I’ve been riding for about a year and a half. I turned into a pretty decent riding who can hold good speed for a long time and also climb hills. I have a great balance: I got used to riding in large groups, avoid obstacles, I ride rollers at home, which is a kick butt balance exercise at home.

Since I started riding everybody was telling me that one day I will crash, and it would happen when you least expect. And it happened to me yesterday. All my “perfect” balancing skills are out the window.

My husband and I were doing a practice scout of the Tour de Phoenix (AZ) rout before the actual ride on April 1, 2006. We passed the most difficult part of the rout including a four-mile hill. We were approximately 4 miles away from the finish and going 22-23 mph with great excitement. And suddenly, there is groove on the road, the kind that I’ve seen million time before and would think nothing of it. But it was just deep and wide enough to catch my tire and kick the bike from underneath me right up on the air. I had no time to catch my balance, and off I went tumbling down the road. It was a nasty – nasty fall, as nasty as it gets before you start breaking bones. I badly scraped my left elbow and shoulder badly, rolled over my back, scraping it too, tumbled on my right knuckles and landed on my left knee. I also bumped my head but my helmet saved me from a nasty face plunge. So, PLEASE, PLEASE wear your helmets! Now I am full of bruises and red-purple raspberries.

It was really scary and I was crying my eyes out, not because of the pain but because I was just scared. I was crying because I realized how lucky I was that I did not break any bones, that my helmet took a hit and that cars were far enough to see and avoid me.

It seemed like I crashed at the friendliest corner in Phoenix. My husband did not want to leave me and ride back to the car to get me. But the people around brought some water and Neosporin to clean up my wounds, one young man share bandages from his medical kit, and his wife eventually drove me to our car.

God! That was something! I still think that I will ride a tour on April 1, I believe that I even have a chance of winning my 26 mile rout. I hope that this fall is the worst that I, or anybody for that matter, would ever experience. I know that it will not turn me away from riding. So, ladies, please be safe, wear your helmets, and try not to ride alone!