this afternoon i find myself grateful for one (well maybe more than one) thing…bicycle helmets.

i would gladly ride my bike in the pouring rain, wind whipping in my face, threatening to make me peddle involuntarily backwards. i would ride my traveling lightening rod in a wild, crazy thunderstorm. i might even ride it in a tornado (though this comment is based on the fact that tornadoes are about as common as a blue moon here in eugene). but there is one kind of day that i dread riding my bike above any other…icey days. these, unfortunately, are about as common as trees during eugene winters. today was no exception.

on icey days, i have a fear that while riding my bike to work in the morning, i will hit a patch of ice, be unable to stop myself and go skidding wildly into the middle of willamette street only to be turned into my very own special brand of road kill. this morning was no different. when i skidded out twice before getting to the hill of death, i was worried. then i managed to keep all hands and arms inside my rollercoaster and come safely to a stop at the light. phew, not road kill today. i turn onto the bike path headed toward work and it is very icey, but i seem fine. then when i am turning into the parking lot, i hit a patch of black ice and i am toast. i had no time to bail and before i knew it i was sliding across the ice a la michelle kwan (except i was on my stomach) and slamming my head into the ground. this is where i am grateful for bicycle helmets. head + ground=bad news. thanks to my helmet, i have only a headache instead of a gaping head wound and a concussion. READ THIS PEOPLE: HELMET EQUALS GOOD.

the grand total of damage is: one headache, one minor case of whiplash (at least that’s how i am feeling right now), a handful of bruises, a cut foot and a damaged, but still rideable bike. the list is longish, but nothing is that severe. mostly i am concerned about where we are going to come up with the funds to fix my bike. also, due to helmet integrity issues, i now need a new helmet (for those of you who don’t know, you should replace your helmet after any impact no matter how serious).

ok, i am tired and dented.