Girl Down – I repeat Girl Down! LITERALLY

DISCLAIMER: READ THIS STORY AT YOUR OWN RISK. BEFORE PROCEEDING - PLEASE NOTE: ERIKA IS NO LONGER “DOWN,” SHE IS FINE AND RESTING SAFELY IN HER CHINESE HOME.

My family often uses the line “that’s Johnson Luck.” For today’s adventure I feel that sentiment sums it all up rather nicely. My morning started out like most of my weekend days – I slept in a bit and after waking up cracked a diet coke and settled down with a book to pass some time. This morning though added in to the mix was my agreement to purchase a bicycle.

My neighbor purchased a bike a few weeks ago and I finally committed to also get one. He had them all scoped out for me. At 10:00 I headed to a mall 2 miles west of my apartment. In the mall was a major sporting goods store (similar to Dick’s in the US) and across the street was a specialized Trek bike store. After scoping out the selections at both stores I opted to get an 8-speed Trek road bike.

My bike is “pimped out.” I had her customized with a headlight (aka a small flashlight) a flashing rear light, a storage back for under the seat and a rack for carding things on the back. With my backpack on my back I settled onto my bike and headed to my apartment. I immediately grabbed my school books and my neighbor and I hoped back on our bikes. My destination was my Shanghai Center for my Chinese Lesson. I arrived to class safely.

Close to the end of my lesson a thunderstorm rolled in – it was a downpour! I grabbed some dinner after class all the while keeping my fingers crossed that the rain would end. Thankfully it did. Back on the bike I headed out onto the sloppy wet streets for the 3-4 mile ride back home. In Shanghai you play a bit of a game, swapping between riding your bike on the street to on the sidewalk. At one point during my ride I was on a side/frontage road next to a bustling 6 lane road. It was one lane wide.

50 feet onto this road I could hear a car coming up behind me. I looked back and realized I had time to make it to the next side walk entrance IF I kicked it up a notch. Focused back on the road I felt my tires due a weird movement through some uneven pavement and then start to skid/plan on some of the slime* on the road. I was afraid of losing control so put the brake on a little bit. BIG MISTAKE! My back well went out from under me and before I knew it I was down on my side.

Adrenaline pumping all at the same time I jumped up, yelled out “PAT!” and looked back to realized the car had stopped a good 20 feet behind me. I fell literally right in front of the driveway entrance I was aiming to use to get onto the sidewalk. My neighbor Pat, who was about 10 feet ahead, swung back coming up beside me on the sidewalk.

Thankfully the wounds I incurred were minor – road rash and a skinned knee and elbow. I literally used the shirt off of Pat’s back to clean up my wounds. He focused on fixing my handle bars with a portable tool kit he carries. We made it back to the hotel without further incident; however, I was a nervous Nelly for the remainder of the ride.

I concluded as I rolled my bike onto the elevator to my apartment that I need to avoid driving any sort of wheeled vehicle in the rain – this is the second accident due to hydroplaning I have been involved in. Johnson Luck strikes again!

Use this link to check out pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/esjohnson80/ChinaMyBike02