intellectual properties

monday morning crashing down

as i’ve mentioned previously, the pathway through aquatic park in berkeley is often a human obstacle course, with the playground and babyjoggers and frisbeegolfers and dogs off leash, none of whom stay to the right or seem aware of anything but whatever they are focused on. you can ride around the other side, but it is exposed and runs along the freeway and so is often 1) windy and 2) full of exhaust from 1-80. so while riding through the park sounds safe and lovely, this is more often than not the part of my ride that leaves me swerving and cursing more than the city streets.

this morning was no exception, and as i came around one bend, there was a man standing facing the path, crouched in a squat-like position, eyes darting quickly back and forth.  he was an older man, wearing sweatpants, and didn’t look particularly out of place, but it was the darting eyes that spooked me. he was fully in a pounce position. what was he doing?  i moved over, picked up pace and rode quickly by, but when i turned to look back, HE WAS RUNNING FULL SPRINT BEHIND ME. now, in retrospect, i assume this was just an older man out doing some sprints in the park and that his furtive eyes were just looking out to make sure the path was clear before he jumped back on for his next interval. totally normal. but looking behind you to see a man sprinting after your bicycle is sort of disconcerting.  and so i sped up more, and rounded the next bend.

unfortunately, around the next bend, another old man was entering the pathway off the grass with a walker, looking the other direction. i tried to warn him for a second, but my reflexes took over and i hit the brakes. too hard. and over the handlebars i went……

like most accidents i didn’t realize what happened at first.  i quickly noted that i’d only hit my hands (gloved) and knees, no head, and got up.  the old man had turned around and was standing there, and he said “are you ok?” and i said “yes, thanks, i’m fine i think, i just didn’t want to hit you.”   i got back on my bike and pedaled away.

and then i realized that my right knee really did hurt, the initial adrenaline shock wore off, and the whole experience of being chased by an old man/almost crashing into an old man had sort of shattered my nerves and i just started crying.

i guess the good thing about working alone is that when i got to the office i just laid on the floor and cried until the feeling wore off.  and then i went to get some coffee.

(title ref)

Filed in autobiographical | Tagged with bicycling | Comments (2)