Always wear your helmet

I don't care who you are. I don't care how far you're going. I don't care that it's only just around the corner. I don't care that you've done it hundreds of times in the past. I don't care that you don't care. If you care about me at all you will always wear your helmet when you ride your bike. If you do not, and I catch you doing it, please consider that I will consider it a personal affront from here on out. You have been warned.

So why am I on a soap box ab out this? This morning, at about 10 to 9, I get a phone call from Kelly (my wife for those who aren't up on whom I'm talking about). "I was just hit by a car." ... I swear the color drained from my face. She was struck on the left side by a turning car who "Failed to yield right of way to a cyclist".

Before I continue on my tirade, yes: she's okay. Would she have been without her helmet: the crack down the side says no. She was T-Boned by an elderly chap who was lost on campus and trying to turn into an info booth. He just didn't think a cyclist can move at 15mph down a slight incline/gentle grade. She managed to leave "quite the dent in the door" according to the scene photographer. She suffered a mild concussion, various abrasions and bruises, a sprained and separated shoulder. The bike, miraculously, only had minor scratches and our bike mechanic — who was on his own way into work on bike — happened to arrive on the scene while the cops were talking to me and the driver. He gave it a quick once-over before telling me to bring it up to the shop tonight so that he could fix the bent shift lever. She managed to turn the handlebars at such an angle as to take the majority of the force from the impact in her shoulder and left knee. The other knee was bruised when it struck the ground/bike as she fell. $80 for a new helmet, a bell, and and some new bar-tape. Who knows how big the ER bills will be, but the drivers insurance company will be paying for this, mark my words.

So where does that leave us? Well: the helmet is the only reason that Kelly's able to be happily playing World of Warcrack upstairs right now. If you get hit by something while on your bike your head will inevitably hit the ground. How hard will depend on the situation, but it will hit the ground. In doing so, the helmet will take a large chunk of the force from the impact an distribute it so that Kelly's concussion is only mild. If she hit the car with the same force that her shoulder and knee hit it, she wouldn't be speaking right now. We wouldn't have been able to joke about it. Should would either be a vegetable, in a coma, severe head trauma, or dead. Instead she's breathing, bruised, laughing and sore.

If you love me you will wear your helmet.

Cycling

12.4 miles. Our normal short-way in commute this morning was closed because of construction, so we took the main roads in, thus it was about 1 mile longer than usual for each of my 2 trips back and forth today.

Weight lifting

It's a good thing I got my training in earlier today: since I don't think I have the energy for it now. Good thing tomorrow is a "rest" day from the iron. Karate, et al. day though :-D. Today was Swings:

• FTW Squats
• Pumps
• Halos
• Swings: 10 (reps) x 4 (sets) x 2 (hands)