Just around the bend
What is around the next corner? We never really know what will be waiting for us.
Often, on the roads we ride, each bend brings another breath-taking view of mountains, trees, rivers, clouds, flowers, and always the winding road.
On this particular day we were riding up highway 28 from Franklin, NC to Robbinsville. We had never been this way before and it was new and interesting - a very winding, twisting road. The weather was just right. The thought had just passed through my mind that this was a really good ride.
Then we rounded the corner. There was a bike down in the middle of the road. The riders were under the bike. Several other people and bikes were scattered across the road. There was no place to go and a very short distance in which to stop. We skidded to a stop inches from impact.
After everyone was able to move to the side of the road, we unpacked the first aid supplies we always carry. The riders were able to bandage up their knees and elbows enough to get back on their bike for the long ride home.
The lesson we learned was the importance of protective gear. One of the riders had no tears in his jeans but when he pulled up his pant leg, we saw that the skin on his knees was gone. So much for the theory that blue jeans are good protection.
We have ordered some all-weather gear with protective armour. The mesh jackets have a zip-on waterproof cover for rain and a zip-in fleece liner for cold weather. Elbows, shoulders, backbone, knees, and hips are protected with padding. Just in case…
Because you never really know what is around the next bend in the road.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
We never know what lies ahead of us around a curve. Good insight and info. Drove the same road during the 4th of July. Thanks Carl