Nearly a Pancake: #bikeschool edition
Last week I was out on ride….no surprise there. It was a beautiful day with little wind and 100% sunshine, so I stayed out as long as I could. I got out far enough to know that I’d be arriving home with at least 110kms behind me and I was very happy about that.
On the way back from one of my favorite country roads, I had to cross over a fairly busy highway…one I have crossed countless times. When I came to it, there were a few vehicles coming from the left so I slowed down and waited for them to pass. In my head I was for some reason thinking that it was a divided highway and that I would look over for traffic on the right once I got to the merridian. Well, once I got across, I looked right and then realized that this section of the highway has two way traffic.
Instantly I had shivers knowing that I could have so easily been flattened like a pancake by a big truck or passing car. I never even looked in the other direction, and if my timing would have been any different that day….I wouldn’t be here writing this post right now. Traffic does not bother me and I don’t get shaken up very easily, but this was the absolute closest call I’ve ever had (even though nothing happened at all). All because my head switched out of the game for a split second.
The #bikeschooling I got from this ride is not only to keep focused at all times….but the life lesson it has taught me is that life really is as precious as people often say it is. One quick zip across a highway, and it could be over. Call me strange, but I’ve been trying hard to keep the thought in my mind of a truck hitting me while I’m not paying attention. I am doing this so that I can remember how valuable each and every moment I live really is….and I’m also using it to remind me how pretty much everything in life is not worth stressing over.
Under different circumstances…if my luck wasn’t rocking on high that day, I wouldn’t be here. So as far as I’m concerned, this is Bonus Time…..and I am going to do my best to keep thinking that way.
Darryl,
Sounds like the time I almost stepped out into the path of a bus in London because I was looking the wrong way. A rough pull by a resident accompanied by a “not so fast mate” saved me.
Assumptions can kill ya.
Hey Darryl! Be Alert!
I’ve never quite worked out what a lert is, but be one anyway! 😉
Great post, but do me a favor, eh? Please REMOVE said image of yourself being flattened by a truck from your mind’s eye. This is how you create your reality.
Please create something else. Like, say, see yourself narrowly AVOIDING being flattened so you remember to stay alert.
I really would like the opportunity to see you unpack your bags in Austin. Deal?
I think the reason I was so lucky was because I did create this reality. I never think about or worry about traffic and I feel completely free and safe out there. I love your attitude and way of thinking….we’re going to get along brilliantly.
Darryl
It’s amazing and scary how that happens, isn’t it? As cyclists we must stay engaged, but still even the best of us space out for a few seconds.
What a great lesson. We always have to stay ‘engaged’ while out there. It’s really easy to let our minds wander while we’re riding and not really pay attention to what’s going on. I’m sure we’ve all driven a car and had experiences where we can’t seem to remember the last few miles all because we ‘zoned out’. I don’t think it’s any different riding a bike.
Thanks for the great post, Darryl. It’s a good reminder to all of us that riding can be dangerous and we need to always stay focused and aware of our surroundings to stay safe. Glad you had a happy ending to the story. Stay safe out there.
You know it. One small blank out is all it takes.
I’ve got another image of pancakes now!
Good post Darryl, made me realize I’m into “bonus time ” too!
I’ve had a few close calls also, pretty scary to say the least.
Incredible how, in within 1 sec, everything can change!
Stay safe out there!
Mari-jo (@marijolamarche)