As if life wasn't tough enough already

Cycling is a dangerous sport. I know, because I've had my share of accidents. Fortunately, the only thing I've ever broken was my wrist and thumb, about 25 years ago, but I have had my share of road rash along the way, and even a slight concussion in November of '05, which got me started on this blog.

Since then I've been pretty lucky. I've had one or two close calls, but basically nothing [that I can remember]. Even the thought of an accident seldom enters my mind. That is, up until yesterday, when an accident occurred during the group ride.

Saturdays is our normal pace line training loop (the Hammer Zone) around the streets of Seal Beach. It was a little unusual because we had caught the first [faster] group, and no one seemed to be pushing the pace. It was a nice comfortable 25 or 26 mph pace. There are a few spots where the pace always picks up regardless (usually around turns), so it's easiest if you move towards the front before those points, and then get back on the back as the group goes by. And it was at one of those points where the accident occurred.

As we were coming down off the 405 overpass, heading south on Valley View, a truck was coming off the freeway, which split the group. I was fortunately in the front group, but didn't really realize that until a short time later when I briefly turned around, and discovered no one was behind me. I suspected something was wrong, but at that point there was not much I could do, so I headed over to the coffee shop and learned of the accident when everyone returned.

Apparently as the riders, who got caught behind the truck, attempted to accelerate to catch us, someone veered off course into another rider causing a chain reaction. Fortunately no one was hurt seriously, but a number of riders went down, and there was a lot of road rash.

So just how lucky was I to avoid that accident? After sitting in on the back for the majority of the ride, the one time I decide to move towards the front, an accident occurs behind me.

Normally I wouldn't give this a second thought, but there has been talk lately about eliminating the hammer zone ride. Sure it can be dangerous, but any time there is a big group of riders, accidents can occur. Accidents can even occur when you're riding by yourself, or going slow. Of course accidents at high speed are typically more serious, and me, with my enlarged spleen, makes it more problematic, due to a higher likelihood of rupture. And I can't be that lucky all the time.

So why does this have to occur now, especially when I have so many other things on my mind? I just hate this s*/^. Even today's ride seemed to lack its normal pizazz, no doubt due to yesterdays accident.

I love cycling, and Saturday's Hammer Zone is one of favorite rides, and I sure don't need to be dwelling on the dangers of cycling, because I'm worried about my spleen. Heck, if that were the case I should just give up cycling altogether, and go back to playing golf.

I could do that. Some people might even recommend it, but then the disease would be controlling my life, and it really should be the other way around. Otherwise it wouldn't be much of a life. At least that's the way I see it.

Oh well, such is life. I guess I'm just going to have to find some way to put everything out of mind, lest I go mad, or even worse decide to give up cycling altogether.

My concerns reaffirmed today

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LIVING WITH MCL

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