Scarey Semi Experience

[likinbikin]

Hello

I have been visiting this site for some time now and have never had anything to write about until today.

I started cycling in August and immediately became hooked. I used to be a runner but I prefer this MUCH MUCH more!We get alot of cross country cyclists coming through my town in North Dakota and seeing them made my hubby and I decide to see if we liked cycling. We like to ride 20 miles a day but since my DH hasn't had much time I have been going out alone. I ride along a 4 lane highway with a nice wide breakdown lane. Sometimes I get a bit nervous being out there alone but love riding too much to let it make me stop.

Today I had a scary experience with a semi truck. Most often then not trucks pull over to the passing lanes for me unless there happens to be a car passing them. Unfortunately today I created a most undesirable situation when I pulled over to the highway's right lane line edge to avoid glass all over the breakdown lane. After pedaling along for a few feet, a semi truck all of a sudden appeared behind me and wasn't pulling over! So... I had it whiz past me as I felt it vibrating in my chest and blowing me around. I could have easily touched that truck if I extended my hand out! All I could think of was that I had to keep control of my bike because I wasn't ready to die yet . The truck could not pull over since a car was passing it at that same moment.It was the scariest thing I have ever been through and I was shaking for the rest of my ride. In fact I am still shaking! I don't know how all of the cross country cyclists cope with semis on all the roads without nice breakdown lanes!

Really makes a person think how fast something bad could happen while on a bike. I don't know why I didn't notice that truck barreling down the highway before I pulled over to avoid the glass. You can be sure that I am going to be EXTRA cautious from now on. I have 5 children who need me!

Do any of you have scary stories like this we could all learn from? I would rather learn them on here then out on the road again!

Nice to still be here to finally meet you all
Michelle