I love humanity ... It's humans I have an issue with ...
I'm training this spring with three of my friends for a triathlon coming up later this year in June. We are pounding the miles in the water, on our bikes, and running. Well, yesterday we were out for a ride and practicing what cyclists call drafting. This is where one cyclist rides very close to the one in front in order to take advantage of their draft and not have to cut through the wind alone. 🚴♀🚴♀🚴♀🚴♀
Anyway, we are moving pretty quick and there are just inches between one bike and the next as the four of us proceed down the trail. The "rail trail" (former railroad bed converted into a multi-use biking / walking trail) that we are on is not yet too busy because it is early, but there are people out and about. We are keeping it below 20mph as is the rule on this trail and we slow anytime we pass a group.
Suddenly, a kid (14 years old) on an off-road electric dirt bike pulls onto the pavement from the grass side of the path without looking our way at all. He slams into the second bike of our four and you can just imagine what happens next. I was third in line so I slam into my teammate and the kid and the fourth slams into all of us.
Two out of our four bikes are wrecked and unrideable without serious maintenance and parts (yes, mine was one of them). I was wearing only a tank top and sport bra with biking shorts so my right leg, right arm, and shoulder were spewing blood from serious road rash. My teammate in the #2 position landed on her shoulder and definitely as serious soft tissue ouchies.
No broken bones, but lots of damaged equipment and skin. What kind of idiot puts their 14 year old on a vehicle capable of doing 40-50+ mph and then allows that 14 year old to take that illegal dirt bike onto a multi-use trail with a 20 mph speed limit. 🤦♀
As for my bike, I was in the market for a new one anyway so this is just accelerating my buying plans. But I'm going to need to walk into the lecture hall tomorrow looking like an Egyptian Mummy with all the bandages. And then will start the questions. 🤦♀🤦♀🤦♀
Anyway, we are moving pretty quick and there are just inches between one bike and the next as the four of us proceed down the trail. The "rail trail" (former railroad bed converted into a multi-use biking / walking trail) that we are on is not yet too busy because it is early, but there are people out and about. We are keeping it below 20mph as is the rule on this trail and we slow anytime we pass a group.
Suddenly, a kid (14 years old) on an off-road electric dirt bike pulls onto the pavement from the grass side of the path without looking our way at all. He slams into the second bike of our four and you can just imagine what happens next. I was third in line so I slam into my teammate and the kid and the fourth slams into all of us.
Two out of our four bikes are wrecked and unrideable without serious maintenance and parts (yes, mine was one of them). I was wearing only a tank top and sport bra with biking shorts so my right leg, right arm, and shoulder were spewing blood from serious road rash. My teammate in the #2 position landed on her shoulder and definitely as serious soft tissue ouchies.
No broken bones, but lots of damaged equipment and skin. What kind of idiot puts their 14 year old on a vehicle capable of doing 40-50+ mph and then allows that 14 year old to take that illegal dirt bike onto a multi-use trail with a 20 mph speed limit. 🤦♀
As for my bike, I was in the market for a new one anyway so this is just accelerating my buying plans. But I'm going to need to walk into the lecture hall tomorrow looking like an Egyptian Mummy with all the bandages. And then will start the questions. 🤦♀🤦♀🤦♀
31-35, F
