cycling
21. November, 21:45 Uhr
I bought around 5 months ago my first road bike, actually my first real bike. The race type. I started training on a big ass hill, around 4 km on a 15%. It all was going better and better. I hit the road for about 40 km, the first time I managed a decent 1 hour and 30 minutes. I started to ride for longer and longer distances, found some buddies that in some meassure shared my passion and everything was looking great.
Until one day. I went to the store to buy some food, a 2 km ride around town. On my way back home, the road was pretty clear. So, why not, I started speeding a little. Not more than 30km/h. On the road there was just one car. On my right, it was the parking lot. The car was moving normally, on my left, in front of me, so I decided to ride past it, following my band. And guess what? The driver couldn't care less about me. With no signal of turning, right when I was trying to move past his car, he turned the wheel so he could enter his parking spot. He hit me, I took a flight off my bike (5 ft in the air, scratching the ground for another 3) and, of course, damaging my bike. He got off his car, yelled at me for breaking his left mirror, got back in his car and drove off. Fortunately, I saw his plates and the police identified him shortly after. All in all, I had no broken bones, but my bike suffered from it. The frame is bent, the gears are a mess, the wheels are looking more like a triangle now. I don't even know if I should try to repair it or buy a new one.
For everybody seeing this post, especially the drivers in not-so-developed-countries, please raise your awareness when it comes to cyclists. Check your mirror, always use your signals, keep in mind that you're sitting in a 2 tones vehicle while I brake my ass on a 10 kilos bike. Learn about how you should drive around cyclist, how you should "handle" them. I couldn't ride my bike for about two months now and it looks like I won't be able to until spring comes. Because of someone's negligence, I ended up sitting in bed instead of doing something I truly enjoy and it's not the best feeling. So please, respect the cyclists as much as we respect you. All in all, there should be no king of the roads.
iLovecycling 
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