard as a couple in our group passed by her. As I got closer, I swung wide to ensure I was very far away from them. Just as I started to pass, the little girl stands up to peddle hard, her left foot slips off the peddle, she wobbles and swerves right into my path, and then she falls...right in front of me. I hit the brakes as hard as I could, locked it up, see my front wheel hit her or her bike (not sure), fly over her and her bike with my bike still attached to my feet, and land hard in the middle of the road. I took most of the fall with my right elbow, shoulder and right side. OUCH!!!

I laid there in the middle of the road for a second, not sure what just happened...then I remembered that I was lying the middle of the road in a turn. I jumped up, grabbed my bike, and made my way to the side of the road...already inspecting my bike for damage. I noticed the chain off but nothing serious so lean my bike against the wall and start assessing other damage...blood on elbow, pain in my side. Then a couple of other guys pull up and start asking me if I'm alright and helping me check things out. I truck drives by and offers a cell phone...no need. I can hear the little girl saying "I'm sorry" over and over. The lady comes over and asks me if I'm alright. I am, bike is, no problem. I ask her if the little girl is alright and she says that she is but she is very sorry. I tell her not to worry. She gets a couple of our thoughts about her and her kid riding in flip-flops and we are off riding again.

I do a couple of early turns to get back with the front group, take third in the sprint at the end, and call it a day. Jason hooks me up with some great bandaging before I head back to work...thanks Jason!

Ended up with a pretty scraped up elbow and a few on my back...bike was good, front wheel may need aligning...definitely could have been worse for me, the little girl, or my bike!!!

Best thing said today: "I am worried everyday by you getting hit by a car while riding to and from work and you ended up getting taken out by a little girl." - LT Fortino (my boss).

Here is a bit of the damage...



Friday, April 17, 2009

BUSY WEEKS - LOGGING THE MILES

Last week and this week I was very busy at work conducting the command's Physical Fitness Assessment. Three days this week I was up at 0430 and out the door at 0500 to bike to work in time to start up the testing. Whew!!! I'm glad that's over. Yesterday I ended up getting in almost 60 miles of riding on a week day!!! I biked to and from work and did the HACC ride at lunch which turned into an extended ride when John took a few us over to Ford Island to check out a couple of courses for a race we are doing over there. Today I drove in so that I would feel like riding Saturday morning but it was so beautiful out today that I ended up going on a six mile run during lunch. One more PT test to do and I'm done for the week!

Monday, April 6, 2009

TANTALUS TIME TRIAL

This past weekend I raced in the Tantalus Time Trial. This is one of my favorite races of the season. The race is about 5 miles long with about 1,400 feet of climbing...fun! We had great weather for the race. I improved my time over 2 minutes from last year. A few HACCers grouped up at the top for the descent which is always fun. I took a slight off-road detour when I saw a break in the trees and was checking out the view. I kept the bike up right and got it back on the road with no issues. Jeff A. told me later that I was headed right for a sign but pulled it back on the road just in time...whew! Fun morning!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

BACK ON THE BIKE

My first bike ride after my week off from our Georgia trip was three times up to Camp Smith. It went well and was good preparation for the Tantalus race this weekend. I was getting some chain slip when I stood or pedaled hard. I had taken off my crank/bottom bracket the day before and don't think I got it back on tight enough. I checked it out when I got home and everything seems to be o.k. now. Hopefully there will be no issues during the race tomorrow.

Last month I got in some pretty good miles despite being off the bike for a week and some bad weather.

Miles - 264.42
Average - 17.58 mph
Max - 44.0 mph

I am way behind in the commuter challenge. Maybe I need to do a couple of trips around the island to catch up!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

MORE FROM GEORGIA


Visiting with Dad.

Goy with Dad.


Visiting the farm.


Hanging with the cows.


Goy feeding the cows.


More cows.


Damien driving the tractor.


Damien and me on the four-wheeler...he was not too thrilled about this ride.


Giving Goy a ride. Check out the death grip Goy has on me!


Goy and friend.


Back to Dahlonega for more shopping.


Going home!!! Looks like Damien has had it with all the picture taking!