Attitude of misfortune

Tuesday morning started off a bit rough.

“I should preface/foreshadow my audience with the existing facts about my bike at the time. Fact 1 - my seat was broken, and just holding on by a single piece not even attached. Fact 2 – my brakes were never that great even when my bike was brand new. The rear brake has always been too soft, so I have to use the front brake to compensate. My brakes were getting significantly worse. Fact 3 – my derailleur sucks at its job. "Its job is to move my bike chain and shift gears well.”

I start my morning ride on a downhill. The downhill I use is in the neighborhood I live in (Hogye). Imagine small town Mexico. Lots of alleys and lots of random openings. I’m going a good pace due to gravity, and out of nowhere this old man pops out in front of me. I naturally swerve and brake at the same time. Did I mention my brakes were getting worse? (We do that little dance jig when you are trying to pass someone, but you both keep choosing the same direction as the other...you know?) Except I’m on my bike and he’s an old man. I came inches from knocking the bloke over. I luckily escaped a worse scenario, but it wasn’t without a cold cold look. I bowed and said sorry! I continue my journey a bit shaken, and a bit slower paced. I cross the street at the main intersection of my town, and out of nowhere my bike chain pops off. It isn’t the scenario where you hit a bump, do a jump, or have a real reason for your chain popping off. It’s the situation where you’re casually riding along, and wouldn’t (rather SHOULDN’t) expect your chain to come off. Because a non-S!#$ bike wouldn’t have a chain pop off for no apparent reason. As you can imagine this might surprise the rider. This might even cause the rider to lose balance due to the normal resistance provided by chain, pedals, and gears working in perfect harmony. I went from resistance to none, and wasn’t expecting it.

BOOM! Down I go, going no more than 5-7mph. You may think that isn’t to fast. You’re right it isn’t. Pair 5-7mph with being on a bike and getting tangled up in it. Now it seems a little worse right? I hit the cement. I was luckily wearing winter apparel as it is freezing as “hell?” (oh the beauty of irony). I hit my hands first, my chin and arm second, and somewhere in the confusion end up under my bike. My jeans have a giant rip (I later deduce it’s from the main cog; because of the cuts on my knee, and the chain grease that was all over it). Remember I was crossing a main intersection? Ya… Lots of Koreans were watching. A whole bus full were conveniently staring right at me. Due to time constraints of getting to school on time, being a bit embarrassed at crashing in front of many, being a bit prideful, and lastly not wanting to think about it, I picked up my bike waved at the bus and rode on. I didn’t assess my damage, or my bike.

As I rode off I realize my handle bars are cockeyed pointing to the right to ride straight. My seat tore all the way off. My bell that allows me to warn walking pedestrians out of my path was broken, and I was feeling pain. I laughed when it first happened (as this is my normal emotional response. Yes even when I’m hurt). Now I’m a bit irritated. My hand hurt, my leg hurt, and my bike sucked worse. I rode for 3 more mins, and decided not to throw a pity party and moved on.

I arrived at school and still didn’t look at my damage to myself. It wasn’t until I set down at my desk did I really look. I looked at my hand first. Decent wound, but nothing major. I rolled up my pant leg, and I somehow managed to cut the top and bottom of my knee. It didn’t look good. I also had a cut on my chin. It certainly wasn’t the worst situation I’ve been in. I decided to teach the rest of the day without taking care of it. Looking back, I regret this decision. I probably should have cleaned my leg up a bit. It was still an open wound even at 8pm that night 12 hours later.

Why do I say this tale? Perhaps because it was semi epic. Perhaps I want a small portion of pity. Maybe I just want you to share in my ridiculous situation.

The truth is to prepare my audience what I later found out…

I received some awesome awesome news that day. That is another blog for another time. Enjoy the read. I hope it made you laugh.