After about 7 months riding I had my first accident. I figured eventually it would probably happen but hoped it wouldn’t!
So I was riding last Sunday and it was super windy but I wanted to ride anyhow. I was riding my normal route through South Torrance/Palos Verdes/Redondo Beach. After going along Esplanade (parallels the beach) I get down to the pier and turn around coming back along Catalina where I usually relax and sit up, hands off the bars and drink some water before dropping back down to Esplanade. Wind was at my back and I’m thinking everything is good. A #^*+! cross wind hits me out of no where, sending me sideways and as I tried to grab the bars to save myself, bam, I am on the street.
Bloody knee, hip and shoulder, nothing broken besides my pride, pissed off so I throw my water bottle at the curb and let out some choice words. Bars were a little crooked and the chain was off and one of my previously perfect Universal brake levers which made it nearly 50 years with nothing more than a few scratches was badly scratched up. Brushed off the grit, put the chain back on and rode home with blood running down my shin.
I had it in my head that if/when I crashed at this age it was going to really suck but other than a sore collarbone and a couple uncomfortable nights sleep it really wasn’t that bad and the scabs are already nearly gone.
Lesson learned, don’t ride hands free when the winds are 15/20mph like they are right now. I do wish it wasn’t so windy here but I’m not moving just because it’s always windy here.
