Accolades to all who ride again
If you're one of the (too many) women here who have been in an accident on your bike and you've gotten back on that bike and ridden again, I applaud you!! I can barely imagine the strength of will and courage it took you to get out and ride again (let alone recover from your injuries)!
I have always thought so, but now I understand so much better how it may have felt.
On Sunday both my DH and I had a near miss. Riding fast down a winding downhill country road, I was suddenly passed by a quad cab pickup on an outside corner. It was close enough with just the truck diving back in in front of me, that it was scary, but he was also pulling a boat on a trailer, which dove in even closer to me! I am still amazed that there was no contact and I managed to not hit the soft gravel shoulder! I was nervous, scared, teary-eyed only to watch him catch up to my DH! I could see the truck and trailer very close behind him, and, thankfully for my sanity, I did not actually see the pass. Yes, the driver did exactly the same thing to DH, and, miraculously, he also managed to stay upright and on the road.
Edited to add: FWIW, I was going over 56kph and DH was probably going faster. Since the speed limit is 60kph, I don't understand why he needed to pass me in such a hurry!
DH tried to catch up to the driver to have words about what he'd done, but the driver high-tailed it to the highway turnoff. DH was able to see that there was a company logo on the back door, but couldn't read it. We'll be watching for that truck and logo and contacting them if we ever see it.
By the time I caught up to DH, I was basically hysterical. I was crying and hyperventilating. He thought I had just seen the pass on him, but when he realized the guy did it to me, too, he jumped into consolation overdrive. There we were on the corner of the highway, his arms around me as I was crying and shaking and trying to recover a semblance of calm.
A farm truck pulled up beside us and the older gentleman asked if we were okay. How nice is that? DH told him what happened and thanked him for stopping. The rest of the ride home was actually pretty good. I felt nervous, but was not out of control with it. I thanked the universe, the cycling goddess, the butterflies, for protecting us both. We had 2 more drivers display unusually polite behaviour towards us, so we were reminded that not all drivers are like that one. And I thought a lot about how terrifying an accident must have been for all of you girls who have been through it.
It's a wonder to me that each of you has vowed to get back on the bike, that you have not let one unfortunate incident, and all of the consequences you've had to deal with, and all of the fear that you must have felt and may continue to feel, keep you from doing something you love. You are my inspiration. I will not let my new-found fear keep me from the road!
Thank you!
Hugs and butterflies,
~T~
