I made the decision to buy a recumbent.
I made the decision to commute by bike.
I made the decision to use a field-of-vision limiting fairing.
I made the decision to NOT buy a bus pass this January.
and
I made the decision to go straight on Rainier this morning.
That’s the teaser.
Approaching a hill this morning I saw a new, manhole-sized, brick lined, pothole. We are talkin’ deep, 1911, Denny-Renton bricks. With cars approaching (from behind) on the western hemisphere of this abyss I chose the eastern hemisphere. I saw the driveway entrance to the sidewalk and committed.
I missed the eastern hemisphere of the entrance to Wonderland and found myself nose-to-nose (or rather, wheel-to-curb) with a stealth curb. It was hunkered, a mere 2-3 inches above ground level, in a clever burm of sand that smoothed it’s cliff like appearance not unlike a VW bug in 25 inches of snow.
That’s the decision I had to live with now and at about 10 mph my small, front wheel approached that stealthy little curblet at a VERY acute angle. Then that part of my body closest to the ground, for the second time in just over 12 hours, kissed the pavement. I think my right cheek was jealous of my left cheek; this time I had momentum.
A skilled forensics team may yet determine the speed at which impact occurred by measuring the scratches, accounting of course for a thin layer of spandex which remains (thankfully) untorn.
I would say my ego was further damaged, because I always say matter of factly
I don’t fall.
but it really isn’t; I am still gonna be Spider-Man someday.
blief 
I can have our traffic detectives bring the Total Station equipment out and we can find out exactly how fast you were going. Sorry to hear about your spill. At least flesh heals relatively quickly unlike bone. Is the bike still in working order? I have not been able to ride since early last week due to the flooding. There are only two routes to ride between Everett and Snohomish and both have been under water since Wed. of last week and continue to be so. I rode the stationary bike at work today, but as you know, it is not the same – although it is much safer 🙂 I wish I had a canoe so I could commute via the abundant new waterways.
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No more falling, and I mean it!
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Sorry to hear you crashed. Sounds like the time I mistook a 1.5′ gap between an island and a sidewalk for no gap at all; the setup that is.
Do you think that crashing on a recumbent is worse or better than a diamond-frame? This may impact my eventual purchase decision.
The potholes have been insane since the snow. I-5 northbound coming out of Portland, OR, there are potholes 50 meters long, I kid you not. Though that may stretch the definition of “pothole”, it will also stretch your axle in asymmetrical ways if you aren’t careful.
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