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.
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.
Posted by: Aileen | November 05, 2007 at 10:42 PM
Buy a helmet.
Posted by: Alex F | November 07, 2007 at 01:11 PM
A raccoon?! (snarf)
Posted by: Christine | November 09, 2007 at 03:49 PM