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From: leimkuhl@uiucdcsp.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Goodbye SR 130.
Message-ID: <4200032@uiucdcsp>
Date: Thu, 21-Nov-85 14:36:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsp.4200032
Posted: Thu Nov 21 14:36:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 05:43:27 EST
Lines: 20
Nf-ID: #N:uiucdcsp:4200032:000:899
Nf-From: uiucdcsp.CS.UIUC.EDU!leimkuhl    Nov 21 13:36:00 1985




I have always ridden on larger county roads and smaller state highways,
thinking that it was better to live with the traffic than to dodge pot-holes
and dogs.  I saw a statistic once that said that accidents in which
a bicycle is struck from behind by a car are extrememly rare, and I had
patterned my riding accordingly.

Now I think that statistic may have been wrong.  Within a span of about a
month, both myself and one of my housemates, in separate incidents, came
very close to being hit from behind.  In my case, I was not even aware that
he was behind me until he had entered a skid to try to avoid hitting me.
His rear bumper swept by in a great arc, coming within perhaps a half foot
of my left crank before he fishtailed away down the road.

From now on, I'll take my chances with dogs and cruddy pavement.  After
all, dogs are good sprint training and rims are cheap.

-Ben Leimkuhler