Out of nowhere

I always thought that my first bike accident would involve one of the many hazards I commonly encounter on each sortie in the city-- taxis, potholes, car doors, pedestrians, other bikers, SUVs with Jersey plates. The sheer absurdity and improbability of what actually happened tonight is beyond belief.

Riding home from Brooklyn on a clear, crisp, and still evening, I decided it would be a shame if I didn’t take advantage of the beautiful weather. So instead of pulling off the west side bike path at the West Village, I continued up to Central Park to enjoy speeding through its virtual solitude.

Only a few minutes into my ride, just as I was settling in to the quiet bliss, a large raccoon darted into the road moving rapidly leftwards across my path. I frantically swerved right to avoid a collision, but the raccoon suddenly realized it was in danger and its instincts, refined by millennia of evolution, caused it to double back towards safety. I struck it full on and went flying off my bike.

I suppose I should count myself lucky.  My injuries are minor (although somewhat puzzling) – abrasions on the outside of my bruised left shoulder and on the backs of both my hands (how do you scrape the backs of both hands through untorn gloves?), a few sprained fingers on my left hand, and a giant bump and abrasion on the left side of my chin that makes me look like the demented offspring of Jay Leno and Two-Face.

And if you must know, by the time I picked myself up off the pavement, the raccoon was nowhere in sight. I doubt he appreciates the absurdity.

Comments

[Aileen]

It was clear what was coming up as I read the words "a large raccoon darted into the road". However, I guiltily admit that the first thought going through my mind was "ohmygosh he didn't kill a raccoon" and not "I hope Mike didn't get hurt." To be fair though, you must've been ok enough to blog about this, whereas we're not hearing back from the poor raccoon.

[Alex F]

Buy a helmet.

[Christine]

A raccoon?! (snarf)