I have fallen one too many times this spring, and three of these times have been the slow motion, "oh shit, I am really going to get messed up on this one" moments.  I have been doing everything I can to try to be safe on the bike, but I guess sometimes the bad moments just find you.  I was having problems on the path in the afternoon, so I started riding early in the morning.  Typically I am leaving the building at 5 AM and hitting the path nine minutes later at 5:09.  It has been pretty good.  Low traffic, pleasant weather.  Today was supposed to be an easy day with a few short efforts thrown in for good measure.  As I finished the first sprint I was feeling strong, so I kept the gas on.  Watching my speed more than the power it felt good to put on the cruise control and be at ~25 MPH.  Every ten minutes I figured I throw in the sprint and I would finish an hour later.  The further along I got the faster I was going and holding the power numbers up.  It hurt, but it was not painful. 

Hit 55th and the turn off to go around promontory point.  This early there isn't anyone out there and the views are pretty nice so I made the left hook.  I got out to the furthest Eastern point before making the easy turn South and looked down at the computer, not for long, just the glance you take every 1/2 minute.  When I looked up there was a Chicago Squad car in the middle of the path coming straight at me.

And there it is, the instant slow motion.  "Oh Shit!" Lock up the rear brake, jam on the front.  Keep the back end down.  "I am totally going to slam into the car!" Lean forward, steer left.  "Why the hell is my back wheel all the way perpendicular at my right side?"  Sliding out, correct the turn.  Rear wheel whips around to the left side.  Unclip.  High side eject button.  Hit the ground.  Stopped. 2, maybe 3, seconds max.

Look behind me and the cops are getting out of the car.  They ask if I am alright and I give myself a once over.  They ask if I need an ambulance.  No, I was fine.  I struggled to get the chain back on the bike, more difficult than usual.  Well, it is because the wheel won't turn as it is rubbing against both of my chain stays.  The cops meanwhile are just standing there.  "I bet that was the biggest show you have seen out here in a while."  Again they ask me if I am alright, I say I just need to call for a ride.  They leave, I walk through the grass out to the path and get eaten by mosquitoes.  Good thing about wrecking at 5:30 AM is that you can run across Lake Shore Drive at random places since the traffic is still really light.

Julie came to my rescue and I walked to find coffee in the meantime.  The Starbucks happened to be three doors west of the diner cops go to in the morning and I saw my new friends getting out of their car.  They saw me carrying my bike.  "Is your crank screwed up?" "No, the wheel is trashed.  The path isn't such a good place to be driving a car." Silence.  On the bright side, the registers were not working at the coffee shop so I got my espresso for free.

I guess one of the reasons I am having more "problems" this year than last is that I am on my bike about 100 times more trying to be a good cyclist.  So, feeling strong and riding the bike is good.  I am again just wishing I was not doing this in Chicago.